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The Saints Have Always Endured By Faith

11 Now[a] faith is the assurance[b] of things being hoped-for[c], the conviction[d] of things not being seen[e]. For in this the elders[f] were attested.

The Early Times

By faith we understand that the worlds have been prepared by the word of God, so that the thing being seen has not[g] come-into-being from things being visible. By faith Abel offered to God a greater sacrifice than Cain, through which he was attested to be righteous— God testifying about his gifts. And through it, [although] having died, he is still speaking. By faith Enoch was removed[h], so as not to see death: “And he was not found because God removed him” [Gen 5:24]. For before the removal, he has been attested to have pleased God. And without faith it is impossible to please Him. For the one coming-to God must believe that He is, and He becomes the rewarder to the ones seeking Him out. By faith Noah, having been warned about the things not yet being seen, having been reverent, prepared the ark for the salvation[i] of his household, through which he condemned the world and became an inheritor of the righteousness according-to faith.

The Time of The Patriarchs

By faith Abraham, being called, obeyed to go out to a place which he was going-to receive for an inheritance. And he went out not knowing where he was going. By faith he stayed[j] in the land of the promise as a land belonging-to-another, having dwelled in tents with Isaac and Jacob, the fellow-heirs of the same promise. 10 For he was waiting-for the city having foundations, of which[k] God is designer[l] and maker[m]. 11 By faith— and Sarah herself being barren— he[n] received power for the foundation[o] of a seed[p] even beyond the time of mature-age, since he regarded the One having promised to be faithful. 12 Therefore indeed from one man— and he having become impotent as to these[q] things— were born[r] seed as the stars of heaven in number, and countless as the sand by the shore of the sea. 13 In accordance with faith, these[s] all died not having received the promises, but having seen them from a distance, and having greeted them, and having confessed that they are strangers and pilgrims[t] on the earth. 14 For the ones saying such things are making-clear that they are seeking-for a homeland. 15 And if they had been remembering that homeland from which they came out, they would have had opportunity to return— 16 but as-it-is, they are aspiring-to a better homeland; that is, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed-of them, to be called their God. For He prepared a city for them. 17 By faith Abraham has offered Isaac while being tested. And the one having received the promises was offering his only-born[u], 18 with-regard-to whom[v] it was said [in Gen 21:12] that “In Isaac a seed will be called for you”, 19 having considered[w] that God was able to raise him even from the dead, from-which[x] he also received him back in a symbol[y]. 20 By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau even concerning coming things. 21 By faith Jacob, while dying, blessed each of the sons of Joseph and “worshiped [leaning] on the top of his staff ” [Gen 47:31]. 22 By faith Joseph, while coming-to-an-end[z], mentioned concerning the departure[aa] of the sons of Israel and gave-commands concerning his bones.

The Time of The Exodus

23 By faith Moses, having been born, was hidden for three months by his parents, because they saw the child was beautiful and did not fear the edict of the king. 24 By faith Moses, having become great[ab], refused to be called son of Pharaoh’s daughter, 25 having chosen rather to be mistreated-with the people of God than to be having a temporary enjoyment of sin, 26 having regarded the reproach of [ac] the Christ to be greater riches than the treasures of Egypt. For he was looking-away[ad] to the reward. 27 By faith he left Egypt, not having feared the fury of the king. For he persevered[ae] as seeing[af] the invisible One. 28 By faith he has performed the Passover[ag] and the sprinkling of the blood in order that the one destroying the firstborns might not touch them. 29 By faith they crossed[ah] the Red Sea as through dry land— of which having taken the test[ai], the Egyptians were swallowed-up. 30 By faith the walls of Jericho fell, having been encircled for seven days. 31 By faith Rahab the prostitute did not perish-with the ones having disobeyed, having welcomed the spies with peace.

What More Shall I Say?

32 And what more may I say? For time will fail me while telling about Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, both David and Samuel, and the prophets, 33 who through faith conquered kingdoms, worked righteousness[aj], obtained[ak] promises, stopped the mouths of lions, 34 quenched the power of fire, escaped the edges of the sword, were strengthened from weakness, became mighty in battle, put-to-flight armies of foreigners. 35 Women received their dead by resurrection— but others were tortured, not accepting redemption[al], in order that they might obtain a better resurrection. 36 And others received a trial of mockings and whippings, and furthermore of bonds and prison. 37 They were stoned, they were sawn-in-two, they died by murder of the sword. They went-around in sheepskins, in skins of-goats, being in-need, being afflicted, being mistreated— 38 of whom the world was not worthy— wandering in desolate-places and mountains and caves and openings of the earth.

They Did Not Receive The Promise, For God Had a Better Promise For Us

39 And these all, having been attested through their faith, did not receive the promise— 40 God having provided[am] something better for us, in order that they should not be perfected[an] apart from us.

Footnotes

  1. Hebrews 11:1 The writer now proves by example that God’s people have always endured by faith (10:36-39).
  2. Hebrews 11:1 That is, our subjective confidence about the future things. Or, substance, reality; that is, the objective present reality of the future things.
  3. Hebrews 11:1 That is, future realities.
  4. Hebrews 11:1 Or, the certainty, the being-convinced. Or, the proof, the evidence, the thing-convincing.
  5. Hebrews 11:1 That is, unseen realities, past, present, and future.
  6. Hebrews 11:2 That is, the OT saints mentioned next.
  7. Hebrews 11:3 has not... visible. Or, has come-into-being from things not being visible.
  8. Hebrews 11:5 Or, transferred, changed.
  9. Hebrews 11:7 Or, deliverance.
  10. Hebrews 11:9 Or, lived-as-a-foreigner.
  11. Hebrews 11:10 That is, which city.
  12. Hebrews 11:10 Or, craftsman, artisan.
  13. Hebrews 11:10 Or, builder.
  14. Hebrews 11:11 By faith... he received... he regarded. Or, By faith also, barren Sarah herself received... she regarded.
  15. Hebrews 11:11 Or, beginning. Or, deposit (of sperm).
  16. Hebrews 11:11 That is, a posterity; or, sperm.
  17. Hebrews 11:12 That is, his powers of procreation.
  18. Hebrews 11:12 Or, fathered.
  19. Hebrews 11:13 That is, the four mentioned in v 8-12.
  20. Hebrews 11:13 Or, temporary-residents.
  21. Hebrews 11:17 That is, with reference to the promise; through Sarah.
  22. Hebrews 11:18 That is, Isaac. Or, to whom; that is, Abraham.
  23. Hebrews 11:19 Or, calculated, accounted.
  24. Hebrews 11:19 That is, from the dead. Or, ‘dead. Hence, ...’. That is, Hence (by his faith), he received him back.
  25. Hebrews 11:19 That is, in an illustration of the Father and Christ; or simply, in a figure of speech.
  26. Hebrews 11:22 That is, dying.
  27. Hebrews 11:22 Or, exodus.
  28. Hebrews 11:24 That is, in stature (meaning, grown up); or, in status.
  29. Hebrews 11:26 That is, belonging to; or, for.
  30. Hebrews 11:26 Or, focusing-attention-on.
  31. Hebrews 11:27 Or, persisted, endured, was steadfast.
  32. Hebrews 11:27 That is, as though he saw; or, as one who saw.
  33. Hebrews 11:28 Having made reference to the entire exodus event, the writer now singles out one crucial and enduring aspect of it.
  34. Hebrews 11:29 Or, went-through, stepped-across.
  35. Hebrews 11:29 Or, an attempt.
  36. Hebrews 11:33 Or, justice.
  37. Hebrews 11:33 Or, attained.
  38. Hebrews 11:35 Or, deliverance, release.
  39. Hebrews 11:40 Or, foreseen.
  40. Hebrews 11:40 Or, completed, finished.

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