The Epistle to the Hebrews

⭑ Geneva Bible :: World English Bible Catholic ⭑

- Chapter 11 -

(Genesis 1:1–2; John 1:1–5)

Now faith is the grounds of things, which are hoped for, and the euidence of things which are not seene.

For by it our elders were well reported of.

Through faith we vnderstand that the world was ordeined by the worde of God, so that the things which we see, are not made of things which did appeare.

The Faith of Abel, Enoch, Noah

(Genesis 1:4–9)

By faith Abel offered vnto God a greater sacrifice then Cain, by the which he obtained witnes that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts: by the which faith also he being dead, yet speaketh.

By faith was Enoch translated, that he should not see death: neither was he found: for God had translated him: for before he was translated, he was reported of, that he had pleased God.

But without faith it is vnpossible to please him: for he that commeth to God, must beleeue that God is, and that he is a rewarder of them that seeke him.

By faith Noe being warned of God of the things which were as yet not seene, mooued with reuerence, prepared the Arke to the sauing of his housholde, through the which Arke hee condemned the world, and was made heire of the righteousnes, which is by faith.

The Faith of Abraham and Sarah

(Genesis 15:1–22; Romans 4:1–12)

By faith Abraham, when he was called, obeyed God, to goe out into a place, which hee should afterward receiue for inheritance, and he went out, not knowing whither he went.

By faith he abode in the land of promise, as in a strange countrey, as one that dwelt in tents with Isaac and Iacob heires with him of the same promise.

For he looked for a citie hauing a foundation, whose builder and maker is God.

Through faith Sara also receiued strength to conceiue seede, and was deliuered of a childe when she was past age, because she iudged him faithfull which had promised.

And therefore sprang there of one, euen of one which was dead, so many as the starres of the skie in multitude, and as the land of the sea shore which is innumerable.

All these died in faith, and receiued not the promises, but sawe them a farre off, and beleeued them, and receiued them thankefully, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth.

For they that say such things, declare plainely, that they seeke a countrey.

And if they had bene mindfull of that countrey, from whence they came out, they had leasure to haue returned.

But nowe they desire a better, that is an heauenly: wherefore God is not ashamed of them to be called their God: for he hath prepared for them a citie.

By faith Abraham offered vp Isaac, when he was tryed, and he that had receiued the promises, offered his onely begotten sonne.

(To whom it was said, In Isaac shall thy seede be called.)

For he considered that God was able to raise him vp euen from the dead: from whence he receiued him also after a sort.

The Faith of Isaac, Jacob, and Joseph

(Genesis 27:1–46)

By faith Isaac blessed Iacob and Esau, concerning things to come.

By faith Iacob when he was a dying, blessed both the sonnes of Ioseph, and leaning on the ende of his staffe, worshipped God.

By faith Ioseph when he died, made mention of the departing of the children of Israel, and gaue commandement of his bones.

The Faith of Moses

(Exodus 2:1–15; Acts 7:20–22)

By faith Moses when he was borne, was hid three moneths of his parents, because they sawe he was a proper childe, neither feared they the kings commandement.

By faith Moses when he was come to age, refused to be called the sonne of Pharaohs daughter,

And chose rather to suffer aduersitie with the people of God, then to enioy the pleasures of sinnes for a season,

Esteeming the rebuke of Christ greater riches then the treasures of Egypt: for he had respect vnto the recompence of the reward.

By faith he forsooke Egypt, and feared not the fiercenes of the king: for he endured, as he that sawe him which is inuisible.

Through faith he ordeined the Passeouer and the effusion of blood, least he that destroyed the first borne, should touche them.

By faith they passed through the red sea as by drie land, which when the Egyptians had assayed to doe, they were swallowed vp.

The Faith of Many

(Joshua 2:1–24)

By faith the walles of Iericho fell downe after they were copassed about seue dayes.

By faith the harlot Rahab perished not with them which obeyed not, when she had receiued the spies peaceably.

And what shall I more say? for the time would be too short for me to tell of Gedeon, of Barac, and of Sampson, and of Iephte, also of Dauid, and Samuel, and of the Prophets:

Which through faith subdued kingdomes, wrought righteousnesse, obteined the promises, stopped the mouthes of lions,

Quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sworde, of weake were made strong, waxed valiant in battell, turned to flight the armies of the aliants.

The women receiued their dead raised to life: other also were racked, and woulde not be deliuered, that they might receiue a better resurrection.

And others haue bene tryed by mockings and scourgings, yea, moreouer by bondes and prisonment.

They were stoned, they were hewen asunder, they were tempted, they were slaine with the sworde, they wandred vp and downe in sheepes skinnes, and in goates skinnes, being destitute, afflicted, and tormented:

Whom the world was not worthie of: they wandered in wildernesses and mountaines, and dennes, and caues of the earth.

And these all through faith obteined good report, and receiued not the promise,

God prouiding a better thing for vs, that they without vs should not be made perfite.

(Genesis 1:1–2; John 1:1–5)

Now faith is assurance of things hoped for, proof of things not seen.

For by this, the elders obtained approval.

By faith we understand that the universe has been framed by the word of God, so that what is seen has not been made out of things which are visible.

The Faith of Abel, Enoch, Noah

(Genesis 1:4–9)

By faith Abel offered to God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, through which he had testimony given to him that he was righteous, God testifying with respect to his gifts; and through it he, being dead, still speaks.

By faith Enoch was taken away, so that he wouldn’t see death, and he was not found, because God translated him. For he has had testimony given to him that before his translation he had been well pleasing to God.

Without faith it is impossible to be well pleasing to him, for he who comes to God must believe that he exists, and that he is a rewarder of those who seek him.

By faith Noah, being warned about things not yet seen, moved with godly fear,(a) prepared a ship for the saving of his house, through which he condemned the world and became heir of the righteousness which is according to faith.

The Faith of Abraham and Sarah

(Genesis 15:1–22; Romans 4:1–12)

By faith Abraham, when he was called, obeyed to go out to the place which he was to receive for an inheritance. He went out, not knowing where he went.

By faith he lived as an alien in the land of promise, as in a land not his own, dwelling in tents with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise.

For he was looking for the city which has foundations, whose builder and maker is God.

By faith even Sarah herself received power to conceive, and she bore a child when she was past age, since she counted him faithful who had promised.

Therefore as many as the stars of the sky in multitude, and as innumerable as the sand which is by the sea shore, were fathered by one man, and him as good as dead.

These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen

(b)

them and embraced them from afar, and having confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth.

For those who say such things make it clear that they are seeking a country of their own.

If indeed they had been thinking of that country from which they went out, they would have had enough time to return.

But now they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed of them, to be called their God, for he has prepared a city for them.

By faith, Abraham, being tested, offered up Isaac. Yes, he who had gladly received the promises was offering up his only born(c) son,

to whom it was said, “Your offspring will be accounted as from Isaac,” (d)

concluding that God is able to raise up even from the dead. Figuratively speaking, he also did receive him back from the dead.

The Faith of Isaac, Jacob, and Joseph

(Genesis 27:1–46)

By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau, even concerning things to come.

By faith Jacob, when he was dying, blessed each of the sons of Joseph, and worshiped, leaning on the top of his staff.

By faith Joseph, when his end was near, made mention of the departure of the children of Israel, and gave instructions concerning his bones.

The Faith of Moses

(Exodus 2:1–15; Acts 7:20–22)

By faith Moses, when he was born, was hidden for three months by his parents, because they saw that he was a beautiful child; and they were not afraid of the king’s commandment.

By faith Moses, when he had grown up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter,

choosing rather to share ill treatment with God’s people than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a time,

considering the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures of Egypt; for he looked to the reward.

By faith he left Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king; for he endured, as seeing him who is invisible.

By faith he kept the Passover and the sprinkling of the blood, that the destroyer of the firstborn should not touch them.

By faith they passed through the Red Sea as on dry land. When the Egyptians tried to do so, they were swallowed up.

The Faith of Many

(Joshua 2:1–24)

By faith the walls of Jericho fell down after they had been encircled for seven days.

By faith Rahab the prostitute didn’t perish with those who were disobedient, having received the spies in peace.

What more shall I say? For the time would fail me if I told of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David, Samuel, and the prophets—

who through faith subdued kingdoms, worked out righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions,(e)

quenched the power of fire,(f) escaped the edge of the sword,(g) from weakness were made strong, grew mighty in war, and caused foreign armies to flee.

Women received their dead by resurrection.(h) Others were tortured, not accepting their deliverance, that they might obtain a better resurrection.

Others were tried by mocking and scourging, yes, moreover by bonds and imprisonment.

They were stoned.(i) They were sawn apart. They were tempted. They were slain with the sword.(j) They went around in sheep skins and in goat skins; being destitute, afflicted, ill-treated—

of whom the world was not worthy—wandering in deserts, mountains, caves, and the holes of the earth.

These all, having been commended for their faith, didn’t receive the promise,

God having provided some better thing concerning us, so that apart from us they should not be made perfect.

Footnotes

(a)11:7 or, reverence

(b)11:13 TR adds “and being convinced of”

(c)11:17 The phrase “only born” is from the Greek word “μονογενη”, which is sometimes translated “only begotten” or “one and only”.

(d)11:18 ℘ Genesis 21:12

(e)11:33 ℘ Daniel 6:22-23

(f)11:34 ℘ Daniel 3:1-30

(g)11:34 ℘ 1Kings 19:1-3; 2 Kings 6:31—7:20

(h)11:35 ℘ 1Kings 17:17-23; 2 Kings 4:32-37

(i)11:37 ℘ 2Chronicles 24:20-21

(j)11:37 ℘ Jeremiah 26:20-23; 1 Kings 19:10