The Meaning of Faith

1Now faith is the assurance of what we hope for and the conviction of what we do not see.

2Because of their faith, the people of old were commended.

3By faith we understand that the universe was formed by the word of God. Consequently, we know that what can be seen did not come from anything visible.

4By faith Abel offered to God a better sacrifice than Cain, through which he was commended as righteous when God gave approval to his gifts. And by faith he still speaks, even though he is dead.

5By faith Enoch was taken up so that he would not see death, and he was not to be found, because God had taken him. Now before he was taken, he was commended as one who pleased God.

6And without faith it is impossible to please God, for anyone who comes to him must believe that God exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.

7By faith Noah, when he was warned about things not yet seen, was moved with reverent fear and built an ark to save his household. By faith he condemned the world and became an heir of the righteousness that comes by faith.

8By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to ⁴⁴the place that he was to receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going.

9By faith he sojourned in the land of promise, as in a foreign land, dwelling in tents with Isaac and Jacob, fellow heirs of the same promise.

10For he was looking forward to the city that has foundations, whose designer and builder is God.

11By faith ⁴⁵Sarah herself received the ability to conceive, and she bore a child when she was beyond the proper age, because she considered him faithful who had made the promise.

12And so from one man, and he as good as dead, came descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and as countless as the sand on the seashore.

13All these people died in faith without receiving the things that were promised. But they saw them from a ⁴⁶distance and welcomed them. And they acknowledged that they were strangers and sojourners on the earth.

14For people who say such things make it clear that they are seeking a homeland.

15If they had been thinking of the land they left behind, they would have had an opportunity to return.

16Instead, they were longing for a better land, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared a city for them.

17By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac. He who had received the promises was ready to offer up his one and only son,

18even though God had said to him, “Through Isaac yoʋr descendants will be counted.”

19He reasoned that God could even raise him from the dead. And figuratively speaking, he did receive Isaac back from death.

20By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau concerning things to come.

21By faith Jacob, when he was dying, blessed each of the sons of Joseph, and worshiped as he leaned on the top of his staff.

22By faith Joseph, when his end was near, mentioned the exodus of the sons of Israel and gave instructions concerning his bones.

23By 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 did not fear the decree of the king.

24By faith Moses, when he had grown up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter,

25choosing to be mistreated with the people of God rather than to enjoy the fleeting pleasure of sin.

26He considered the reproach of Christ to be greater wealth than the treasures ⁴⁷of Egypt, for he was focused on the reward.

27By faith he left Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king, for he endured as though he could see him who is invisible.

28By faith he celebrated the Passover and the sprinkling of the blood, so that the destroyer of the firstborn would not touch the Israelites.

29By faith they passed through the Red Sea as on dry land, but when the Egyptians tried to do so, they were drowned.

30By faith the walls of Jericho fell after they had been encircled for seven days.

31By faith Rahab the prostitute did not perish with those who were disobedient, because she had welcomed the spies in peace.

32And what more shall I say? For time will fail me if I tell of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David, Samuel, and the prophets,

33who by faith conquered kingdoms, carried out justice, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions,

34quenched the power of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, were made strong from weakness, became mighty in battle, and routed the armies of foreigners.

35Women received back their dead by resurrection. Other people were tortured, refusing to accept release, so that they might obtain a better resurrection.

36Others endured mocking and flogging, as well as chains and imprisonment.

37They were stoned, they were ⁴⁸sawn in two, they were tempted, and they were killed with the sword. They went around in sheepskins and goatskins; they were destitute, afflicted, and mistreated.

38The world was not worthy of them. They wandered in deserts and mountains, hiding in caves and holes in the ground.

39⁴⁹All these people were commended for their faith, but they did not receive what was promised.

40For God had planned something better for us, so that they would not be made perfect without us.