Chapter 11                             

Hebrews: Chapters -1- -2- -3- -4- -5- -6- -7- -8- -9- -10- -11- -12- -13- 
  11: • 1 Now, faith is the substance and underlying reality of things hoped for, the proof of things not now being perceived. 2 For through faith people of history bore witness. • 3 Through faith we understand that the ages are formed and completed by the speaking of God, such that the things we perceive come into being out from what is not visible. [f]

4 Through [full assurance of] faith Abel offered to God a more valuable sacrifice than Cain; through which he received the witness of being justly innocent, God bearing witness to his gifts, and through them he still speaks, though having died. 5 Through faith Enoch was transferred and changed, not to perceive death, and he was not found, because God had transferred him over. Before being transferred, he was affirmed as having been well-pleasing to God. • 6 Moreover, without faith one is incapable of pleasing God; indeed, it is required of the one approaching God [in the Most Devoted Place] to believe that God is and that He becomes the rewarder of those seeking out and requiring of Him.

7 Through [full assurance of] faith, Noah, having been warned [by God] concerning the things not yet perceived, and moving with caution, constructed an ark for the salvation of his household; through which he condemned the world and became heir of the just innocence that is according to faith.

8 Being called through [full assurance of] faith, Abraham responded by going out into the place he was about to receive for an inheritance. He went out, not knowing where he was going. 9 Through faith he continued as a stranger in the land of promise, since it belonged to others, dwelling in tents with Isaac and Jacob, joint-heirs together with him of the same promise. • 10 For he was expecting the city having foundations, whose engineer and builder is God [g]. 11 Through faith even Sarah herself, barren beyond the time of child-bearing, received power into the conception of sperm, since she considered the One having promised to be faithful. 12 Therefore, from one impotent man were born many even as the stars of the heaven in multitude and countless as the sand by the shore of the sea.

13 According to [full assurance of] faith, these all died, not having received the promises, but having seen them from afar and having embraced them and having confessed that they are strangers and exiles on the earth. 14 Those who say such things make it clear that they are seeking their own native home. 15 Indeed, if they had brought back to mind the place from whence they had escaped, they would have had opportunity to return. • 16 Now, moreover, they eagerly yearned for a better homeland, that is, a homeland of the heavens [the Promise of the Spirit]; therefore, God is not ashamed of them, to be called their God, for He has made ready a city for them.

17 Through [full assurance of] faith Abraham offered up Isaac. Being proven, he offered up his only seed-kind son, the one having received the promises, 18 to whom it was said, “In Isaac will be reckoned your offspring,” • 19 having reasoned that God was able even to raise him out from the dead, from whence also he figuratively received him [h]. 20 Through faith also, Isaac spoke good things about to come over Jacob and Esau. 21 Through faith Jacob, even while dying, spoke good things over each of the sons of Joseph and worshipped leaning on his staff. 22 Through faith Joseph, even while dying, brought to mind the exodus of the sons of Israel and gave instructions concerning his bones.

23 Through [full assurance of] faith Moses’ parents, when he was born, hid him three months, because they saw how fair and clever the little child was; and they were unconcerned about the edict of the king. • 24 Through faith Moses, having come to maturity, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter; 25 preferring, rather, to endure affliction together with the people of God, than to possess the temporary enjoyment of sin. 26 [Moses] esteemed the wrongful condemnation of Christ to be greater wealth than the treasures of Egypt, for he was looking away into the reward. 27 Through faith he left Egypt, not fearing the anger of the king; indeed, he endured steadfastly as seeing and experiencing the One who is invisible. 28 Through faith he kept the Passover and the sprinkling of the blood, so that the one destroying the firstborn would not touch them. 29 Through faith they passed through the Red Sea as through dry land; whereas the Egyptians, attempting to do so, were swallowed up.

30 Through [full assurance of] faith the walls of Jericho fell, having been encircled for seven days. 31 Through faith Rahab the prostitute did not perish with those who refused to be persuaded, having received the spies with peace.

32 And what more shall I say? Time would indeed fail me in the telling of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David also, and Samuel and the prophets; 33 who through [the same full assurance of] faith conquered kingdoms, administered justice, obtained promises, shut the mouths of lions; 34 quenched the power of fire, escaped the bite of the sword, acquired strength out of weakness, became mighty in war, in putting to flight the armies of foreigners. 35 Women received their dead back by resurrection. Others were tortured, not accepting release, that they might experience a better resurrection. 36 Still others received trials of mockings and scourgings; yes, even chains and imprisonment. 37 They were stoned; they were tried; they were sawn in two; in the slaughter of sword they were killed. They wandered in sheepskins and in goat’s skins, being destitute, being oppressed, being mistreated; 38 of whom the world was not worthy; wandering in deserts and mountains and caves and in the holes of the earth.

39 And all these, bearing witness through their faith, did not receive the promise; • 40 God, having perceived inside the core of His being [pro-seeing] something better for us, that apart from us they will not come to completion.
 		  
 
Gospel Word Notes