Now faith is the ^aassurance (title deed, confirmation) of things ^bhoped for (divinely guaranteed) , and the evidence of ^cthings not seen the conviction of their reality—faith comprehends as fact what cannot be experienced by the physical senses. 2 For by this kind of faith the ^1amen of old ^bgained divine approval.

3 By faith that is, with an inherent trust and enduring confidence in the power, wisdom and goodness of God we understand that the ^aworlds (universe, ages) were framed and created formed, put in order, and equipped for their intended purpose ^bby the word of God, so that what is seen ^cwas not made out of things which are visible. 4 By faith ^aAbel offered to God a more acceptable sacrifice than Cain, through which it was ^btestified of him that he was righteous (upright, in right standing with God) , and God testified by accepting his ^cgifts. And though ^dhe died, yet through this act of faith he still speaks. Gen 4:3-10 5 By faith that pleased God ^aEnoch was caught up and taken to heaven so that he would not ^bhave a glimpse of death; AND HE WAS NOT FOUND BECAUSE GOD HAD TAKEN HIM; for even before he was taken to heaven, he received the testimony still on record that he had walked with God and pleased Him. Gen 5:21-24 6 But without faith it is impossible to walk with God and please Him, for whoever ^acomes near to God must necessarily believe that God exists and that He rewards those who earnestly and diligently seek Him. 7 By faith with confidence in God and His word ^aNoah, being ^bwarned by God about ^cevents not yet seen, in ^dreverence ^eprepared an ark for the salvation of his family. By this act of obedience he condemned the world and became an heir of ^fthe righteousness which comes by faith. Gen 6:13-22

8 By faith ^aAbraham, when he was called by God, obeyed by going to a place which he was to ^breceive as an inheritance; and he went, not knowing where he was going. 9 By faith he lived as a foreigner in ^athe promised land, as in a strange land, ^bliving in tents as nomads with Isaac and Jacob, who were ^cfellow heirs of the same promise. Gen 12:1-8 10 For he was waiting expectantly and confidently looking forward to ^athe city which has ^bfoundations, an eternal, heavenly city ^cwhose architect and builder is God. 11 By faith even ^aSarah herself received the ability to conceive a child, even when she was long past the normal age for it, because she considered Him who had given her the promise to be ^breliable and true to His word. Gen 17:19; 18:11-14; 21:2 12 So from one man, though ^ahe was physically as good as dead, were born as many descendants ^bAS THE STARS OF HEAVEN IN NUMBER, AND INNUMERABLE AS THE SAND ON THE SEASHORE. Gen 15:5, 6; 22:17; 32:12

13 ^aAll these died in faith guided and sustained by it, ^bwithout receiving the tangible fulfillment of God’s promises, only ^chaving seen (anticipated) them and having welcomed them from a distance, and having ^dacknowledged that they were strangers and exiles on the earth. Gen 23:4; Ps 39:12 14 Now those who say such things make it clear that they are looking for a country of their own. 15 And if they had been thinking of that country from which they departed as their true home, ^athey would have had a continuing opportunity to return. 16 But the truth is that they were longing for a better country, that is, a ^aheavenly one. For that reason ^bGod is not ashamed of them or to be ^ccalled their God even to be surnamed their God—the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob; for ^dHe has prepared a city for them. Ex 3:6, 15; 4:5

17 By faith ^aAbraham, when he was tested that is, as the testing of his faith was still in progress, ¹offered up Isaac, and he who had ^breceived the promises of God was ready to sacrifice his only son of promise; Gen 22:1-10 18 to whom it was said, “^aTHROUGH ISAAC YOUR DESCENDANTS SHALL BE CALLED.” Gen 21:12 19 For he considered it reasonable to believe that ^aGod was able to raise Isaac even from among the dead. Indeed, in the sense that he was prepared to sacrifice Isaac in obedience to God Abraham did receive him back from the dead ^bfiguratively speaking. 20 By faith ^aIsaac blessed Jacob and Esau believing what God revealed to him, even regarding things to come. Gen 27:27-29, 39, 40 21 By faith ^aJacob, as he was dying, blessed each of the sons of Joseph, and ^bbowed in worship, leaning on the top of his staff. Gen 48 22 By faith ^aJoseph, when he was dying, referred to the promise of God for the exodus of the sons of Israel from Egypt, and gave instructions concerning the burial of his bones in the land of the promise. Gen 50:24, 25; Ex 13:19

23 By faith ^aMoses, after his birth, was hidden for three months by his parents, because they saw he was a beautiful and divinely favored child; and they were not afraid of the ^bking’s (Pharaoh’s) decree. Ex 1:22; 2:2; Acts 7:20 24 By faith Moses, ^awhen he had grown up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter, Ex 2:10, 15 25 because he preferred to ^aendure the hardship of the people of God rather than to enjoy the passing pleasures of sin. 26 ^aHe considered the reproach of the ¹Christ that is, the rebuke he would suffer for his faithful obedience to God to be greater wealth than all the treasures of Egypt; for he looked ahead to the ^breward promised by God. 27 By faith he ^aleft Egypt, being ^bunafraid of the wrath of the king; for he endured steadfastly, as ^cseeing Him who is unseen. Ex 2:15 28 By faith he ^akept the Passover and the sprinkling of the blood on the doorposts, so that ^bthe destroyer of the firstborn would not touch them (the firstborn of Israel) . Ex 12:21-30 29 By faith the people of Israel ^acrossed the Red Sea as though they were passing through dry land; but when the Egyptians attempted it they were drowned. Ex 14:21-31

30 By faith ^athe walls of Jericho fell down ^bafter they had been encircled for seven days by Joshua and the sons of Israel. Josh 6:12-21 31 By faith ^aRahab the prostitute was not destroyed along with those who were disobedient, because she had welcomed the spies sent by the sons of Israel in peace. Josh 2:1-21; 6:22-25

32 And what more shall I say? For time will fail me if I tell of ^aGideon, ^bBarak, ^cSamson, ^dJephthah, of ^eDavid and ^fSamuel and the prophets, Judg 4; 5; 6-8; 11; 12; 13-16; 1+@Sam 1-30; 2+@Sam 1-24; 1+@Kin 1; 2; Acts 3:24 33 who by faith that is, with an enduring trust in God and His promises ^asubdued kingdoms, ^badministered justice, ^cobtained promised blessings, ^dclosed the mouths of lions, Dan 6 34 ^aextinguished the power of raging fire, ^bescaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, ^cbecame mighty and unbeatable in battle, ^dputting enemy forces to flight. Dan 3 35 ^aWomen received back their dead by resurrection; and others were tortured to death, refusing to accept release offered on the condition of denying their faith, so that they would be resurrected to a better life; 1+@Kin 17:17-24; 2+@Kin 4:25-37 36 and others experienced the trial of mocking and scourging amid torture, and even ^achains and imprisonment. 37 They were ^astoned to death, they were ^bsawn in two, they were lured with tempting offers to renounce their faith, they were ^cput to death by the sword; they went about wrapped ^din the skins of sheep and goats, utterly destitute, oppressed, ^ecruelly treated 38 (people of whom the world was not worthy), ^awandering in deserts and mountains and living in caves and holes in the ground.

39 And all of these, though they ^agained divine approval through their faith, ^bdid not receive the fulfillment of what was promised, 40 because God had us in mind and had ^asomething better for us, so that they these men and women of authentic faith would not be made perfect that is, completed in Him ^bapart from us.