By Faith We Understand

11 Now faith is the 1substance of things hoped for, the 2evidence aof things not seen. 2 For by it the elders obtained a good testimony.

3 By faith we understand that bthe 3worlds were framed by the word of God, so that the things which are seen were not made of things which are visible.

Faith at the Dawn of History

4 By faith cAbel offered to God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, through which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts; and through it he being dead still dspeaks.

5 By faith Enoch was taken away so that he did not see death, e“and was not found, because God had taken him”; for before he was taken he had this testimony, that he pleased God. 6 But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.

7 By faith fNoah, being divinely warned of things not yet seen, moved with godly fear, gprepared an ark for the saving of his household, by which he condemned the world and became heir of hthe righteousness which is according to faith.

Faithful Abraham

8 By faith iAbraham obeyed when he was called to go out to the place which he would receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going. 9 By faith he dwelt in the land of promise as in a foreign country, jdwelling in tents with Isaac and Jacob, kthe heirs with him of the same promise; 10 for he waited for lthe city which has foundations, mwhose builder and maker is God.

11 By faith nSarah herself also received strength to conceive seed, and oshe 4bore a child when she was past the age, because she judged Him pfaithful who had promised. 12 Therefore from one man, and him as good as qdead, were born as many as the rstars of the sky in multitude—innumerable as the sand which is by the seashore.

The Heavenly Hope

13 These all died in faith, snot having received the tpromises, but uhaving seen them afar off 5were assured of them, embraced them and vconfessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth. 14 For those who say such things wdeclare plainly that they seek a homeland. 15 And truly if they had called to mind xthat country from which they had come out, they would have had opportunity to return. 16 But now they desire a better, that is, a heavenly country. Therefore God is not ashamed yto be called their God, for He has zprepared a city for them.

The Faith of the Patriarchs

17 By faith Abraham, awhen he was tested, offered up Isaac, and he who had received the promises offered up his only begotten son, 18 6of whom it was said, b“In Isaac your seed shall be called,” 19 concluding that God cwas able to raise him up, even from the dead, from which he also received him in a figurative sense.