Faith is the substance of things hoped for and the evidence of things not seen, and by faith the ancients were given testimony. Many biblical figures, including Abel, Enoch, Noah, Abraham, Sarah, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, Moses, and others, demonstrated faith in God's promises and plans, even when they did not see the fulfillment of those promises in their lifetimes. Through faith, they accomplished great things, including escaping danger, receiving miracles, and persevering in the face of adversity. Ultimately, they did not receive the promises they had hoped for, but God has something better in store for them, and for believers today.
1 Now, faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not apparent 2 For this reason, the ancients were given testimony 3 By faith, we understand the world to be fashioned by the Word of God, so that the visible might be made by the invisible 4 By faith, Abel offered to God a much better sacrifice than that of Cain, through which he obtained testimony that he was just, in that God offered testimony to his gifts. And through that sacrifice, he still speaks to us, though he is dead 5 By faith, Enoch was transferred, so that he would not see death, and he was not found because God had transferred him. For before he was transferred, he had testimony that he pleased God 6 But without faith, it is impossible to please God. For whoever approaches God must believe that he exists, and that he rewards those who seek him 7 By faith, Noah, having accepted an answer about those things which were not yet seen, being afraid, fashioned an ark for the salvation of his house. Through the ark, he condemned the world, and was established as the heir of the justice that occurs through faith 8 By faith, the one called Abraham obeyed, going out to the place that he was to receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going 9 By faith, he stayed in the Land of the Promise as if in a foreign land, dwelling in cottages, with Isaac and Jacob, co-heirs of the same promise 10 For he was awaiting a city having firm foundations, whose designer and builder is God 11 By faith also, Sarah herself, being barren, received the ability to conceive offspring, even though she was past that age in life. For she believed him to be faithful, who had promised 12 Because of this, there were also born, from one who himself was as if dead, a mulititude like the stars of heaven, who are, like the sand of the seashore, innumerable 13 All of these passed away, adhering to faith, not having received the promises, yet beholding them from afar and saluting them, and confessing themselves to be sojourners and guests upon the earth 14 For those who speak in this way are themselves indicating that they seek a homeland 15 And if, indeed, they had been mindful of the very place from which they departed, they certainly would have returned in time 16 But now they hunger for a better place, that is, Heaven. For this reason, God is not ashamed to be called their God. For he has prepared a city for them 17 By faith, Abraham, when he was tested, offered Isaac, so that he who had received the promises was offering up his only son 18 To him, it was said, "Through Isaac, shall your offspring be summoned, 19 indicating that God is even able to raise up from the dead. And thus, he also established him as a parable 20 By faith, also, Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau, concerning future events 21 By faith, Jacob, as he was dying, blessed each of the sons of Joseph; and he reverenced the summit of his rod 22 By faith, Joseph, as he was dying, recalled the departure of the sons of Israel, and gave a commandment concerning his bones 23 By faith, Moses, after being born, was hidden for three months by his parents, because they had seen that he was a graceful infant, and they did not fear the king’s edict 24 By faith, Moses, after growing up, denied himself a place as the son of Pharaoh’s daughter 25 choosing to be afflicted with the people of God, rather than to have the pleasantness of sin for a time 26 valuing the reproach of Christ to be a greater wealth than the treasures of the Egyptians. For he looked forward to his reward 27 By faith, he abandoned Egypt, not dreading the animosity of the king. For he pressed on, as if seeing him who is unseen 28 By faith, he celebrated the Passover and the shedding of the blood, so that he who destroyed the firstborn might not touch them 29 By faith, they crossed the Red Sea, as if on dry land, yet when the Egyptians attempted it, they were swallowed up 30 By faith, the walls of Jericho collapsed, after being encircled for seven days 31 By faith, Rahab, the harlot, did not perish with the unbelievers, after receiving the spies with peace 32 And what should I say next? For time is not sufficient for me to give an account of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David, Samuel, and the Prophets 33 those who, by faith, conquered kingdoms, accomplished justice, obtained promises, closed the mouths of lions 34 extinguished the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, recovered from infirmities, showed strength in battle, turned back the armies of foreigners 35 Women received their dead by means of resurrection. But others suffered severe punishment, not yet receiving redemption, so that they would find a better resurrection 36 Truly, others were tested by mocking and lashes, and moreover by chains and imprisonment 37 They were stoned; they were cut; they were tempted. With the slaughter of the sword, they were killed. They wandered about in sheepskin and in goatskin, in dire need, in anguish afflicted 38 Of them, the world was not worthy, wandering in solitude on mountains, in the caves and caverns of the earth 39 And all these, having been proven by the testimony of faith, did not receive the Promise 40 God’s Providence holds something better for us, so that not without us would they be perfected