Faith and Assurance (Genesis 1:1–2; John 1:1–5)
2 CPDV For this reason, the ancients were given testimony. BSB BSB: This is why the ancients were commended.
3 CPDV By faith, we understand the world to be fashioned by the Word of God, so that the visible might be made by the invisible. BSB BSB: By faith we understand that the universe was formed at God’s command, so that what is seen was not made out of what was visible.
The Faith of Abel, Enoch, Noah (Genesis 4–9)
4 CPDV 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. BSB BSB: By faith Abel offered God a better sacrifice than Cain did. By faith he was commended as righteous when God gave approval to his gifts. And by faith he still speaks, even though he is dead.
7 CPDV 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. BSB BSB: By faith Noah, when warned about things not yet seen, in godly fear built an ark to save his family. By faith he condemned the world and became heir of the righteousness that comes by faith.
The Faith of Abraham and Sarah (Genesis 15–22; Romans 4:1–12)
8 CPDV 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. BSB BSB: By faith Abraham, when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance, obeyed and went, without knowing where he was going.
9 CPDV 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. BSB BSB: By faith he dwelt in the promised land as a stranger in a foreign country. He lived in tents, as did Isaac and Jacob, who were heirs with him of the same promise.
10 CPDV For he was awaiting a city having firm foundations, whose designer and builder is God. BSB BSB: For he was looking forward to the city with foundations, whose architect and builder is God.
11 CPDV 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. BSB BSB: By faith Sarah, even though she was barren and beyond the proper age, was enabled to conceive a child, because she considered Him faithful who had promised.
12 CPDV Because of this, there were also born, from one who himself was as if dead, a multitude like the stars of heaven, who are, like the sand of the seashore, innumerable. BSB BSB: And 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.
13 CPDV 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. BSB BSB: All these people died in faith, without having received the things they were promised. However, they saw them and welcomed them from afar. And they acknowledged that they were strangers and exiles on the earth.
14 CPDV For those who speak in this way are themselves indicating that they seek a homeland. BSB BSB: Now those who say such things show that they are seeking a country of their own.
15 CPDV And if, indeed, they had been mindful of the very place from which they departed, they certainly would have returned in time. BSB BSB: If they had been thinking of the country they had left, they would have had opportunity to return.
16 CPDV 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. BSB BSB: Instead, they were longing for a better country, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for He has prepared a city for them.
18 CPDV To him, it was said, “Through Isaac, shall your offspring be summoned,” BSB BSB: even though God had said to him, “Through Isaac your offspring will be reckoned.”
19 CPDV indicating that God is even able to raise up from the dead. And thus, he also established him as a parable. BSB BSB: Abraham reasoned that God could raise the dead, and in a sense, he did receive Isaac back from death.
The Faith of Isaac, Jacob, and Joseph (Genesis 27–50)
20 CPDV By faith, also, Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau, concerning future events. BSB BSB: By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau concerning the future.
21 CPDV By faith, Jacob, as he was dying, blessed each of the sons of Joseph; and he reverenced the summit of his rod. BSB BSB: By faith Jacob, when he was dying, blessed each of Joseph’s sons and worshiped as he leaned on the top of his staff.
22 CPDV By faith, Joseph, as he was dying, recalled the departure of the sons of Israel, and gave a commandment concerning his bones. BSB BSB: By faith Joseph, when his end was near, spoke about the exodus of the Israelites and gave instructions about his bones.
The Faith of Moses (Exodus 2–15; Acts 7:20–22)
23 CPDV 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. BSB BSB: By faith Moses’ parents hid him for three months after his birth, because they saw that he was a beautiful child, and they were unafraid of the king’s edict.
24 CPDV By faith, Moses, after growing up, denied himself a place as the son of Pharaoh’s daughter, BSB BSB: By faith Moses, when he was grown, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter.
25 CPDV choosing to be afflicted with the people of God, rather than to have the pleasantness of sin for a time, BSB BSB: He chose to suffer oppression with God’s people rather than to experience the fleeting enjoyment of sin.
26 CPDV valuing the reproach of Christ to be a greater wealth than the treasures of the Egyptians. For he looked forward to his reward. BSB BSB: He valued disgrace for Christ above the treasures of Egypt, for he was looking ahead to his reward.
27 CPDV By faith, he abandoned Egypt, not dreading the animosity of the king. For he pressed on, as if seeing him who is unseen. BSB BSB: By faith Moses left Egypt, not fearing the king’s anger; he persevered because he saw Him who is invisible.
28 CPDV By faith, he celebrated the Passover and the shedding of the blood, so that he who destroyed the firstborn might not touch them. BSB BSB: By faith he kept the Passover and the sprinkling of blood, so that the destroyer of the firstborn would not touch Israel’s own firstborn.
29 CPDV By faith, they crossed the Red Sea, as if on dry land, yet when the Egyptians attempted it, they were swallowed up. BSB BSB: By faith the people passed through the Red Sea as on dry land; but when the Egyptians tried to follow, they were drowned.
The Faith of Many (Joshua–Malachi)
30 CPDV By faith, the walls of Jericho collapsed, after being encircled for seven days. BSB BSB: By faith the walls of Jericho fell, after the people had marched around them for seven days.
31 CPDV By faith, Rahab, the harlot, did not perish with the unbelievers, after receiving the spies with peace. BSB BSB: By faith the prostitute Rahab, because she welcomed the spies in peace, did not perish with those who were disobedient.
32 CPDV 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: BSB BSB: And what more shall I say? Time will not allow me to tell of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David, Samuel, and the prophets, 33 CPDV those who, by faith, conquered kingdoms, accomplished justice, obtained promises, closed the mouths of lions, BSB BSB: who through faith conquered kingdoms, administered justice, and gained what was promised; who shut the mouths of lions,
34 CPDV extinguished the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, recovered from infirmities, showed strength in battle, turned back the armies of foreigners. BSB BSB: quenched the raging fire, and escaped the edge of the sword; who gained strength from weakness, became mighty in battle, and put foreign armies to flight.
36 CPDV Truly, others were tested by mocking and lashes, and moreover by chains and imprisonment. BSB BSB: Still others endured mocking and flogging, and even chains and imprisonment.
37 CPDV 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. BSB BSB: They were stoned, they were sawed in two, they were put to death by the sword. They went around in sheepskins and goatskins, destitute, oppressed, and mistreated.
38 CPDV Of them, the world was not worthy, wandering in solitude on mountains, in the caves and caverns of the earth. BSB BSB: The world was not worthy of them. They wandered in deserts and mountains, and hid in caves and holes in the ground.
39 CPDV And all these, having been proven by the testimony of faith, did not receive the Promise. BSB BSB: These were all commended for their faith, yet they did not receive what was promised.
40 CPDV God’s Providence holds something better for us, so that not without us would they be perfected. BSB BSB: God had planned something better for us, so that together with us they would be made perfect.
Select verses for actions: Enter goes to them and Escape comes back.