Faith and Assurance
(John 1:1–5)

1Now faith is an assurance of things hoped for, a sure persuasion of things not seen; 2for in this the elders were well reported of.

3By faith we perceive that the ages have been constituted by the word of God, so that what is seen has not arisen out of things that appear.

The Faith of Abel, Enoch, Noah

4By faith Abel offered to God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, through which he received witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts; and through it he, being dead, is still speaking. 5By faith Enoch was translated, so as not to see death; and he was not found, because God translated him; for, it has been witnessed to him that, before his translation, he had been well-pleasing to God. 6And, apart from faith, it is impossible to please Him; for he that comes to God must believe that He is, and that He becomes a rewarder to those who seek after Him. 7By faith Noah, being divinely instructed concerning things not yet seen, moved with fear, prepared an ark for the saving of his house; through which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is according to faith.

The Faith of Abraham and Sarah
(Romans 4:1–12)

8By faith Abraham, when called, obeyed to go forth into the place which he was about to receive for an inheritance; and he went forth, not knowing whither he was going. 9By faith he sojourned in the land of promise, as a foreign land, dwelling in tents with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise; 10for he was waiting for the city which has the foundations, whose architect and builder is God. 11By faith Sarah herself also received power to conceive seed, even when past the age of child-bearing, since she accounted Him faithful, Who promised. 12Wherefore also there sprang from one, and one impotent as to these things, as many as the stars of heaven in multitude, and as the sand, which is by the sea-shore, innumerable.

13These all died according to faith, not having obtained the promises, but having seen them from afar, and having greeted them, and having confessed that they were strangers and sojourners on the earth. 14For those who say such things make it manifest that they are seeking their paternal home. 15And, if, indeed, they had been mindful of that country from which they went out, they would have had opportunity to return. 16But now they long for a better country, that is, a heavenly one; wherefore, God is not ashamed of them, to be called their God; for He prepared for them a city.

17By faith Abraham, when tried, has offered up Isaac; yea, he who gladly received the promises was offering up his only begotten son, 18to whom it was said, "In Isaac shall your seed be called;" 19accounting that God is able to raise even from the dead; whence he did also, as in a figure, receive him back.

The Faith of Isaac, Jacob, and Joseph

20By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau, concerning things about to be. 21By faith Jacob, when dying, blessed each of the sons of Joseph; and he worshiped leaning on the top of his staff. 22By faith Joseph, when approaching his end, made mention of the departure of the sons of Israel, and gave orders concerning his bones.

The Faith of Moses
(Acts 7:20–22)

23By faith Moses, when born, was hidden three months by his parents, because they saw that he was a comely child; and they were not afraid of the king's command. 24By faith Moses, when grown up, refused to be called son of Pharaoh's daughter, 25choosing rather to suffer evil with the people of God, than to have an enjoyment of sin for a season; 26regarding the reproach of the Christ greater riches than the treasures of Egypt; for he was looking away to the recompense. 27By faith he forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king; for he endured, as seeing Him Who is invisible. 28By faith he has instituted the passover, and the applying of the blood, lest the destroyer of the first-born should touch them. 29By faith they passed through the Red Sea as by dry land, which the Egyptians, making an attempt to do, were swallowed up.

The Faith of Many

30By faith the walls of Jericho fell, having been compassed about for seven days.

31By faith Rahab the harlot did not perish with those who disbelieved; having received the spies with peace.

32And what more am I to say? for the time will fail me, if I speak at length concerning Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, of David also, and of Samuel, and the prophets; 33who, through faith, subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained promises, shut the mouths of lions, 34quenched the power of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, from weakness were made strong, became mighty in war, put to flight armies of aliens. 35Women received their dead by a resurrection; and others were tortured, not accepting the redemption, that they might obtain a better resurrection. 36And others had trial of mockings and scourgings, and, moreover, of bonds and imprisonment: 37they were stoned, they were sawn asunder, they were tempted, they perished in the slaughter of the sword; they went about in sheep-skins, in goat-skins, being destitute, suffering tribulation, maltreated 38(of whom the world was not worthy), wandering in deserts and mountains and caves, and the holes of the earth.

39And these all, having received a good report through faith, obtained not the promise; 40God having provided something better concerning us, that, apart from us, they should not be made perfect.