Study Desk

Now faith is the ^(C1)certainty of things ^(F1)(C2)hoped for, a ^(F2)proof of ^(C3)things not seen.

For by it the ^(C1)people of old ^(F1)(C2)gained approval.

By faith we understand that the ^(F1)(C1)world has been created ^(C2)by the word of God so that what is seen ^(C3)has not been made out of things that are visible.

By faith ^(C1)Abel offered to God a better sacrifice than Cain, through which he was ^(C2)attested to be righteous, God testifying ^(F1)about his ^(C3)gifts, and through ^(F2)faith, though ^(C4)he is dead, he still speaks.

By faith ^(C1)Enoch was taken up so that he would not ^(C2)see death; AND HE WAS NOT FOUND BECAUSE GOD TOOK HIM UP; for before he was taken up, he was attested to have been pleasing to God.

And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for the one who ^(C1)comes to God must believe that He exists, and that He proves to be One who rewards those who seek Him.

By faith ^(C1)Noah, being ^(C2)warned by God about ^(C3)things not yet seen, ^(F1)(C4)in reverence ^(C5)prepared an ark for the salvation of his household, by which he condemned the world, and became an heir of ^(C6)the righteousness which is according to faith.

By faith ^(C1)Abraham, when he was called, obeyed ^(F1)by going out to a place which he was to ^(C2)receive for an inheritance; and he left, not knowing where he was going.

By faith he lived as a stranger in ^(C1)the land of promise, as in a foreign land, ^(C2)living in tents with Isaac and Jacob, ^(C3)fellow heirs of the same promise;

for he was looking for ^(C1)the city which has ^(C2)foundations, ^(C3)whose architect and builder is God.

By faith even ^(C1)Sarah herself received ^(F1)ability to conceive, even beyond the proper time of life, since she considered Him ^(C2)faithful who had promised.

Therefore even from one man, and ^(C1)one who was as good as dead ^(F1)at that, there were born descendants who were ^(C2)just as the stars of heaven in number, and as the innumerable grains of sand along the seashore.

^(C1)All these died in faith, ^(C2)without receiving the promises, but ^(C3)having seen and welcomed them from a distance, and ^(C4)having confessed that they were strangers and exiles on the earth.

For those who say such things make it clear that they are seeking a country of their own.

And indeed if they had been ^(F1)thinking of that country which they left, ^(C1)they would have had opportunity to return.

But as it is, they desire a better country, that is, a ^(C1)heavenly one. Therefore ^(C2)God is not ^(F1)ashamed to be ^(C3)called their God; for ^(C4)He has prepared a city for them.

By faith ^(C1)Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac, and the one who had ^(C2)received the promises was offering up his ^(F1)only son;

it was he to whom it was said, "^(C1)THROUGH ISAAC YOUR ^(F1)DESCENDANTS SHALL BE NAMED."

^(F1)He considered that ^(C1)God is able to raise people even from the dead, from which he also received him back ^(F2)as a ^(F3)(C2)type.

By faith ^(C1)Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau, even regarding things to come.

By faith ^(C1)Jacob, as he was dying, blessed each of the sons of Joseph, and ^(C2)worshiped, leaning on the top of his staff.

By faith ^(C1)Joseph, when he was dying, made mention of the exodus of the sons of Israel, and gave orders concerning his bones.

By faith ^(C1)Moses, when he was born, was hidden for three months by his parents, because they saw he was a beautiful child; and they were not afraid of the ^(C2)king's edict.

By faith Moses, ^(C1)when he had grown up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter,

choosing rather to ^(C1)endure ill-treatment with the people of God than to enjoy the temporary pleasures of sin,

^(C1)considering the ^(F1)reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures of Egypt; for he was looking to the ^(C2)reward.

By faith he ^(C1)left Egypt, not ^(C2)fearing the wrath of the king; for he persevered, as though ^(C3)seeing Him who is unseen.

By faith he ^(F1)(C1)kept the Passover and the sprinkling of the blood, so that ^(C2)the destroyer of the firstborn would not touch them.

By faith they ^(C1)passed through the Red Sea as through dry land; and the Egyptians, when they attempted it, were ^(F1)drowned.

By faith ^(C1)the walls of Jericho fell down ^(F1)(C2)after the Israelites had marched around them for seven days.

By faith the prostitute ^(C1)Rahab did not perish along with those who were disobedient, after she had welcomed the spies ^(F1)in peace.

And what more shall I say? For time will fail me if I tell of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, of ^(C5)David and ^(C6)Samuel and the prophets,

who by faith ^(C1)conquered kingdoms, ^(C2)performed acts of righteousness, ^(C3)obtained promises, ^(C4)shut the mouths of lions,

^(C1)quenched the power of fire, ^(C2)escaped the edge of the sword, from weakness were made strong, ^(C3)became mighty in war, ^(C3)put foreign armies to flight.

^(C1)Women received back their dead by resurrection; and others were tortured, not accepting their ^(F1)release, so that they might obtain a better resurrection;

and others ^(F1)experienced mocking and flogging, and further, ^(C1)chains and imprisonment.

They were ^(C1)stoned, they were sawn in two, ^(F1)they were tempted, they were ^(C2)put to death with the sword; they went about ^(C3)in sheepskins, in goatskins, being destitute, afflicted, ^(C4)tormented

(people of whom the world was not worthy), ^(C1)wandering in deserts, on mountains, and sheltering in caves and holes ^(F1)in the ground.

And all these, having ^(C1)gained approval through their faith, ^(C2)did not receive ^(F1)what was promised,

because God had ^(F1)provided ^(C1)something better for us, so that ^(C2)apart from us they would not be made perfect.

Therefore, since we also have such a great cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let's ^(C1)rid ourselves of every obstacle and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let's ^(C2)run with ^(C3)endurance the race that is set before us,

looking only at Jesus, the ^(F1)(C1)originator and perfecter of the faith, who for the joy set before Him ^(C2)endured the cross, ^(C3)despising the shame, and has ^(C4)sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

For ^(C1)consider Him who has endured such hostility by sinners against Himself, so that you will not grow weary ^(F1)(C2)and lose heart.

^(C1)You have not yet resisted ^(F1)(C2)to the point of shedding blood in your striving against sin;

and you have forgotten the exhortation which is addressed to you as sons, "^(C1)MY SON, DO NOT REGARD LIGHTLY THE DISCIPLINE OF THE LORD, NOR ^(C2)FAINT WHEN YOU ARE PUNISHED BY HIM;

^(C1)FOR ^(C2)WHOM THE LORD LOVES HE DISCIPLINES, AND HE PUNISHES EVERY SON WHOM HE ACCEPTS."

It is for discipline that you endure; ^(C1)God deals with you as with sons; for what son is there whom his father does not discipline?

But if you are without discipline, ^(C1)of which all have become partakers, then you are illegitimate children and not sons.

Furthermore, we had ^(F1)earthly fathers to discipline us, and we ^(C1)respected them; shall we not much more be subject to ^(C2)the Father of ^(F2)spirits, and ^(C3)live?

For they disciplined us for a short time as seemed best to them, but He disciplines us for our good, ^(C1)so that we may share His holiness.

^(C1)For the moment, all discipline seems not to be pleasant, but painful; yet to those who have been trained by it, afterward it yields the ^(C2)peaceful fruit of righteousness.

Therefore, ^(F1)(C1)strengthen the hands that are weak and the knees that are feeble,

and ^(C1)make straight paths for your feet, so that the limb which is impaired may not be dislocated, but rather ^(C2)be healed.

^(C1)Pursue peace with all people, and the ^(C2)holiness without which no one will ^(C3)see the Lord.

See to it that no one ^(C1)comes short of the grace of God; that no ^(C2)root of bitterness springing up causes trouble, and by it many become ^(C3)defiled;

that there be no ^(C1)sexually immoral or ^(C2)godless person like Esau, ^(C3)who sold his own birthright for a single meal.

For you know that even afterward, ^(C1)when he wanted to inherit the blessing, he was rejected, for he found no place for repentance, though he sought for it with tears.

^(C1)For you have not come to ^(C2)a mountain that can be touched and to a blazing fire, and to darkness and gloom and whirlwind,

and to the ^(C1)blast of a trumpet and the ^(C2)sound of words, which sound was such that those who heard ^(C3)begged that no further word be spoken to them.

For they could not ^(F1)cope with the command, "^(C1)If even an animal touches the mountain, it shall be stoned."

And so terrible was the sight, that Moses said, "^(C1)I am terrified and trembling."

But ^(C1)you have come to Mount Zion and to ^(C2)the city of ^(C3)the living God, ^(C4)the heavenly Jerusalem, and to ^(C5)myriads of ^(F1)angels,

to the general assembly and ^(C1)church of the firstborn who ^(C2)are enrolled in heaven, and to God, ^(C3)the Judge of all, and to the ^(C4)spirits of the righteous made perfect,

and to Jesus, the ^(C1)mediator of a new covenant, and to the ^(C2)sprinkled blood, which speaks better than ^(C3)the blood of Abel.

^(C1)See to it that you do not refuse Him who is ^(C2)speaking. For ^(C3)if those did not escape when they ^(C4)refused him who ^(C5)warned them on earth, ^(F1)much less will we escape who turn away from Him who ^(C5)warns us from heaven.

And ^(C1)His voice shook the earth then, but now He has promised, saying, "^(C2)YET ONCE MORE I WILL SHAKE NOT ONLY THE EARTH, BUT ALSO THE HEAVEN."

This expression, "Yet once more," denotes ^(C1)the removing of those things which can be shaken, as of created things, so that those things which cannot be shaken may remain.

Therefore, since we receive a ^(C1)kingdom which cannot be shaken, let's ^(F1)show gratitude, by which we may ^(C2)offer to God an acceptable service with reverence and awe;

for ^(C1)our God is a consuming fire.

Let ^(C1)love of the brothers and sisters continue.

Do not neglect ^(C1)hospitality to strangers, for by this some have ^(C2)entertained angels without knowing it.

^(C1)Remember ^(C2)the prisoners, as though in prison with them, and those who are badly treated, since you yourselves also are in the body.

^(C1)Marriage is to be held in honor among all, and the marriage bed is to be undefiled; ^(C2)for God will judge the sexually immoral and adulterers.

Make sure that your character is ^(C1)free from the love of money, ^(C2)being content with what you have; for He Himself has said, "^(C3)I WILL NEVER DESERT YOU, NOR WILL I EVER ABANDON YOU,"

so that we confidently say, "^(C1)THE LORD IS MY HELPER, I WILL NOT BE AFRAID. WHAT WILL MAN DO TO ME?"

Remember ^(C1)those who led you, who spoke ^(C2)the word of God to you; and considering the ^(F1)result of their way of life, ^(C3)imitate their faith.

^(C1)Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today, and forever.

^(C1)Do not be misled by varied and strange teachings; for it is good for the heart to ^(C2)be strengthened by grace, not by ^(C3)foods, ^(C4)through which those who ^(F1)were so occupied were not benefited.

We have an altar ^(C1)from which those ^(C2)who serve the ^(F1)tabernacle have no right to eat.

For ^(C1)the bodies of those animals whose blood is brought into the Holy Place by the high priest as an offering for sin are burned outside the camp.

Therefore Jesus also suffered ^(C1)outside the gate, ^(C2)that He might sanctify the people ^(C3)through His own blood.

So then, let us go out to Him outside the camp, ^(C1)bearing His reproach.

For here ^(C1)we do not have a lasting city, but we are seeking ^(C2)the city which is to come.

^(C1)Through Him then, let's continually offer up a ^(C2)sacrifice of praise to God, that is, ^(C3)the fruit of lips praising His name.

And do not neglect doing good and ^(C1)sharing, for ^(C2)with such sacrifices God is pleased.

^(C1)Obey your leaders and submit to them—for ^(C2)they keep watch over your souls as those who will give an account—so that they may do this with joy, not ^(F1)groaning; for this would be unhelpful for you.

^(C1)Pray for us, for we are sure that we have a ^(C2)good conscience, desiring to conduct ourselves honorably in all things.

And I urge you all the more to do this, ^(C1)so that I may be restored to you more quickly.

Now may ^(C1)the God of peace, who ^(C2)brought up from the dead the ^(C3)great Shepherd of the sheep ^(F1)through ^(C4)the blood of the ^(C5)eternal covenant, that is, Jesus our Lord,

^(C1)equip you in every good thing to do His will, ^(C2)working in us that ^(C3)which is pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ, ^(C4)to whom be the glory forever and ever. Amen.

But ^(C1)I urge you, ^(C2)brothers and sisters, ^(F1)listen patiently to ^(F2)this ^(C2)word of exhortation, for ^(C3)I have written to you briefly.

Know that ^(C1)our brother Timothy has been released, with whom, if he comes soon, I will see you.

Greet ^(C1)all of your leaders and all the ^(F1)(C2)saints. Those from ^(C3)Italy greet you.

^(C1)Grace be with you all.