¶ Faith is a sure confidence of things which are hoped for, and a certainty of things which are not seen. By it the elders were well reported of. Thorow faith we understand that the world was ordained, by the word of God: That by the means of things which appear, things which are invisible might be known. By faith Abel offered unto God a more plenteous sacrifice than Cain: by which, he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts: by which also he being dead, yet speaketh.
¶ By faith was Enoch translated that he should not see death: neither was he found: for God had taken him away. Before he was taken away, he obtained record, that he had pleased God: but without faith it is unpossible to please him. For he that cometh to God, must believe that God is, and that he is a rewarder of them that seek him.
¶ By faith Noah honoured God, after that he was warned of things which were not seen, and prepared the ark to the saving of his household, throwe the which ark he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which cometh by faith.
¶ By faith Abraham, when he was called obeyed to go out into a place, which he should afterward receive to inheritance, and he went out, not knowing whither he should go.
¶ By faith he removed into the land that was promised him, as into a strange country, and dwelt in tabernacles: and so did Isaac, and Iacob, heirs with him of the same promise. For he looked for a city having a foundation, whose builder and maker is God.
¶ Thorow faith Sara also received strength to be with child, and was delivered of a child when she was past age, because she judged him faithful which had promised.
¶ And therefore sprang there of one (and of one which was as good as dead) so many in multitude, as the stars of the sky, and as the sand of the sea shore which is innumerable.
¶ And they all died in faith, and received not the promises: but saw them afar off, and believed them, and saluted them: and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth. They that say such things, declare that they seek a country. Also if they had been mindful of that country, from whence they came, they had leisure to have returned again. But now they desire a better, that is to say a celestial. Wherefore God is not ashamed of them, even to be called their God: for he hath prepared for them a city.
¶ In faith Abraham offered up Isaac, when he was tempted, and he offered him being his only son, in whom he had received the promises: Of whom it was said, in Isaac shall thy seed be called: for he considered, that God was able to raise up again from death. Wherefore received he him, as an ensample of the resurrection. In faith Isaac blessed Iacob and Esau, as concerning things to come.
¶ By faith Iacob when he was a dying, blessed both the sons of Ioseph, and worshipped on the top of his sceptre.
¶ By faith Ioseph when he died, remembered the departing of the children of Israhel, and gave commandment of his bones.
¶ By faith Moses when he was born, was hid three months of his father and mother, because they saw he was a proper child: neither feared they the king's commandment.
¶ By faith Moses when he was of a great age, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter, and chose rather to suffer adversity with the people of God, then to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season, and esteemed the rebuke of Christ greater riches, then the treasure of Egypt. For he had a respect unto the reward.
¶ By faith he forsook Egypt, and feared not the fierceness of the king. For he endured, even as he had seen him which is invisible. Thorow faith he ordained the ester lamb, and the effusion of blood, lest he that destroyed the first born should touch them.
¶ By faith they passed thorow the reed sea as by dry land, which when the egyptians had assayed to do, they were drowned.
¶ By faith the walls of Iericho fell down after they were compassed about, seven days.
¶ By faith the harlot Rahab perished not with them that believed not, after she had received the spies to lodging peaceably.
¶ And what shall I more say, the time would be too short for me to tell of Gideon, of Barach, and of Samson, and of Iephthae. Also of David and Samuel, and of the prophets, which thorow faith subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained the promises, stopped the mouths of lions, quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, of weak were made strong, waxed valiant in fight, turned to flight the armies of the aliens. The women received their dead raised to life again.
¶ Wother were racked, and would not be delivered, that they might receive a better resurrection. Wother tasted of mockings, and scourgings, moreover of bonds and prisonment: were stoned, were hewn asunder, were tempted, were slain with swords, walked up and down in sheep skins, in goat skins, in need, tribulation, and vexation, which the world was not worthy of: They wandered in wilderness, in mountains, in dens and caves of the earth.
¶ And these all thorow faith obtained good report, and received not the promise, God providing a better thing for us, that they without us should not be made perfect.
© Faith of God
William Tyndale 1526