Alkukirkko
Witnesses of Faith
The author of the Letter to the Hebrews defines faith and gives a powerful listing of heroes of faith throughout salvation history—from Abel, Enoch, and Noah, through Abraham, Sarah, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, and Moses, to Rahab, the judges, David, and the prophets—as examples to follow.
Heprealaiskirje 11,1-40
1Faith is the assurance of what we hope for, the conviction of what we do not see.
Ἔστιν δὲ πίστις ἐλπιζομένων ὑπόστασις, πραγμάτων ἔλεγχος οὐ βλεπομένων·
2It was by faith that the people of old received God's approval.
ἐν ταύτῃ γὰρ ἐμαρτυρήθησαν οἱ πρεσβύτεροι.
3By faith we understand that the universe was formed by the word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of what was visible.
πίστει νοοῦμεν κατηρτίσθαι τοὺς αἰῶνας ῥήματι θεοῦ, εἰς τὸ μὴ ἐκ φαινομένων ⸂τὸ βλεπόμενον⸃ γεγονέναι.
4By faith Abel offered God a better sacrifice than Cain did, and through it he was commended as righteous, since God himself bore witness concerning his gifts. And through his faith he still speaks, though he is dead.
Πίστει πλείονα θυσίαν Ἅβελ παρὰ Κάϊν προσήνεγκεν τῷ θεῷ, διʼ ἧς ἐμαρτυρήθη εἶναι δίκαιος, μαρτυροῦντος ἐπὶ τοῖς δώροις αὐτοῦ ⸂τοῦ θεοῦ⸃, καὶ διʼ αὐτῆς ἀποθανὼν ἔτι ⸀λαλεῖ.
5By faith Enoch was taken up, so that he did not see death, and he was not found, because God had taken him. For before he was taken up he was commended as one who pleased God.
Πίστει Ἑνὼχ μετετέθη τοῦ μὴ ἰδεῖν θάνατον, καὶ οὐχ ηὑρίσκετο διότι μετέθηκεν αὐτὸν ὁ θεός· πρὸ γὰρ τῆς ⸀μεταθέσεως μεμαρτύρηται εὐαρεστηκέναι τῷ θεῷ,
6And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever comes to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.
χωρὶς δὲ πίστεως ἀδύνατον εὐαρεστῆσαι, πιστεῦσαι γὰρ δεῖ τὸν προσερχόμενον τῷ θεῷ ὅτι ἔστιν καὶ τοῖς ἐκζητοῦσιν αὐτὸν μισθαποδότης γίνεται.
7By faith Noah, warned by God about things not yet seen, in reverent fear built an ark to save his household. Through it he condemned the world and became heir of the righteousness that comes by faith.
πίστει χρηματισθεὶς Νῶε περὶ τῶν μηδέπω βλεπομένων εὐλαβηθεὶς κατεσκεύασεν κιβωτὸν εἰς σωτηρίαν τοῦ οἴκου αὐτοῦ, διʼ ἧς κατέκρινεν τὸν κόσμον, καὶ τῆς κατὰ πίστιν δικαιοσύνης ἐγένετο κληρονόμος.
8By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to a place he would receive as an inheritance; he went out, not knowing where he was going.
⸀Πίστει καλούμενος Ἀβραὰμ ὑπήκουσεν ἐξελθεῖν εἰς ⸀τόπον ὃν ἤμελλεν λαμβάνειν εἰς κληρονομίαν, καὶ ἐξῆλθεν μὴ ἐπιστάμενος ποῦ ἔρχεται.
9By faith he lived as a stranger in the land of promise, dwelling in tents with Isaac and Jacob, heirs with him of the same promise.
πίστει παρῴκησεν εἰς γῆν τῆς ἐπαγγελίας ὡς ἀλλοτρίαν, ἐν σκηναῖς κατοικήσας μετὰ Ἰσαὰκ καὶ Ἰακὼβ τῶν συγκληρονόμων τῆς ἐπαγγελίας τῆς αὐτῆς·
10For he was waiting for the city with foundations, whose architect and builder is God.
ἐξεδέχετο γὰρ τὴν τοὺς θεμελίους ἔχουσαν πόλιν, ἧς τεχνίτης καὶ δημιουργὸς ὁ θεός.
11By faith Sarah herself received power to conceive, even though she was past the age, because she considered him faithful who had made the promise.
πίστει καὶ ⸂αὐτῇ Σάρρᾳ⸃ δύναμιν εἰς καταβολὴν σπέρματος ἔλαβεν καὶ παρὰ καιρὸν ⸀ἡλικίας, ἐπεὶ πιστὸν ἡγήσατο τὸν ἐπαγγειλάμενον·
12And 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.
διὸ καὶ ἀφʼ ἑνὸς ἐγεννήθησαν, καὶ ταῦτα νενεκρωμένου, καθὼς τὰ ἄστρα τοῦ οὐρανοῦ τῷ πλήθει καὶ ὡς ἡ ἄμμος ἡ παρὰ τὸ χεῖλος τῆς θαλάσσης ἡ ἀναρίθμητος.
13All these died in faith. They had not received what was promised, but they saw it and welcomed it from a distance, confessing that they were strangers and sojourners on the earth.
Κατὰ πίστιν ἀπέθανον οὗτοι πάντες, μὴ ⸀λαβόντες τὰς ἐπαγγελίας, ἀλλὰ πόρρωθεν αὐτὰς ἰδόντες καὶ ἀσπασάμενοι, καὶ ὁμολογήσαντες ὅτι ξένοι καὶ παρεπίδημοί εἰσιν ἐπὶ τῆς γῆς.
14For those who speak this way make it clear that they are looking for a homeland.
οἱ γὰρ τοιαῦτα λέγοντες ἐμφανίζουσιν ὅτι πατρίδα ἐπιζητοῦσιν.
15If they had been thinking of the land they left behind, they would have had opportunity to return.
καὶ εἰ μὲν ἐκείνης ⸀μνημονεύουσιν ἀφʼ ἧς ⸀ἐξέβησαν, εἶχον ἂν καιρὸν ἀνακάμψαι·
16But as it is, they long for a better country—a heavenly one. That is why God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared a city for them.
νῦν δὲ κρείττονος ὀρέγονται, τοῦτʼ ἔστιν ἐπουρανίου. διὸ οὐκ ἐπαισχύνεται αὐτοὺς ὁ θεὸς θεὸς ἐπικαλεῖσθαι αὐτῶν, ἡτοίμασεν γὰρ αὐτοῖς πόλιν.
17By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac. He who had received the promises was ready to offer his only son,
Πίστει προσενήνοχεν Ἀβραὰμ τὸν Ἰσαὰκ πειραζόμενος, καὶ τὸν μονογενῆ προσέφερεν ὁ τὰς ἐπαγγελίας ἀναδεξάμενος,
18of whom it had been said, "Through Isaac your offspring shall be named."
πρὸς ὃν ἐλαλήθη ὅτι Ἐν Ἰσαὰκ κληθήσεταί σοι σπέρμα,
19He reasoned that God was able even to raise the dead—and figuratively speaking, he did receive him back from death.
λογισάμενος ὅτι καὶ ἐκ νεκρῶν ἐγείρειν δυνατὸς ὁ θεός· ὅθεν αὐτὸν καὶ ἐν παραβολῇ ἐκομίσατο.
20By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau, speaking of things to come.
Πίστει ⸀καὶ περὶ μελλόντων εὐλόγησεν Ἰσαὰκ τὸν Ἰακὼβ καὶ τὸν Ἠσαῦ.
21By faith Jacob, as he was dying, blessed each of Joseph's sons and worshiped, leaning on the top of his staff.
πίστει Ἰακὼβ ἀποθνῄσκων ἕκαστον τῶν υἱῶν Ἰωσὴφ εὐλόγησεν, καὶ προσεκύνησεν ἐπὶ τὸ ἄκρον τῆς ῥάβδου αὐτοῦ.
22By faith Joseph, at the end of his life, spoke of the exodus of the Israelites and gave instructions about his bones.
πίστει Ἰωσὴφ τελευτῶν περὶ τῆς ἐξόδου τῶν υἱῶν Ἰσραὴλ ἐμνημόνευσεν, καὶ περὶ τῶν ὀστέων αὐτοῦ ἐνετείλατο.
23By faith Moses' parents hid him for three months after he was born, because they saw that the child was beautiful, and they were not afraid of the king's edict.
Πίστει Μωϋσῆς γεννηθεὶς ἐκρύβη τρίμηνον ὑπὸ τῶν πατέρων αὐτοῦ, διότι εἶδον ἀστεῖον τὸ παιδίον καὶ οὐκ ἐφοβήθησαν τὸ διάταγμα τοῦ βασιλέως.
24By faith Moses, when he had grown up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter.
πίστει Μωϋσῆς μέγας γενόμενος ἠρνήσατο λέγεσθαι υἱὸς θυγατρὸς Φαραώ,
25He chose to be mistreated along with the people of God rather than to enjoy the fleeting pleasures of sin.
μᾶλλον ἑλόμενος συγκακουχεῖσθαι τῷ λαῷ τοῦ θεοῦ ἢ πρόσκαιρον ἔχειν ἁμαρτίας ἀπόλαυσιν,
26He considered the reproach of Christ greater wealth than the treasures of Egypt, for he was looking ahead to his reward.
μείζονα πλοῦτον ἡγησάμενος τῶν Αἰγύπτου θησαυρῶν τὸν ὀνειδισμὸν τοῦ Χριστοῦ, ἀπέβλεπεν γὰρ εἰς τὴν μισθαποδοσίαν.
27By faith he left Egypt, unafraid of the king's anger; he persevered as one who sees him who is invisible.
πίστει κατέλιπεν Αἴγυπτον, μὴ φοβηθεὶς τὸν θυμὸν τοῦ βασιλέως, τὸν γὰρ ἀόρατον ὡς ὁρῶν ἐκαρτέρησεν.
28By faith he kept the Passover and sprinkled the blood, so that the destroyer of the firstborn would not touch them.
πίστει πεποίηκεν τὸ πάσχα καὶ τὴν πρόσχυσιν τοῦ αἵματος, ἵνα μὴ ὁ ὀλοθρεύων τὰ πρωτότοκα θίγῃ αὐτῶν.
29By faith the people passed through the Red Sea as though on dry land; but when the Egyptians tried to do so, they were swallowed up.
Πίστει διέβησαν τὴν Ἐρυθρὰν Θάλασσαν ὡς διὰ ξηρᾶς ⸀γῆς, ἧς πεῖραν λαβόντες οἱ Αἰγύπτιοι κατεπόθησαν.
30By faith the walls of Jericho fell, after the people had marched around them for seven days.
πίστει τὰ τείχη Ἰεριχὼ ⸀ἔπεσαν κυκλωθέντα ἐπὶ ἑπτὰ ἡμέρας.
31By faith Rahab the prostitute did not perish with the disobedient, because she welcomed the spies in peace.
πίστει Ῥαὰβ ἡ πόρνη οὐ συναπώλετο τοῖς ἀπειθήσασιν, δεξαμένη τοὺς κατασκόπους μετʼ εἰρήνης.
32And what more shall I say? Time would fail me if I told of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David, Samuel and the prophets,
Καὶ τί ἔτι λέγω; ἐπιλείψει ⸂με γὰρ⸃ διηγούμενον ὁ χρόνος περὶ Γεδεών, Βαράκ, ⸀Σαμψών, Ἰεφθάε, Δαυίδ τε καὶ Σαμουὴλ καὶ τῶν προφητῶν,
33who through faith conquered kingdoms, administered justice, obtained promises, shut the mouths of lions,
οἳ διὰ πίστεως κατηγωνίσαντο βασιλείας, εἰργάσαντο δικαιοσύνην, ἐπέτυχον ἐπαγγελιῶν, ἔφραξαν στόματα λεόντων,
34quenched the fury of flames, escaped the edge of the sword; who were made strong out of weakness, became mighty in battle, and routed foreign armies.
ἔσβεσαν δύναμιν πυρός, ἔφυγον στόματα ⸀μαχαίρης, ⸀ἐδυναμώθησαν ἀπὸ ἀσθενείας, ἐγενήθησαν ἰσχυροὶ ἐν πολέμῳ, παρεμβολὰς ἔκλιναν ἀλλοτρίων·
35Women received back their dead, raised to life again. Others were tortured, refusing release, so that they might gain a better resurrection.
ἔλαβον γυναῖκες ἐξ ἀναστάσεως τοὺς νεκροὺς αὐτῶν· ἄλλοι δὲ ἐτυμπανίσθησαν, οὐ προσδεξάμενοι τὴν ἀπολύτρωσιν, ἵνα κρείττονος ἀναστάσεως τύχωσιν·
36Still others endured mocking and flogging, and even chains and imprisonment.
ἕτεροι δὲ ἐμπαιγμῶν καὶ μαστίγων πεῖραν ἔλαβον, ἔτι δὲ δεσμῶν καὶ φυλακῆς·
37They were stoned, they were sawn in two, they were put to death by the sword. They went about in sheepskins and goatskins, destitute, afflicted, mistreated—
ἐλιθάσθησαν, ⸀ἐπρίσθησαν, ἐν φόνῳ ⸀μαχαίρης ἀπέθανον, περιῆλθον ἐν μηλωταῖς, ἐν αἰγείοις δέρμασιν, ὑστερούμενοι, θλιβόμενοι, κακουχούμενοι,
38the world was not worthy of them. They wandered in deserts and mountains, in caves and holes in the ground.
ὧν οὐκ ἦν ἄξιος ὁ κόσμος ⸀ἐπὶ ἐρημίαις πλανώμενοι καὶ ὄρεσι καὶ σπηλαίοις καὶ ταῖς ὀπαῖς τῆς γῆς·
39All of these were commended for their faith, yet none of them received what was promised,
⸀καὶ πάντες μαρτυρηθέντες διὰ τῆς πίστεως οὐκ ἐκομίσαντο τὴν ἐπαγγελίαν,
40since God had planned something better for us, so that they would not be made perfect apart from us.
τοῦ θεοῦ περὶ ἡμῶν κρεῖττόν τι προβλεψαμένου, ἵνα μὴ χωρὶς ἡμῶν τελειωθῶσιν.