So Great a Cloud of Witnesses!

“Because we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, . . . let us run with endurance the race that is set before us.”​—HEBREWS 12:1.

1, 2. (a) What figurative setting may Paul have had in mind when writing to Hebrew Christians? (b) Why did Hebrew fellow believers need firm faith?

PICTURE yourself as a runner in a stadium. You press onward, straining every muscle, your eyes fixed on the goal. But what about the observers? Why, all of them have been triumphant runners! They have been not mere spectators but active witnesses in both word and deed.

² The apostle Paul may have had such a figurative setting in mind when writing to Hebrew Christians (c. 61 C.E.). They needed firm faith. (Hebrews 10:32-39) Only by faith could they heed Jesus’ warning to flee when Jerusalem was surrounded by encamped armies (in 66 C.E.) a few years before its destruction at Roman hands (in 70 C.E.). Faith would also sustain them when they were “persecuted for righteousness’ sake.”​—Matthew 5:10; Luke 21:20-24.

3. At Hebrews 12:1, what is “the sin that easily entangles us,” and Christians are urged to run what race with endurance?

³ After reviewing pre-Christian acts of faith (in Hebrews, chapter 11), Paul urged: “Because we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also put off every weight [that would encumber us spiritually] and the sin [lack of faith] that easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race [for life eternal] that is set before us.” (Hebrews 12:1) Paul’s review of faith in action highlights various aspects of it and will help us, whether we are anointed Christians running the race for immortality in heaven or we are part of the “great crowd” with the goal of endless life on a paradise earth. (Revelation 7:4-10; Luke 23:43; Romans 8:16, 17) But just what is faith? What are some facets of this spiritual gem? And how will we act if we have faith? As you seek answers to such questions, please read cited verses of Hebrews chapters 11 and 12 during private and congregational study.

What Faith Is

4. What is faith?

⁴ Paul first defined faith. (Read Hebrews 11:1-3.) In part, faith is “the assured expectation of things hoped for.” The person having faith has a guarantee that everything God promises is as good as fulfilled. Faith is also “the evident demonstration of realities though not beheld.” The convincing proof of unseen realities is so powerful that faith is said to be equivalent to that evidence.

5. By faith we perceive what?

⁵ By means of faith “men of old times had witness borne to them” that they pleased God. Also, “by faith we perceive that the systems of things”​—the earth, the sun, the moon, and the stars—​“were put in order by God’s word, so that what is beheld has come to be out of things that do not appear.” We are convinced that Jehovah is the Creator of such things, although we cannot see him because he is an invisible Spirit.​—Genesis 1:1; John 4:24; Romans 1:20.

Faith and the “Ancient World”

6. Why did Abel have an “assured expectation” that Jehovah’s prophetic words about the ‘seed of the woman’ would come true?

⁶ One of the many facets of faith is appreciation for the need of a sacrifice for sins. (Read Hebrews 11:4.) In the “ancient world,” faith in a blood sacrifice was shown by Abel, the second son of the first human pair, Adam and Eve. (2 Peter 2:5) Doubtless Abel discerned in himself the death-dealing effects of inherited sin. (Genesis 2:16, 17; 3:6, 7; Romans 5:12) Evidently he also noted the fulfillment of God’s decree that brought laborious toil upon Adam and considerable pain during pregnancy to Eve. (Genesis 3:16-19) So Abel had “the assured expectation” that other things spoken by Jehovah would come true. These included the prophetic words directed to the archdeceiver Satan when God said to the serpent: “I shall put enmity between you and the woman and between your seed and her seed. He will bruise you in the head and you will bruise him in the heel.”​—Genesis 3:15.

7. (a) How did Abel show appreciation for the need of a sacrifice for sins? (b) In what way did God ‘bear witness respecting Abel’s gifts’?

⁷ Abel displayed faith in the promised Seed by presenting to God an animal sacrifice that could substitute pictorially for Abel’s own life. But his faithless elder brother Cain offered bloodless vegetables. As a murderer, Cain thereafter spilled Abel’s blood. (Genesis 4:1-8) Yet Abel died knowing that Jehovah considered him righteous, “God bearing witness respecting his gifts.” How? By accepting Abel’s sacrifice offered in faith. Because of his faith and divine approval, about which the Inspired Record continues to bear witness, ‘although Abel died, he yet speaks.’ He saw the need for a sacrifice for sins. Do you have faith in Jesus Christ’s far more significant ransom sacrifice?​—1 John 2:1, 2; 3:23.

8. (a) What do we learn about faith from Enoch’s courageous witnessing? (b) How was Enoch “transferred so as not to see death”?

⁸ Faith will move us to speak God’s message with boldness. (Read Hebrews 11:5, 6.) Jehovah’s early witness Enoch courageously foretold divine execution of judgment upon the ungodly. (Jude 14, 15) Doubtless Enoch’s foes sought to kill him, but God “took him” so that he did not suffer the pangs of death. (Genesis 5:24) First, however, “he had the witness that he had pleased God well.” How so? “By faith Enoch was transferred so as not to see death.” Similarly, Paul was transferred, or “caught away into paradise,” evidently receiving a vision of the future spiritual paradise of the Christian congregation. (2 Corinthians 12:1-4) So Enoch apparently was enjoying a vision of the coming earthly Paradise when Jehovah put him to sleep in death, safe from enemy hands. To be pleasing to God we, like Enoch, must speak God’s message with boldness. (Acts 4:29-31) We must also believe that God exists and “becomes the rewarder of those earnestly seeking him.”

9. How did Noah’s course show that following God’s instructions closely is another facet of faith?

⁹ Following God’s instructions closely is another facet of faith. (Read Hebrews 11:7.) Acting in faith, Noah did ‘just as God commanded.’ (Genesis 6:22; 7:16) Noah received “divine warning of things not yet beheld” and believed Jehovah’s statement that an earth-wide flood would occur. In faith and with reverential fear of God, Noah “constructed an ark for the saving of his household.” By obedience and righteous acts, he thus condemned the unbelieving world for its wicked works and showed that it deserved destruction.​—Genesis 6:13-22.

10. Although Noah was building the ark, he took time for what other activity?

¹⁰ Noah was also one of Jehovah’s witnesses in that he was “a preacher of righteousness.” (2 Peter 2:5) Although busy building the ark, he took time to preach, as Jehovah’s Witnesses do today. Indeed, Noah spoke out boldly as a herald of God’s warning to those antediluvians, but “they took no note until the flood came and swept them all away.”​—Matthew 24:36-39.

Faith Among Post-Flood Patriarchs

11. (a) How did Abraham show that faith includes complete confidence in Jehovah’s promises? (b) In faith, Abraham was awaiting what “city”?

¹¹ Faith includes complete confidence in Jehovah’s promises. (Read Hebrews 11:8-12.) By faith Abraham (Abram) obeyed God’s command and left Ur of the Chaldeans, a city with much to offer in a material way. He believed Jehovah’s promise that “all the families of the ground” would bless themselves by means of him and that his seed would be given a land. (Genesis 12:1-9; 15:18-21) Abraham’s son Isaac and grandson Jacob were “heirs with him of the very same promise.” By faith Abraham “resided as an alien in the land of promise as in a foreign land.” He looked forward to “the city having real foundations, the builder and maker of which city is God.” Yes, Abraham awaited God’s heavenly Kingdom under which he would be resurrected to life on earth. Does the Kingdom hold such an important place in your life?​—Matthew 6:33.

12. What happened because Sarah had faith in Jehovah’s promises?

¹² The wives of the God-fearing patriarchs also had faith in Jehovah’s promises. For instance, by faith Abraham’s wife Sarah, though barren until about 90 years old and “past the age limit,” was empowered “to conceive seed, . . . since she esteemed him [God] faithful who had promised.” In time, Sarah bore Isaac. Thus from 100-year-old Abraham, “as good as dead” as regards reproduction, eventually “there were born children just as the stars of heaven for multitude.”​—Genesis 17:15-17; 18:11; 21:1-7.

13, 14. (a) Although Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob “did not get the fulfillment of the promises,” how did they react? (b) How can we benefit from considering the patriarchs’ loyalty to Jehovah even if we do not see the immediate fulfillment of his promises?

¹³ Faith will keep us loyal to Jehovah even if we do not see the immediate fulfillment of his promises. (Read Hebrews 11:13-16.) The faithful patriarchs all died without seeing the complete fulfillment of God’s promises to them. But “they saw [the promised things] afar off and welcomed them and publicly declared that they were strangers and temporary residents in the land.” Yes, they lived out their lives in faith, for generations passed before the Promised Land became the possession of Abraham’s offspring.

¹⁴ The fact that they did not get the fulfillment of divine promises in their lifetime did not embitter Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob or cause them to become apostates. They did not abandon Jehovah and go back to Ur, becoming immersed in worldly activities. (Compare John 17:16; 2 Timothy 4:10; James 1:27; 1 John 2:15-17.) No, those patriarchs ‘reached out’ for a place far better than Ur, “that is, one belonging to heaven.” So Jehovah ‘is not ashamed to be called upon as their God.’ They maintained faith in the Most High until death and will soon be resurrected to life on earth, part of the domain of the “city,” the Messianic Kingdom God made ready for them. But what about you? Even if you have ‘walked in the truth’ for years, growing old in Jehovah’s service, you must maintain your confidence in his promised new system. (3 John 4; 2 Peter 3:11-13) What a reward you and the faithful patriarchs will receive for such faith!

15. (a) What enabled Abraham virtually to offer Isaac as a sacrifice? (b) How should our faith be affected by the event involving Abraham and Isaac? (c) What was prophetically portrayed by that event?

¹⁵ Unquestioning obedience to God is a vital facet of faith. (Read Hebrews 11:17-19.) Because Abraham obeyed Jehovah without question, he “as good as offered up Isaac,” his “only-begotten son”​—the only one he ever had by Sarah. How could Abraham do this? Because “he reckoned that God was able to raise [Isaac] up even from the dead,” if necessary, to fulfill the promise of offspring through him. In a moment the knife in Abraham’s hand would have ended Isaac’s life, but an angel’s voice prevented this. Hence, Abraham received Isaac out of death “in an illustrative way.” We should likewise be moved to obey God in faith even if our life or that of our children is at stake. (1 John 5:3) It is noteworthy, too, that Abraham and Isaac then prophetically portrayed how Jehovah God would provide his only-begotten Son, Jesus Christ, as a ransom so that those exercising faith in him might have everlasting life.​—Genesis 22:1-19; John 3:16.

16. With regard to our children and faith in God’s promises, what example did the patriarchs furnish?

¹⁶ If we have faith, we will help our offspring to set their hope on what God promises for the future. (Read Hebrews 11:20-22.) So strong was the faith of the patriarchs that although Jehovah’s promises to them were not completely fulfilled in their lifetime, they passed these on to their children as a cherished inheritance. Thus, “Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau concerning things to come,” and dying Jacob pronounced blessings on Joseph’s sons Ephraim and Manasseh. Because Joseph himself had strong faith that the Israelites would leave Egypt for the land of promise, he made his brothers swear to take his bones with them when departing. (Genesis 27:27-29, 38-40; 48:8-22; 50:24-26) Are you helping your family to develop comparable faith in what Jehovah has promised?

Faith Makes Us Put God First

17. How did Moses’ parents act in faith?

¹⁷ Faith motivates us to put Jehovah and his people ahead of anything this world has to offer. (Read Hebrews 11:23-26.) The Israelites were slaves needing deliverance from Egyptian bondage when Moses’ parents acted in faith. ‘They did not fear the king’s order’ to kill Hebrew males at birth. Rather, they hid Moses for three months, finally placing him in a papyrus ark among the reeds by the bank of the Nile River. Found by Pharaoh’s daughter, he was ‘brought up as her own son.’ First, however, Moses was nursed and spiritually trained in the home of his father and mother, Amram and Jochebed. Then, as a member of Pharaoh’s household, he “was instructed in all the wisdom of the Egyptians” and became “powerful in his words and deeds,” mighty in mental and physical capabilities.​—Acts 7:20-22; Exodus 2:1-10; 6:20.

18. Because of his faith, what position did Moses take with regard to Jehovah’s worship?

¹⁸ Yet, Egyptian education and the material splendor of the royal house did not cause Moses to abandon Jehovah’s worship and become an apostate. Rather, “by faith Moses, when grown up, refused to be called the son of the daughter of Pharaoh,” a course implied when he defended a Hebrew brother. (Exodus 2:11, 12) Moses chose “to be ill-treated with the people of God [Israelite fellow worshipers of Jehovah] rather than to have the temporary enjoyment of sin.” If you are a baptized servant of Jehovah who has a solid background of proper spiritual training, will you follow Moses’ example and stand firm for true worship?

19. (a) How is it evident that Moses put Jehovah and His people first in life? (b) Moses looked toward the payment of what reward?

¹⁹ Moses threw in his lot with Jehovah’s people “because he esteemed the reproach of the Christ as riches greater than the treasures of Egypt.” Most likely Moses ‘esteemed the reproach of being an ancient type of Christ, or God’s Anointed One, as riches greater than Egypt’s treasures.’ As a member of the royal household, he could have enjoyed wealth and fame in Egypt. But he exercised faith and “looked intently toward the payment of the reward”​—eternal life through resurrection on earth in God’s promised new system.

20. What is there about Moses’ experience that shows that faith makes us fearless as Jehovah’s servants?

²⁰ Faith makes us fearless because we are confident in Jehovah as a deliverer. (Read Hebrews 11:27-29.) After hearing that Moses had killed an Egyptian, Pharaoh sought his death. “But Moses ran away from Pharaoh that he might dwell in the land of Midian.” (Exodus 2:11-15) So Paul seems to allude to the Hebrews’ later Exodus from Egypt when he says: “By faith he [Moses] left Egypt, but not fearing the anger of the king [who threatened him with death for representing God in Israel’s behalf], for he continued steadfast as seeing the One who is invisible.” (Exodus 10:28, 29) Although Moses never actually saw God, Jehovah’s dealings with him were so real that he acted as if he did see ‘the invisible One.’ (Exodus 33:20) Is your relationship with Jehovah that strong?​—Psalm 37:5; Proverbs 16:3.

21. As regards Israel’s departure from Egypt, what happened “by faith”?

²¹ Just before Israel’s departure from Egypt, “by faith he [Moses] had celebrated the passover and the splashing of the blood, that the destroyer might not touch their [the Israelites’] firstborn ones.” Yes, it took faith to hold the Passover with the conviction that Israel’s firstborn sons would be spared while those of the Egyptians would die, and this faith was rewarded. (Exodus 12:1-39) Also “by faith they [the people of Israel] passed through the Red Sea as on dry land, but on venturing out upon it the Egyptians were swallowed up.” What a marvelous deliverer God proved to be! And because of this deliverance, the Israelites “began to fear Jehovah and to put faith in Jehovah and in Moses his servant.”​—Exodus 14:21-31.

22. Regarding faith, what questions remain for consideration?

²² The faith of Moses and the patriarchs is indeed a model for Jehovah’s Witnesses today. But what happened when God dealt further with Abraham’s descendants as a theocratically organized nation? What can we learn from further acts of faith in ancient times?

The World Was Not Worthy of Them

“They were stoned, they were tried, . . . and the world was not worthy of them.”​—HEBREWS 11:37, 38.

1, 2. Under what circumstances did Jehovah’s witnesses of ancient times maintain integrity, and how do their acts affect God’s servants today?

JEHOVAH’S WITNESSES of ancient times maintained integrity to God despite many tests brought upon them by unrighteous human society. For instance, God’s servants were stoned and slaughtered with the sword. They suffered ill-treatment and tribulation. Yet they did not waver in faith. Surely, then, as the apostle Paul said: “The world was not worthy of them.”​—Hebrews 11:37, 38.

² The faith-inspiring acts of godly antediluvians, patriarchs, and Moses prompt Jehovah’s modern-day witnesses to serve God in faith. But what about others mentioned in Hebrews chapters 11 and 12? How can we benefit from considering the facets of their faith?

Faith of Judges, Kings, and Prophets

3. How do incidents involving Jericho and Rahab show that faith must be proved by works?

³ Faith is not mere belief; it must be proved by works or actions. (Read Hebrews 11:30, 31.) After Moses’ death, faith brought the Israelites one victory after another in Canaan, but this called for effort on their part. For instance, by the faith of Joshua and others “the walls of Jericho fell down after they had been encircled for seven days.” But “by faith Rahab the harlot did not perish with those [faithless residents of Jericho] who acted disobediently.” Why? “Because she received the [Israelite] spies in a peaceable way,” proving her faith by hiding them from the Canaanites. Rahab’s faith had a solid basis in reports that “Jehovah dried up the waters of the Red Sea” from before the Israelites and granted them victory over Amorite kings Sihon and Og. Rahab made proper moral changes and was blessed for her active faith by being preserved along with her household when Jericho fell and by becoming an ancestress of Jesus Christ.​—Joshua 2:1-11; 6:20-23; Matthew 1:1, 5; James 2:24-26.

4. What do the experiences of Gideon and Barak emphasize as to showing faith in the face of danger?

⁴ Faith is shown by complete reliance upon Jehovah in the face of danger. (Read Hebrews 11:32.) Paul admitted that time would fail him if he went on to tell about “Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David as well as Samuel and the other prophets,” whose exploits gave abundant evidence of faith and reliance upon God in perilous situations. Thus, by faith and with a band of only 300 men, Judge Gideon was empowered by God to crush the military might of the oppressive Midianites. (Judges 7:1-25) Encouraged by the prophetess Deborah, Judge Barak and an infantry force of 10,000 poorly equipped men triumphed over King Jabin’s far greater forces having 900 armored war chariots commanded by Sisera.​—Judges 4:1–5:31.

5. In what ways did Samson and Jephthah display faith that gave evidence of complete reliance upon Jehovah?

⁵ Another example of faith from the days of Israel’s judges was Samson, mighty enemy of the Philistines. True, he eventually became their blinded captive. But Samson brought death to many of them when he pulled down the pillars of the house in which they were presenting a great sacrifice to their false god Dagon. Yes, Samson died with those Philistines but not as a despairing suicide. In faith he relied upon Jehovah and prayed to him for the strength needed to wreak vengeance upon those foes of God and His people. (Judges 16:18-30) Jephthah, to whom Jehovah granted victory over the Ammonites, also displayed faith that gave evidence of his complete reliance upon Jehovah. Only with such faith could he have fulfilled his vow to God by devoting his daughter to Jehovah’s service as a perpetual virgin.​—Judges 11:29-40.

6. How did David show his faith?

⁶ Also notable for his faith was David. He was only a young man when he fought the Philistine giant Goliath. ‘You come to me with sword, spear, and javelin,’ said David, ‘but I come to you with the name of Jehovah of armies.’ Yes, David relied upon God, killed the towering Philistine, and went on to become a valiant warrior-king fighting in the interests of God’s people. And because of David’s faith, he was a man agreeable to Jehovah’s heart. (1 Samuel 17:4, 45-51; Acts 13:22) Throughout life, Samuel and other prophets also displayed great faith and full dependence upon God. (1 Samuel 1:19-28; 7:15-17) What fine examples for Jehovah’s present-day servants, young and old!

7. (a) Who “through faith defeated kingdoms in conflict”? (b) Who “effected righteousness” through faith?

⁷ By faith we can successfully meet every test of integrity and can accomplish anything harmonizing with the divine will. (Read Hebrews 11:33, 34.) In citing further acts of faith, apparently Paul had in mind Hebrew judges, kings, and prophets, for he had just named such men. “Through faith” such judges as Gideon and Jephthah “defeated kingdoms in conflict.” So did King David, who subdued the Philistines, Moabites, Syrians, Edomites, and others. (2 Samuel 8:1-14) Also through faith, upright judges “effected righteousness,” and the righteous counsel of Samuel and other prophets moved at least some to avoid or abandon wrongdoing.​—1 Samuel 12:20-25; Isaiah 1:10-20.

8. What promise did David obtain, and to what did it lead?

⁸ David was one who through faith “obtained promises.” Jehovah promised him: “Your very throne will become one firmly established to time indefinite.” (2 Samuel 7:11-16) And God kept that promise by establishing the Messianic Kingdom in 1914.​—Isaiah 9:6, 7; Daniel 7:13, 14.

9. Under what circumstances were ‘the mouths of lions stopped through faith’?

⁹ The prophet Daniel successfully met a test of integrity when he continued to pray to God according to his daily custom despite a royal interdict. With the faith of an integrity keeper, Daniel thus “stopped the mouths of lions” in that Jehovah preserved him alive in the lions’ pit into which he was cast.​—Daniel 6:4-23.

10. Who “stayed the force of fire” through faith, and what will comparable faith enable us to do?

¹⁰ Daniel’s integrity-keeping Hebrew associates Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego in effect “stayed the force of fire.” When threatened with death in a superheated furnace, they told King Nebuchadnezzar that, whether their God rescued them or not, they would not serve the Babylonian monarch’s gods or worship the image he had set up. Jehovah did not put out the fire in that furnace, but he made sure that it did the three Hebrews no harm. (Daniel 3:1-30) Comparable faith enables us to maintain integrity to God to the point of possible death at enemy hands.​—Revelation 2:10.

11. (a) Through faith, who “escaped the edge of the sword”? (b) Who were “made powerful” through faith? (c) Who “became valiant in war” and “routed the armies of foreigners”?

¹¹ David “escaped the edge of the sword” of King Saul’s men. (1 Samuel 19:9-17) The prophets Elijah and Elisha also escaped death by the sword. (1 Kings 19:1-3; 2 Kings 6:11-23) But who ‘from a weak state were made powerful through faith’? Well, Gideon considered himself and his men too weak to save Israel from the Midianites. But he was “made powerful” by God, who gave him the victory​—and that with only 300 men! (Judges 6:14-16; 7:2-7, 22) “From a weak state” when his hair was shorn, Samson was “made powerful” by Jehovah and brought death to many Philistines. (Judges 16:19-21, 28-30; compare Judges 15:13-19.) Paul may also have thought of King Hezekiah as one “made powerful” from a weak state militarily and even physically. (Isaiah 37:1–38:22) Among God’s servants who “became valiant in war” were Judge Jephthah and King David. (Judges 11:32, 33; 2 Samuel 22:1, 2, 30-38) And those who “routed the armies of foreigners” included Judge Barak. (Judges 4:14-16) All these exploits should convince us that by faith we can successfully meet every test of our integrity and can accomplish anything that is in accord with Jehovah’s will.

Others of Exemplary Faith

12. (a) What “women received their dead by resurrection”? (b) In what way will the resurrection of certain men of faith be “better”?

¹² Faith includes belief in the resurrection, a hope that helps us to maintain integrity to God. (Read Hebrews 11:35.) Because of faith, “women received their dead by resurrection.” By faith and God’s power, Elijah resurrected a widow’s son at Zarephath and Elisha raised to life the boy of a Shunammite woman. (1 Kings 17:17-24; 2 Kings 4:17-37) “But other men were tortured [literally, “beaten with sticks”] because they would not accept release by some ransom, in order that they might attain a better resurrection.” Apparently these Scripturally unidentified witnesses of Jehovah were beaten to death, refusing to accept deliverance requiring that they compromise their faith. Their resurrection will be “better” because it will be without the unavoidable need to die again (as did those raised by Elijah and Elisha) and will occur under Kingdom rule by Jesus Christ, the “Eternal Father” whose ransom provides an opportunity for endless life on earth.​—Isaiah 9:6; John 5:28, 29.

13. (a) “Mockings and scourgings” were suffered by whom? (b) Who experienced “bonds and prisons”?

¹³ If we have faith, we will be able to endure persecution. (Read Hebrews 11:36-38.) When we are persecuted, it is helpful to remember the resurrection hope and to realize that God can sustain us as he did “others [who] received their trial [or, test of faith] by mockings and scourgings, indeed, more than that, by bonds and prisons.” The Israelites “were continually . . . mocking at his prophets, until the rage of Jehovah came up against his people.” (2 Chronicles 36:15, 16) By faith, Micaiah, Elisha, and other servants of God endured “mockings.” (1 Kings 22:24; 2 Kings 2:23, 24; Psalm 42:3) “Scourgings” were known in the days of Israel’s kings and prophets, and opponents “struck” Jeremiah, not merely slapping him as an insult. “Bonds and prisons” may remind us of his experiences as well as those of the prophets Micaiah and Hanani. (Jeremiah 20:1, 2; 37:15; 1 Kings 12:11; 22:26, 27; 2 Chronicles 16:7, 10) Because of having similar faith, Jehovah’s modern-day witnesses have been able to endure comparable sufferings “for the sake of righteousness.”​—1 Peter 3:14.

14. (a) Who was among those “stoned”? (b) Who may have been “sawn asunder”?

¹⁴ “They were stoned,” said Paul. One such man of faith was Zechariah, son of priest Jehoiada. Enveloped by God’s spirit, he spoke out against Judah’s apostates. The result? At the order of King Jehoash, conspirators pelted him to death with stones in the courtyard of Jehovah’s house. (2 Chronicles 24:20-22; Matthew 23:33-35) Paul added: “They were tried, they were sawn asunder.” He may have thought of the prophet Micaiah as one of those who “were tried,” and uncertain Jewish tradition has it that Isaiah was sawed in two during King Manasseh’s reign.​—1 Kings 22:24-28.

15. Who suffered “ill-treatment” and “wandered about in deserts”?

¹⁵ Others “died by slaughter with the sword,” as, for example, Elijah’s fellow prophets of God who were “killed with the sword” in the days of wicked King Ahab. (1 Kings 19:9, 10) Elijah and Elisha were among those with faith who “went about in sheepskins, in goatskins, while they were in want, in tribulation, under ill-treatment.” (1 Kings 19:5-8, 19; 2 Kings 1:8; 2:13; compare Jeremiah 38:6.) Those who “wandered about in deserts and mountains and caves and dens of the earth” as objects of persecution must include not only Elijah and Elisha but also the 100 prophets that Obadiah hid by 50’s in a cave, supplying them with bread and water when idolatrous Queen Jezebel started to “cut off Jehovah’s prophets.” (1 Kings 18:4, 13; 2 Kings 2:13; 6:13, 30, 31) What integrity keepers! No wonder Paul said: “The world [unrighteous human society] was not worthy of them”!

16. (a) Why have pre-Christian witnesses of Jehovah not yet received “the fulfillment of the promise”? (b) For Jehovah’s witnesses of pre-Christian times, being “made perfect” must relate to what?

¹⁶ Faith gives us the conviction that in God’s due time all who love him will “get the fulfillment of the promise.” (Read Hebrews 11:39, 40.) Pre-Christian integrity keepers “had witness borne to them through their faith,” now a matter of Scriptural record. But they have not yet received “the fulfillment of the promise” of God by an earthly resurrection with the prospect of eternal life under Kingdom rule. Why? “In order that they might not be made perfect apart from” Jesus’ anointed followers, for whom “God foresaw something better”​—immortal heavenly life and privileges of corulership with Christ Jesus. By their resurrection, beginning after the Kingdom’s establishment in 1914, anointed Christians are “made perfect” in the heavens before Jehovah’s witnesses of pre-Christian times are resurrected on earth. (1 Corinthians 15:50-57; Revelation 12:1-5) For those earlier witnesses, being “made perfect” must relate to their earthly resurrection, their eventually being “set free from enslavement to corruption,” and their attaining human perfection through the services of the High Priest Jesus Christ and his 144,000 heavenly underpriests during his Millennial Reign.​—Romans 8:20, 21; Hebrews 7:26; Revelation 14:1; 20:4-6.

Keep in View the Perfecter of Our Faith

17, 18. (a) To succeed in our race for eternal life, what must we do? (b) How is Jesus Christ the “Perfecter of our faith”?

¹⁷ Having discussed the acts of pre-Christian witnesses of Jehovah, Paul pointed to the prime example of faith. (Read Hebrews 12:1-3.) What a source of encouragement to have ‘so great a cloud of witness bearers surrounding us’! This prompts us to put off every weight that would impede our spiritual progress. It helps us to avoid the sin of loss or lack of faith and to run with endurance the Christian race for everlasting life. To reach our goal, however, we must do something more. But what is that?

¹⁸ If we are to succeed in our race for eternal life in God’s new system, we need to “look intently at the Chief Agent [or, Chief Leader] and Perfecter of our faith, Jesus.” The faith of Abraham and other integrity keepers living prior to Jesus Christ’s earthly ministry was imperfect, incomplete, in that they did not understand then unfulfilled prophecies about the Messiah. (Compare 1 Peter 1:10-12.) But by Jesus’ birth, ministry, death, and resurrection, many Messianic prophecies were fulfilled. Thus faith in a perfected sense “arrived” through Jesus Christ. (Galatians 3:24, 25) Moreover, from his heavenly position Jesus continued to be the Perfecter of the faith of his followers, as when pouring out upon them the holy spirit at Pentecost of 33 C.E. and by revelations that progressively developed their faith. (Acts 2:32, 33; Romans 10:17; Revelation 1:1, 2; 22:16) How thankful we are for this “Faithful Witness,” this “Chief Leader” of Jehovah’s Witnesses!​—Revelation 1:5; Matthew 23:10.

19. Why should Jesus be ‘considered closely’?

¹⁹ Since it is not easy to endure the reproaches of the faithless, Paul urged: “Consider closely the one [Jesus] who has endured such contrary talk by sinners against their own interests, that you may not get tired and give out in your souls.” Indeed, if we keep our eyes fixed on “the Faithful Witness,” Jesus Christ, we will never tire of doing the divine will.​—John 4:34.

20. What are some things you have learned about faith by considering Hebrews 11:1–12:3?

²⁰ From the ‘great cloud of witnesses’ we learn much about the facets of faith. For instance, faith like that of Abel enhances our appreciation for Jesus’ sacrifice. True faith makes us courageous witnesses, even as Enoch boldly spoke Jehovah’s message. As with Noah, our faith moves us to follow God’s instructions closely and serve as preachers of righteousness. Abraham’s faith impresses us with the need to obey God and trust in His promises, even though some of them have not yet been fulfilled. Moses’ example shows that faith enables us to keep unspotted by this world and stand loyally by Jehovah’s people. Exploits of Israel’s judges, kings, and prophets prove that faith in God can sustain us amid persecution and trials. And how grateful we are that the superlative example of Jesus Christ makes our faith firm and unshakable! Therefore, with Jesus as our Leader and in the strength of our God, let us continue to manifest enduring faith as Jehovah’s Witnesses.