Bible verses

Bible verses about faith

The Bible defines faith in Hebrews 11:1: "Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen." Other key verses are Hebrews 11:6, "without faith it is impossible to please him," Ephesians 2:8, "by grace are ye saved through faith," and 2 Corinthians 5:7, "we walk by faith, not by sight."

Faith in the Bible is trust in God and in what he has said. It starts with hearing (Romans 10:17), it grows by being tested, and it shows itself in how a person lives.

The KJV verses below are grouped into four themes. They include the Gospel stories where Jesus praised someone's faith, and both Paul's and James's words on faith and works, which Christians have long read side by side.

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Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.
Hebrews 11:1 · KJV

What faith is

Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.
Hebrews 11:1
The Bible's closest thing to a definition: faith gives substance to what is hoped for and is evidence of what is unseen.
But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.
Hebrews 11:6
Faith believes two things: that God exists, and that he rewards those who seek him.
Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear.
Hebrews 11:3
Faith is how we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God.
So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
Romans 10:17
Faith begins with hearing the word of God.
(For we walk by faith, not by sight:)
2 Corinthians 5:7
A short summary of the Christian life: walking by faith, not by sight.
Jesus saith unto him, Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed.
John 20:29
After Thomas sees the risen Jesus, Jesus blesses those who believe without seeing.
Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.
Hebrews 12:2
Jesus is called the author and finisher of faith, the one who starts it and completes it.

Saved through faith

For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.
Ephesians 2:8-9
Salvation is by grace through faith, a gift of God and not of works.
And he believed in the LORD; and he counted it to him for righteousness.
Genesis 15:6
Abraham believed the LORD, and it was counted to him for righteousness, a verse Paul quotes in Romans 4.
Behold, his soul which is lifted up is not upright in him: but the just shall live by his faith.
Habakkuk 2:4
The Old Testament line that the just shall live by faith, later quoted three times in the New Testament.
For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.
Romans 1:17
Paul builds his letter to the Romans on Habakkuk's words about living by faith.
Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:
Romans 5:1
Being justified by faith brings peace with God.
I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.
Galatians 2:20
Paul describes the life he now lives as lived by the faith of the Son of God.
And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.
Acts 16:31
Paul and Silas's answer to the Philippian jailer who asked how to be saved.
Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this?
John 11:25-26
Before raising Lazarus, Jesus tells Martha that whoever believes in him will live, then asks, Believest thou this?

Faith in the ministry of Jesus

Jesus often pointed to a person's faith, or a lack of it.

And Jesus said unto them, Because of your unbelief: for verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you.
Matthew 17:20
Faith as small as a grain of mustard seed is enough to move a mountain.
And Jesus answering saith unto them, Have faith in God. For verily I say unto you, That whosoever shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he saith. Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them.
Mark 11:22-24
After the fig tree withered, Jesus taught the disciples to have faith in God when they pray.
Jesus said unto him, If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth. And straightway the father of the child cried out, and said with tears, Lord, I believe; help thou mine unbelief.
Mark 9:23-24
A father's honest prayer that many have echoed: Lord, I believe; help thou mine unbelief.
When Jesus heard it, he marvelled, and said to them that followed, Verily I say unto you, I have not found so great faith, no, not in Israel.
Matthew 8:10
Jesus marvels at a centurion's faith, greater than any he had found in Israel.
Then Jesus answered and said unto her, O woman, great is thy faith: be it unto thee even as thou wilt. And her daughter was made whole from that very hour.
Matthew 15:28
A Canaanite woman keeps asking for her daughter, and Jesus calls her faith great.
But Jesus turned him about, and when he saw her, he said, Daughter, be of good comfort; thy faith hath made thee whole. And the woman was made whole from that hour.
Matthew 9:22
The woman who touched the hem of his garment is told her faith has made her whole.
As soon as Jesus heard the word that was spoken, he saith unto the ruler of the synagogue, Be not afraid, only believe.
Mark 5:36
When news came that Jairus's daughter had died, Jesus told him, Be not afraid, only believe.
And the apostles said unto the Lord, Increase our faith. And the Lord said, If ye had faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye might say unto this sycamine tree, Be thou plucked up by the root, and be thou planted in the sea; and it should obey you.
Luke 17:5-6
When the apostles ask for more faith, Jesus answers that even mustard-seed faith can uproot a tree.

Faith lived out and tested

Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone. Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works.
James 2:17-18
James says real faith shows itself in works, and faith without them is dead.
By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went.
Hebrews 11:8
Abraham's faith meant obeying and setting out without knowing where he was going.
He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God; And being fully persuaded that, what he had promised, he was able also to perform.
Romans 4:20-21
Abraham did not stagger at God's promise but was fully persuaded God could keep it.
If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him. But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed.
James 1:5-6
Prayer for wisdom should be made in faith, without wavering like a wave of the sea.
That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ:
1 Peter 1:7
Tested faith is called more precious than gold tried in the fire.
Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.
Ephesians 6:16
In the armour of God, faith is the shield that quenches the fiery darts of the wicked.
For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.
1 John 5:4
Faith is the victory that overcomes the world.
I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith:
2 Timothy 4:7
Near the end of his life, Paul says he has fought a good fight and kept the faith.

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Common questions

What is the definition of faith in the Bible?

Hebrews 11:1 says "faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen." The rest of Hebrews 11 gives examples, from Abel and Noah to Abraham and Moses.

Where is the faith chapter of the Bible?

Hebrews 11 is often called the faith chapter. Verse after verse begins with "By faith," followed by an Old Testament figure and what they did.

Do Paul and James disagree about faith and works?

Paul says we are saved "through faith" and "not of works" (Ephesians 2:8-9), and James says "faith without works is dead" (James 2:26). Christians of every tradition read the two together, generally understanding James to describe the kind of faith that shows itself in action, though traditions explain the relationship in different ways.

What is mustard seed faith?

In Matthew 17:20 and Luke 17:6 Jesus says that faith as small as a grain of mustard seed can move a mountain or uproot a tree. The point is that even small faith in God accomplishes much.