11 We wish each of you would always be eager to show how strong and lasting your hope really is.
12 Then you would never be lazy. You would be following the example of those who had faith and were patient until God kept his promise to them.
13 No one is greater than God. So he made a promise in his own name when he said to Abraham,
14 “I, the Lord, will bless you with many descendants!”
15 Then after Abraham had been very patient, he was given what God had promised.
16 When anyone wants to settle an argument, they make a vow by using the name of someone or something greater than themselves.
17 So when God wanted to prove for certain his promise to his people could not be broken, he made a vow.