Hebrews 11:1
Now
faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.
a. NLT: Faith is the confidence
that what we hope for will actually happen; it gives us assurance about things
we cannot see.
b. NIV: Now faith is confidence in what we
hope for and assurance about what we do not see.
c. YLT: And faith is of things hoped for a
confidence, of matters not seen a conviction,
d. Amplified Bible Classic: Now faith is the assurance (the
confirmation, the title deed) of the things [we] hope for, being the proof of
things [we] do not see and the conviction of their reality [faith
perceiving as real fact what is not revealed to the senses].
e. Worrell Translation: Now faith
is an assurance of things hoped for, a sure persuasion of things not seen.
f. Wuest Translation: Now faith is
the title deed of things hoped for, the proof of things which are not seen.
1.
“Now faith…”
a. Now [1161 * de] [Strong: a
primary particle (adversative or continuative); but, and, etc.:--also, and,
but, moreover, now (often unexpressed in English).
b. faith [Strong: 4102 pistis, pis'-tis; from 3982; persuasion, i.e.
credence; moral conviction (of religious truth, or the truthfulness of God or a
religious teacher), especially reliance upon Christ for salvation; abstractly,
constancy in such profession; by extension, the system of religious (Gospel)
truth itself:--assurance, belief, believe, faith, fidelity.] [W.E. Vine: The main elements in faith in its
relation to the invisible God…are especially brought out in the use of this
noun and the corresponding verb, they are: 1. A firm conviction producing a
full acknowledgement of god’s revelation or truth, His word. 2. A personal
surrender to Him. 3. A conduct inspired by such surrender.]
1). Pink: “Crediting the sure
testimony of God, resting on His promises, and expecting the accomplishment of
them, faith gives the object hoped for at a future period, a present reality
and power in the soul, as if already possessed, for the believer is satisfied
with the security afforded, and acts under the full persuasion that God will
not fail of His engagement. Faith gives the soul an appropriating hold of
them…it gives not an imaginary appearance to things, but a real subsistence.”
2). Also faith by definition involves
a previous instruction. God had to speak faith to the heart in order for the
heart to experience “faith”.
a). Romans 10:17 So the faith
cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
(1) There are two different Greek
words for the English term translated
“word”, they are logos & rhema. The Greek word used in Romans 10:17
is rhema. A distinguishing of the two needs to be stated.
(2) Word [4487 * rhema] [Zodhiates:
That which is spoken, a statement, word.] [W.E. Vine: “The significance of
rhema (as distinct from logos) is exemplified in the injunction to take “the
sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God,” Ephesians 6:17; here the
reference is not to the whole Bible as such, but to the individual scripture
which the Spirit brings to our remembrance for use in time of need, a
prerequisite being the regular storing of the mind with Scripture.”
(3) Word [3056 * logos] [Zodhiates:
Intelligence, word as the expression of that intelligence, discourse, saying,
thing.] [Vine: “The expression of thought…as embodying a concept or idea…a
saying or statement…sometimes it is used as the sum of God’s utterances, a
discourse, speech, of instruction, a word…Also a title of the Son of God.”]
(4) Dr. Charles Farah, Jr.
Professor of Theology at ORU. “The Logos tends to be universal, while the Rhema is often used as a particular…the
Logos is eternal, while the Rhema is often contemporary…It is a word a man
takes action on; a personal word he hears…”The word is nigh thee, even in thy
mouth, and in thy heart…” Romans 10:8. Here the word Rhema is used, and I
believe, though not all scholars would agree, that Paul is saying this: Because
the word is in your heart, it is necessary to use the word Rhema rather than
the Logos, because God’s word has become a personal word to you.”
b). In every verse that tells of a
man or woman having faith, we must recognize that God had previously spoken,
even though the text does not say it. The perfect example in our study is
Hebrews 11:4, where because of faith, Abel offered a more excellent sacrifice
than Cain. Many people wonder why Cain’s offering was rejected and why Abel’s
was not. It was because there was a previous instruction that Abel from the
heart obeyed and Cain did not. Even though the text does not show a previous
instruction, the presence of faith in Abel demands it.
c). A logos word can become a rhema
word through prayer and meditation and confession. See notes on Joshua 1:8 and
Proverbs 4:20-22.
2.
“…is the substance of things hoped for…”
a. is [2076 * esti] [Strong: third
person singular present indicative of 1510; he (she or it) is; also (with
neuter plural) they are:--are, be(-long), call, X can(-not), come, consisteth,
X dure for a while, + follow, X have, (that) is (to say), make, meaneth, X must
needs, + profit, + remaineth, + wrestle.]
b. the substance [5287 * hupostasis]
[Strong: from a compound of 5259 and 2476; a setting under (support), i.e.
(figuratively) concretely, essence, or abstractly, assurance (objectively or
subjectively):--confidence, confident, person, substance.] [Bullinger: What is
set or stands under; underlayer, foundation; that which lies at the foundation
of a matter, confidence.]
1). Other uses of this same word.
a). 2 Corinthians 9:4 Lest haply if
they of Macedonia come with me, and find you unprepared, we (that we say not,
ye) should be ashamed in this same confident boasting.
b). 2 Corinthians 11:17 That which
I speak, I speak it not after the Lord, but as it were
foolishly, in this confidence of
boasting.
c). Hebrews 3:14 For we are made
partakers of Christ, if we hold the beginning of our confidence stedfast unto the end;
c. of things hoped for [1679 * elpizo]
[Strong: from 1680; to expect or confide:--(have, thing) hope(-d) (for), trust.]
1). Pink: “…just so far as I am
counting upon the ability, fidelity of the Promiser, shall I be confident of
receiving the things promised and which
I am expecting.”
3.
“…the evidence of things not seen.”
a. the evidence [1650 * elenchos] [Strong: from 1651; proof,
conviction:--evidence, reproof.]
1). Pink: The word evidence is
derived from a verb which signifies “to convince”, and that by
demonstration…The noun occurs in only one other place, 2 Timothy3:16,
“reproof”, to give assurance and certainty to what is true. The word “evidence”
in our text denotes that which furnishes proof, so that one is assured of the
reality and certainty of things Divine.”
b. of things [4229 * pragma]
[Strong: from 4238; a deed; by implication, an affair; by extension, an object
(material):--business, matter, thing, work.]
c. not [3756 * ou; also (before
a vowel) ouk; and (before an aspirate) ouch] [Strong: a primary word;
the absolute negative (compare 3361) adverb; no or not:--+ long, nay, neither,
never, no (X man), none, (can-)not, + nothing, + special, un(-worthy), when, +
without, + yet but.]
d. seen [991 * blepo] [Strong: a
primary verb; to look at (literally or figuratively):--behold, beware, lie,
look (on, to), perceive, regard, see, sight, take heed.]
1). Pink: The word evidence is
derived from a verb which signifies “to convince”, and that by
demonstration…The noun occurs in only one other place, 2 Timothy3:16,
“reproof”, to give assurance and certainty to what is true. The word “evidence”
in our text denotes that which furnishes proof, so that one is assured of the
reality and certainty of things Divine.”
2). Institute Creation Research
Daily Devotional 9/3/11 The eleventh chapter of Hebrews, known as the great
Hall of Fame of Faith reciting the faith and resulting action of many Old
Testament heroes, begins with a description of what faith is.
First, we see that it is the
"substance of things hoped for." Biblically, we know that the
Christian "hope" is a hope so real it has substance in the present.
None of the people of faith recited in this chapter actually saw the promises
made to them come to fruition, but they so believed in them that they lived in
the present as if the future were reality. The word "substance"
occurs only two other times in Hebrews. It is used to speak of Christ as the
exact representation of God's essence and nature, "Who being the
brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person |i.e.,
substance|" (Hebrews 1:3). It is also translated "confidence,"
"for we are made partakers of Christ, if we hold the beginning of our
confidence stedfast unto the end" (Hebrews 3:14), and speaks of a deep
assurance. Putting this all together, our text could then be rendered,
"faith is the essence of our assurance of things yet in the future." The
word "evidence" could be translated "conviction," or even
"proof." The word implies a logical, airtight argument. "All
scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for
reproof |same word as 'evidence'|, for correction, for instruction in
righteousness" (2 Timothy 3:16). This sort of evidence is something we
know to be true, something about which we have such conviction we act
accordingly. The first half of the verse brings a future truth down into
the present; the second half commits our lives to that truth. JDM
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