Hebrews 11:1 Defining and Understanding Faith (2024)

Written by Paul J Bucknell on April, 22, 2023

Hebrews 11:1 is the most definitive verse to help us grasp the meaning of faith. Pistis is the common Greek word translated as faith (over 225 times). Here are several translations of Hebrews 11:1.

Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. (Heb 11:1 ESV)

Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. (Heb 11:1 NASB)

Now faith is being sure we will get what we hope for. It is being sure of what we cannot see. (Heb 11:1 NLV)

Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. (Heb 11:1 KJV)

Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see. (Heb 11:1 NIV)

Ἔστιν δὲ πίστις ἐλπιζομένων ὑπόστασις, πραγμάτων ἔλεγχος οὐ βλεπομένων. (Heb 11:1 Greek)

Now faith means putting our full confidence in the things we hope for, it means being certain of things we cannot see. (Heb 11:1 Phillips)

Let’s tackle Hebrews 11:1 by asking several questions. Remember that the many examples of faith listed throughout Hebrews 11 amplify its essential meaning.

(1) What is the purpose of emphasizing faith?

Hebrews chapter 11 sets before the Jewish Christians, and us secondarily, excellent examples of faith lived out by these Old Testament heroes. They dared not let obstacles, including many worldly desires, sights, fears, and distractions, hinder them from pursuing God’s purpose.

Faith brought the reality of God’s spiritual realm into the lives of those saints, giving them perseverance in their faith, unlike many around them.

This chapter follows the exhortation in chapter 10 to persevere in following Christ. They are to continue in their faith, “those who have faith and preserve their souls” (Heb 10:39). The author meant to use these examples to encourage the Hebrew Christians of his day who faced persecution to endure in their faith. They had the same life-changing faith as the saints of old.

(2) How are faith and hope related?

Hebrews 11:1 relates how faith is intertwined with hope in the lives of God’s people. It grants the readers a clue—one they are to imitate—to what motivated these men of faith with such drive and steadfastness. They gained lasting hope from their strong faith in what otherwise seemed dire circumstances.

Hope is the expectation that something will happen, while faith is the confidence that it will occur. Without faith, hope quickly dissipates. Hope linked with faith is common throughout the New Testament.

17As it is written, “A father of many nations have I made you” (Abram) in the presence of Him whom he believed, even God, who gives life to the dead and calls into being that which does not exist. 18In hope against hope he believed, so that he might become a father of many nations according to that which had been spoken, “So shall your descendants be.” (Rom 4:17-18)

I like the Net2 Bible translation, “Now faith is being sure of what we hope for, being convinced of what we do not see.”

Hebrews 11:1 Defining and Understanding Faith (1)

(3) What is faith?

Faith is the confidence that comes from spiritual insight and knowledge. It might not be verifiable scientifically, but it’s just as reliable. The Greek uses the word ‘hoopostasis,’ meaning firm trust, assurance, substance, steadfastness of mind, and resolution, to modify hope—firm or unwavering hope. It stands opposite to the unsure, unsteady, doubtful, and wavering positions common today.

Typically we receive such confidence through the assurance of what we have learned with the addition of new input, often through our senses. Today’s world has thrown a twist to this confidence through false knowledge. We are no longer sure of what is true and dependable information. Even AI bots provide false information. Faith, however, reaches beyond sensory knowledge, gleaning truths from the spiritual world.

Since we were spiritually dead, we needed God to convict us, give us new life, and bring assurance of what is true—about Christ Jesus, the forgiveness of sin, and life everlasting. Salvation comes by faith in God’s promised forgiveness in Jesus through His work on the cross. “For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God” (Eph 2:8). Faith, God-instilled confidence, is given to us.

Faith is confidence in our sure hope; it is future-oriented. Both faith and hope are based on what cannot be seen with our eyes. Faith’s confidence originates in belief in God and the unseen spiritual world. God uses His Word and the work of the Holy Spirit to make His many promises a powerful influence in the lives of the saints. They see the world differently because their lives are framed within the greater context of the whole world, including the spiritual realm.

This same faith drove all these men, later mentioned in Hebrews 11, to accomplish incredible feats for God. They, in faith, found direction, comfort, and strength in God, who commanded their attention and priority. They pleased God who made them (Heb 11:6; quotes).

(4) What is the Old Testament Biblical root meaning that powerfully influences New Testament usage?

Although faith is a popular New Testament concept, we would miss out on the depth of Hebrews 11’s meaning without a brief look into its Old Testament development and usage.“The LXX (Septuagint) and NT were right when they related their term for faith (pisteuein) to the OT stem (amen), for in this word are expressed the most distinctive and profound thing which the OT has to say about faith.”

Essentially, the Hebrew word, amen, comes from the concepts of truth or reality. From this comes a sense of trustworthiness and reliability. We put our trust in that which is reliable. Nothing is more reliable than God and what He has said, especially regarding His Son, Jesus Christ. But without faith in God, we cannot please Him. “And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him” (Heb 11:6).

Summary

Genuine salvation stems from faith in the Lord Jesus. This new faith causes us to enter a whole new realm of understanding. Faith in God and His Word is dependable—though not seen with the eye, it gives bright hope for the future.

Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. (Heb 11:1 NASB)

Hebrews 11:1 Defining and Understanding Faith (2)

  1. What does Hebrews 11:1 say faith is?
  2. Define faith in your own words in one or two ways.
  3. How is faith related to hope? What do they have in common?
  4. Look through the various translations of Hebrews 11:1 and choose which one you like the best. Why did you choose that translation?
  5. Read Hebrews 11:6 and then name some invisible things that you believe in.
  6. Scan through Hebrews 11 and note one or two ways faith shaped the lives of the Old Testament saints.
  7. How has faith helped you believe and trust God?
  8. What does ‘amen’ mean, often sung at the end of a Christian hymn? How does it relate to understanding faith?
  9. How sure are you in your faith in God and salvation? What has made your faith strong? What makes it weak?

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Hebrews 11:1 Defining and Understanding Faith (2024)

FAQs

Hebrews 11:1 Defining and Understanding Faith? ›

It begins with the famous definition of faith in 11:1, “Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.” The text then quickly moves back to creation (11:3) to note that God's Word is a power that creates “what is seen … from things that are not visible.” This statement (verse 3) can ...

What is the meaning of Hebrews Chapter 11 verse 1? ›

The opening verse of this chapter sketches two dimensions of faith or faithfulness that the writer will then develop in detail: “Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen” (Hebrews 11:1). First, faith provides a guarantee, the peg on which we hang our hopes.

What is the meaning of Hebrews 11 1 for dummies? ›

NAS Hebrews 11:1 Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. Looking at this verse as a definition, and having already discussed “hope,” we note two key words: “assurance” and “conviction.” In order to understand what the writer is saying, we must study both.

What does it mean to understand faith? ›

Biblically, faith is considered a belief and trust in God based on evidence but without total proof. This idea is associated with “taking a leap of faith,” a common English idiom. Among all definitions, faith holds a common theme: trust. Whether you're putting faith in a person, duty or belief, trust is a necessity.

What is the message translation of Hebrews 11:1? ›

The fundamental fact of existence is that this trust in God, this faith, is the firm foundation under everything that makes life worth living. It's our handle on what we can't see. The act of faith is what distinguished our ancestors, set them above the crowd.

What is the definition of faith in Hebrews 11 1? ›

It begins with the famous definition of faith in 11:1, “Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.” The text then quickly moves back to creation (11:3) to note that God's Word is a power that creates “what is seen … from things that are not visible.” This statement (verse 3) can ...

What does now mean in Hebrews 11 1? ›

Moffatt's translation of this verse reads, "Now faith means that we are confident of what we hope for, convinced of what we do not see." Another translation says, "Faith is giving substance to things hoped for." Still another translation reads, "Faith is the warranty deed, the thing for which we have finally hoped is ...

What is the short sermon of Hebrews 11 1? ›

Sermon Scripture Reference

11:1 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. 2 For by it the elders obtained a good testimony. 3 By faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that the things which are seen were not made of things which are visible.

What is the main point of Hebrews 11? ›

“Hebrews 11 tells us what it means to have faith and obtain life. Those with true faith accept God's word, focusing on assurance about what we do not see, looking beyond the situation as it can be perceived by natural vision. By exercising this kind of faith the ancients gained the warm commendation of God.

What is Hebrews 11 simplified? ›

11 Abraham and his wife, Sarah, were too old to have children. But Abraham believed God's promise that they would have children. He trusted God to do what he had promised. As a result of his faith , God made it possible for him and Sarah to have a baby.

What is a deep understanding of faith? ›

It is about living in obedience to His commands, trusting in His promises, and following His example. It is about having faith in His goodness and power to redeem us from our sins and bring us joy and peace. Christian faith is a deep and complex faith that can take a lifetime to explore and understand.

What is the best definition of faith? ›

: belief and trust in and loyalty to God. (2) : belief in the traditional doctrines of a religion. b(1) : firm belief in something for which there is no proof.

What is your personal definition and understanding of faith? ›

Faith is confidence or trust in a person, thing, or concept. In the context of religion, faith is "belief in God or in the doctrines or teachings of religion".

What is the devotional of Hebrews 11 1? ›

This faith is “the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen” (11:1). Persevering faith is a firm confidence in God and all of His promises. It is a persuaded trust that God will be true to His Word. This faith is not something that we conjure up ourselves.

What does substance mean in Hebrews 11:1? ›

Hebrews 11:1

Substance means "that which stands under." Faith is the foundation for what we hope, the foundation for our relationship with God and everything that it implies within His purpose.

What is the amplified version of Hebrews 11 1? ›

Hebrews 11:1

Now faith is the assurance (title deed, confirmation) of things hoped for (divinely guaranteed), and the evidence of things not seen [the conviction of their reality—faith comprehends as fact what cannot be experienced by the physical senses].

What does it mean faith is the substance of things hoped for? ›

So, the verse that says “faith is the substance of things hoped for" in Hebrews 11, means that our faith is the evidence that the spiritual realm needs for it to “have permission", in a sense, to manifest in the physical realm.

What does Hebrews 11 teach us? ›

God takes what we cannot see, or cannot understand, and uses it to make good on His word. Since faith relies on what we've seen of God, and trusts Him for the future, it becomes the "assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen" (Hebrews 11:1–3).

What is the meaning of evidence of things not seen? ›

Hebrews 11:1 explains, "Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen." The author is saying that faith is the confident conviction that, like the foundation of a building, stands under and supports a life lived by faith in the invisible God.

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