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 circ*mstances.
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.”
(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)
- What does Hebrews 11:1 say faith is?
- Define faith in your own words in one or two ways.
- How is faith related to hope? What do they have in common?
- Look through the various translations of Hebrews 11:1 and choose which one you like the best. Why did you choose that translation?
- Read Hebrews 11:6 and then name some invisible things that you believe in.
- Scan through Hebrews 11 and note one or two ways faith shaped the lives of the Old Testament saints.
- How has faith helped you believe and trust God?
- What does ‘amen’ mean, often sung at the end of a Christian hymn? How does it relate to understanding faith?
- 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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