What does it mean that faith is the substance of things hoped for (Hebrews 11:1)? (2024)

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The writer of Hebrews opens chapter 11 with a brief description of faith: “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen” (Hebrews 11:1, NKJV). This statement should not be regarded as a complete definition of faith. Instead, the author focuses on two critical aspects of a much broader theological concept to introduce a famous gallery of Old Testament heroes of faith. The first vital facet of faith is that it is “the substance of things hoped for.”

The word for “substance” (KJV, NKJV) in the clause faith is the substance of things hoped for, is alternatively translated as “assurance” (ESV), “confidence” (NIV), and “the reality” (NLT). In the original Greek, the term conveys the idea of “a firm foundation,” “the real being,” “the actual existence,” “the substantial nature,” and “a resolute trust.” One sense of the word refers to a title deed or a legal document guaranteeing the right to possess a property.

According to Moulton and Milligan in Vocabulary of the Greek New Testament, “faith is the substance of things hoped for” could be translated “faith is the title-deed of things hoped for” (Robertson, A. T., Word Pictures in the New Testament, Nashville: Broadman Press, 1960). Another commentary suggests that faith, as described in Hebrews 11:1, “apprehends reality: it is that to which the unseen objects of hope become real and substantial. Assurance gives the true idea. It is the firm grasp of faith on unseen fact” (Vincent, M. R., Word Studies in the New Testament, Vol. 4, New York: Charles Scribner’s Sons, 1887, p. 510).

The clause faith is the substance of things hoped for describes a conviction that already takes custody—here and now—of what we hope for and what God has promised us in the future. This present-day ownership of things hoped for and promised in the future is an inner reality. Right now, amid a global pandemic, financial crisis, and social unrest, as our world seems to be falling apart, we can stand on the rock-solid, unshakeable promises of God’s security, rest, peace, provision, mercy, grace, and salvation. His Word can be trusted. We can have full confidence in the Lord’s promises because they are real and a firm foundation for this life.

This “substance” or “assurance” describes our inward response to God’s trustworthy, unfailing nature. We can be sure of the Lord’s promises because, as the writer of Hebrews goes on to show, biblical heroes of every generation have proven them to be true: “By faith Abel brought God a better offering than Cain did. By faith he was commended as righteous, when God spoke well of his offerings. And by faith Abel still speaks, even though he is dead. By faith Enoch was taken from this life, so that he did not experience death” (Hebrews 11:4–5). On and on goes the list. By faith Noah built the ark, saved his family, and became an heir of righteousness (Hebrews 11:7). By faith Abraham obeyed God and moved from his homeland (verses 8–10).

The writer of Hebrews presents example after example of those who demonstrated faith as the substance of things hoped for: “All these people were still living by faith when they died. They did not receive the things promised; they only saw them and welcomed them from a distance, admitting that they were foreigners and strangers on earth” (Hebrews 11:13). From the patriarchs to King David to anonymous champions of faith, believers have trusted in God’s promises despite enduring unimaginable challenges (verses 17–38).

Faith, being the substance of things hoped for, is also an outward force. Possessing the reality of hope supplies believers with the motivation to endure trials and hardships. It results in decisive obedience—the kind that caused the ancient heroes of faith to act upon their hope. Faith, as the substance of things hoped for, activates believers to preach boldly, pray unceasingly, love unconditionally, serve compassionately, and work tirelessly “as long as it is day” (John 9:4). The inward substance of faith moves our hearts while the external reality moves mountains.

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What does it mean that faith is the substance of things hoped for (Hebrews 11:1)? (2024)

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What does it mean that faith is the substance of things hoped for (Hebrews 11:1)? ›

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

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. Faith is the very beginning of everything that really matters spiritually.

What does faith mean in Hebrews 11 1? ›

Hebrews 11:1 in Other Translations

1 Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. 1 Faith is the confidence that what we hope for will actually happen; it gives us assurance about things we cannot see.

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 meaning of the Hebrews 11 11? ›

Hebrews 11:11 in Other Translations

11 By faith Sarah herself received power to conceive, even when she was past the age, since she considered him faithful who had promised. 11 It was by faith that even Sarah was able to have a child, though she was barren and was too old. She believed that God would keep his promise.

Can you have hope without faith? ›

When people have hope they have faith, because they hold a belief that says “I believe that the future will be better.” And while they have no grounds to “prove” the hopeful assumption, they have faith in it. While faith without hope is possible, hope without faith is not. Thus faith is not sufficient for hope.

What is the spiritual meaning of 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 main message of Hebrew 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 are the hope in Hebrews 11 1? ›

In Hebrews 11:1 we see that hope is another aspect of faith in the unseen or the future. Hope is faith directed to the future. Hope in the secular sense is the expectation of good. Christian hope goes beyond that to the expectation of God/Christ.

What is the difference between faith and conviction? ›

Faith is an action… i guess you could do something for no reason, but even that isnt blindly doing something. religious conviction is what people actually believe.

What lesson can we learn from Hebrews 11? ›

"Faith is the assurance of things hoped for," begins Hebrews 11. What better to hope for than commendation from God—not just to be forgiven and received by faith, essential as that is, but to really please God with your life. By faith you may be assured even of this.

What is the short sermon of Hebrews 11 1? ›

Hebrews 11 begins by telling us what faith is: Faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen (Heb 11:1). The “hoped for” things we are sure of, are things God has promised. The “unseen things” we are convinced of, are things God has revealed.

What is Hebrews 11 1 simple version? ›

1 This is what it means to trust God: We will be sure about the things that we hope for. We will be sure in our minds about things that we cannot even see. 2 It was because of their faith that God said good things about the people of long ago.

What does faith mean in Hebrew 11? ›

ESV Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. NIV Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see. NASB Now faith is the certainty of things hoped for, a proof of things not seen.

What do the heroes of faith mean in Hebrews 11? ›

Simply put, chapter 11, called the “Hall of faith” or “Faith Hall of fame,” is a list of men and women who were determined to follow God. Though they lived in different times and faced different circumstances, each of them chose to show loyalty to the Lord.

What is Hebrews 11 called? ›

Hebrews 11 has been called the Faith Chapter. It lists many of the biblical heroes of faith, and it shows what living faith looks like and what it will produce.

What is the meaning of substance of things? ›

a. : physical material from which something is made or which has discrete existence. b. : matter of particular or definite chemical constitution.

What does the word substance mean biblically? ›

sub'-stans (rekhush; hupostasis): Lit. that which stands under, is in the Bible used chiefly of material goods and possessions.

What type of substance is faith? ›

Hebrews 11:1. The definition God gives us for faith is extremely important to understand. Faith is spiritual substance. Not natural substance, but spiritual substance.

What is the meaning of the following Scripture verse faith is the assurance of things hoped for the conviction of things not seen? ›

Faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. They conclude that faith means having an assurance and an inner conviction that God will fulfill all of His promises. And that is absolutely true. That's what Heb 11:1 teaches.

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