Hebrews 11 1

Hebrews 11:1 kjv

Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.

Hebrews 11:1 nkjv

Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.

Hebrews 11:1 niv

Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.

Hebrews 11:1 esv

Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.

Hebrews 11:1 nlt

Faith shows the reality of what we hope for; it is the evidence of things we cannot see.

Hebrews 11 verses

Hebrews 11 1 Meaning

Faith, as described here, is the very essence and assurance of realities yet hoped for, and the convincing proof or strong conviction regarding things that remain invisible. It is the spiritual faculty by which believers apprehend future, unseen divine promises as if they were present realities, providing a solid foundation for their expectations and demonstrating the truth of what cannot be perceived by the senses.

Hebrews 11 1 Context

Hebrews 11:1 serves as the crucial definition preceding the extensive "Hall of Faith" narrative. The epistle was written to Jewish Christians facing trials and pressures, possibly even persecution, urging them to remain steadfast in their allegiance to Christ and not revert to Judaism with its tangible rituals. The author highlights the superiority of Christ's new covenant over the old. Chapter 10 concludes with an emphasis on "endurance" and warns against "shrinking back" from faith. Thus, Hebrews 11:1 sets the stage by defining the very nature of the faith required to endure, to access God's promises, and to look beyond present difficulties to the unseen, heavenly realities. It anchors believers in a conviction that transcends physical sight and immediate experience, enabling them to grasp and act upon God's future promises as if they were present certainties.

Hebrews 11 1 Word analysis

• Now (Δὲ, De): A connecting particle marking a transition. It bridges the preceding exhortation to endure patiently (Heb 10:36) with this foundational definition of the faith that enables such endurance. It signals a move from "what to do" to "what faith is."
• faith (πίστις, pistis): Not just intellectual agreement but a profound, active conviction, absolute trust, and reliance on God and His revealed Word. It encompasses belief in and faithfulness towards divine truth. This conviction is so strong that it becomes the motivating principle for action.
• is (ἐστίν, estin): A declarative verb. Faith does not just possess or lead to these qualities; it is them. It defines its very nature and essence.
• the substance (ὑπόστασις, hypostasis): A complex term meaning "standing under," "foundation," "real being," "assurance," or "guarantee."
  • It gives objective reality and concreteness to abstract hope. Faith is the substantial reality of things hoped for, providing the believer with an assured "title deed" to them, even if not yet physically possessed.
  • In a subjective sense, it can mean "confidence" or "assurance" in one's heart. Both objective and subjective nuances apply here, showing faith makes future realities truly present for the believer.
• of things hoped for (ἐλπιζομένων, elpizomenon): Refers to future, unseen divine promises, blessings, and outcomes revealed by God (e.g., Christ's return, resurrection, eternal life, entrance into God's rest). Biblical hope is not a wish, but a firm, confident expectation based on God's unchanging character and unfailing word.
• the evidence (ἔλεγχος, elenchos): Means "proof," "conviction," "demonstration," "reproof," or "test."
  • It is a compelling demonstration, an irrefutable proof, not based on external sensory input but on inner persuasion.
  • Faith acts as the internal and undeniable spiritual conviction or demonstration that the unseen realities proclaimed by God are truly existent and real, providing validation beyond physical sight.
• of things not seen (βλεπομένων, blepomenon): Refers to spiritual realities, divine attributes, and heavenly truths that are beyond the realm of human physical perception (e.g., God, the heavenly sanctuary, angels, spiritual rewards, the invisible Kingdom). This contrasts faith directly with reliance on empirical sight and reinforces the need for divine revelation to apprehend such truths.

Word Group Analysis

• "Now faith is": Establishes a definitive declaration, moving the discourse to the core nature of saving faith for endurance.
• "the substance of things hoped for": This phrase highlights faith's power to bridge the gap between present reality and future divine promise. Faith acts as the bedrock, making future, longed-for realities a present, tangible certainty in the believer's experience, providing inner assurance and confidence akin to a secure possession or guarantee.
• "the evidence of things not seen": This part emphasizes faith's role in the intellectual and spiritual apprehension of invisible truths. Faith provides the convincing internal demonstration and conviction of realities that lie beyond human sight, proving their existence and truthfulness for the believer.
• Connecting "substance" and "evidence": The two terms, while distinct, are complementary. "Substance" grounds faith in objective reality and gives it a solid basis for assurance regarding the future. "Evidence" relates to the internal conviction and demonstrative power of faith regarding unseen truths. Together, they define faith as a present spiritual apprehension and confident conviction of future and invisible divine realities.

Hebrews 11 1 Bonus section

The precise meaning of hypostasis (substance) in Koine Greek allows for various interpretations, ranging from an objective "underlying reality" to a subjective "assurance" or "confidence." The genius of Hebrews 11:1 lies in how it embraces both: faith, for the believer, is the actual grounding/reality of what is hoped for, and simultaneously is the internal confidence in that reality. This comprehensive meaning was vital for the original audience, who faced persecution and might have been tempted to abandon their invisible hope for the visible security of the old covenant system. The verse asserts that faith itself provides the very certainty and foundation that the old covenant's rituals merely foreshadowed. It elevates faith from a passive belief to an active, present appropriation of future and unseen divine truth. This means faith isn't just about believing in something unseen, but about possessing the reality of it by conviction.

Hebrews 11 1 Commentary

Hebrews 11:1 provides the functional and essential definition of faith that underpins the entire chapter. It teaches that faith is not a mere feeling or an uninformed assumption but a substantial and evidential certainty concerning what God has promised and revealed, even if it has not yet materialized or is invisible to the human eye.

The aspect of "substance" (hypostasis) conveys that faith provides a concrete reality and solid assurance to the believer regarding future divine blessings. It's akin to having a deed or title to a property you don't yet physically possess. Faith makes the hoped-for future salvation, the coming of Christ, or the eternal inheritance so real that it fundamentally shapes present living and endurance.

The facet of "evidence" (elenchos) means that faith acts as an internal, compelling proof for the existence and truth of spiritual realities that are imperceptible to our senses. In a world driven by what can be seen and verified, faith stands as the internal, spiritual eye that confirms the reality of God, the heavenly realms, and Christ's unseen redemptive work. This divine certainty is crucial for steadfastness, allowing believers to navigate the present by the light of unseen truths.

Together, these two aspects reveal faith as the spiritual capacity to grasp the unseen and the future with an unshakeable conviction, enabling believers to live now in light of eternal realities, finding strength and perseverance in divine promises, not visible circumstances.

Examples:

• Noah: Built an ark in faith as evidence of things not seen (the coming global flood) and with substance for things hoped for (deliverance and survival for his family).
• Abraham: Left his homeland and wandered in tents by faith as substance for things hoped for (a heavenly city and innumerable offspring) and evidence of things not seen (a promised land and divine heir when he was childless and old).
• Moses: Chose Christ's reproach over worldly treasures by faith as evidence of things not seen (the heavenly reward and Christ himself) and substance for things hoped for (the true King, the unseen God).