The writer finished chapter 10 with these words, “But we are not of those who shrink back and are destroyed, but of those who have faith and preserve their souls.” Hebrews 10:39. This is followed in chapter 11 with a definition of faith and how it was exemplified by people throughout the history of Israel. But first, we look at the definition in verses 1 to 3 in bold print, with the Greek words and their meaning.
11:1. Verse 1 begins with the words, “Now faith is the assurance [ὑπόστασις; hypostasis = confidence, confident, person, substance] of things hoped for, the conviction [ ἔλεγχος; elegchos] proof, conviction, evidence, reproof] of things not seen [βλέπω; blepō; to look at, behold, perceive, regard, see, sight, take heed.]
The word for “assurance” [ὑπόστασις hypostasis] had been used 2 times before its use in chapter 11. It means a setting under or the foundation of something.
- Heb. 1:3 – Nature. He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature.” The word can mean the steadfastness of mind, firmness, courage, resolution, confidence, firm trust, assurance, substance. Jesus was of the same substance as God and the exact imprint of His substance or nature.
- Heb 3:13-14 – Confidence. The readers are encouraged to exhort each other to avoid the danger of hard-heartedness, “ But exhort one another every day, as long as it is called “today,” that none of you may be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin. 14 For we have come to share in Christ, if indeed we hold our original confidence firm to the end.”
God is faithful and His promises are true. Therefore the believer can be assured of His promises being fulfilled in their lives both in the present and in the future. The NEB version puts it, “Faith brings substance to our hopes” where substance is this word [ὑπόστασις hypostasis.] Faith brings hope into being.
“Hope” as we use the word today has a degree of uncertainty about it, for example, “I hope it is fine today.” However, in the New Testament hope is certain and will surely come to pass.
“Conviction” [ἔλεγχος; elegchos, is the inward assurance that comes from faith. Here it is the conviction of things not seen. It is the certainty that God’s promises for the present and the future [at present unseen] will surely come to pass.
11:2. “For by it the people of old received their commendation [μαρτυρέω; martyreō; to obtain a good (honest) report, be well reported of.] Those in the Old Testament period who had faith in God were recognised by Him as being acceptable in His sight. They honoured Him by trusting in Him and in His promises to them.
11:3. “By faith we understand that the universe [αἰών; aiōn properly, an age; by implication, the world] was created [καταρτίζω katartizō; to complete thoroughly, make perfect, prepare.] by the word of God, so that what is seen [βλέπω; blepō; to look at, behold, beware, see, sight, take heed. ] was not made out of things that are visible. [φαίνω; phainō; to lighten (shine), appear, be seen.]
Creation is seen by most scholars as being ex nihilo, “out of nothing.” There was nothing apart from God before He spoke the universe into existence. Others look at this verse and suggest that there may have been invisible things existing before God spoke them into being. However other parts of the Bible do not seem to support this latter view.
The apostle John described creation in John 1:3, “All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made.” Everything that exists owes its origin to Jesus.
St Paul in Colossians 1:16, declared that God created everything including the visible and the invisible, “For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him.” Everything, whether seen or unseen was created by Jesus.
Earlier in Hebrews 1:2, the writer saw Jesus as the creator of the ages, Heb 1:2 “but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world.”
SUMMING UP
The word for “faith” [pistis ; πίστις] occurs about 243 times in the Bible and so is of great importance. The writer of Hebrews began chapter 11 with a definition of faith before beginning to mention many of the heroes of faith in the Old Testament period who gained God’s approval by their faith, “For by it the people of old received their commendation.” 11:2.
In brief, faith is described as the following:-
- It is the assurance of things hoped for
- It is the conviction of things not seen
- It understands that the universe was created when God spoke it into being
- It understands that everything that exists did not exist before God created [or prepared] it by His word of power.
The writer now goes on in the rest of the chapter to describe how the people of faith exercised their faith in many different circumstances because of the confidence they had in the God they had begun to worship and to serve.
The exciting thing we will read as we come to the end of the chapter is that God has provided something better for us, “And all these, though commended through their faith, did not receive what was promised, 40 since God had provided something better for us, that apart from us they should not be made perfect. 11:39-40.
Blog No.530 posted on Wednesday 21 February 2024.
holbeck 
530. HEBREWS 11:1-3. WHAT IS FAITH?
The writer finished chapter 10 with these words, “But we are not of those who shrink back and are destroyed, but of those who have faith and preserve their souls.” Hebrews 10:39. This is followed in chapter 11 with a definition of faith and how it was exemplified by people throughout the history of Israel. But first, we look at the definition in verses 1 to 3 in bold print, with the Greek words and their meaning.
11:1. Verse 1 begins with the words, “Now faith is the assurance [ὑπόστασις; hypostasis = confidence, confident, person, substance] of things hoped for, the conviction [ ἔλεγχος; elegchos] proof, conviction, evidence, reproof] of things not seen [βλέπω; blepō; to look at, behold, perceive, regard, see, sight, take heed.]
The word for “assurance” [ὑπόστασις hypostasis] had been used 2 times before its use in chapter 11. It means a setting under or the foundation of something.
God is faithful and His promises are true. Therefore the believer can be assured of His promises being fulfilled in their lives both in the present and in the future. The NEB version puts it, “Faith brings substance to our hopes” where substance is this word [ὑπόστασις hypostasis.] Faith brings hope into being.
“Hope” as we use the word today has a degree of uncertainty about it, for example, “I hope it is fine today.” However, in the New Testament hope is certain and will surely come to pass.
“Conviction” [ἔλεγχος; elegchos, is the inward assurance that comes from faith. Here it is the conviction of things not seen. It is the certainty that God’s promises for the present and the future [at present unseen] will surely come to pass.
11:2. “For by it the people of old received their commendation [μαρτυρέω; martyreō; to obtain a good (honest) report, be well reported of.] Those in the Old Testament period who had faith in God were recognised by Him as being acceptable in His sight. They honoured Him by trusting in Him and in His promises to them.
11:3. “By faith we understand that the universe [αἰών; aiōn properly, an age; by implication, the world] was created [καταρτίζω katartizō; to complete thoroughly, make perfect, prepare.] by the word of God, so that what is seen [βλέπω; blepō; to look at, behold, beware, see, sight, take heed. ] was not made out of things that are visible. [φαίνω; phainō; to lighten (shine), appear, be seen.]
Creation is seen by most scholars as being ex nihilo, “out of nothing.” There was nothing apart from God before He spoke the universe into existence. Others look at this verse and suggest that there may have been invisible things existing before God spoke them into being. However other parts of the Bible do not seem to support this latter view.
The apostle John described creation in John 1:3, “All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made.” Everything that exists owes its origin to Jesus.
St Paul in Colossians 1:16, declared that God created everything including the visible and the invisible, “For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him.” Everything, whether seen or unseen was created by Jesus.
Earlier in Hebrews 1:2, the writer saw Jesus as the creator of the ages, Heb 1:2 “but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world.”
SUMMING UP
The word for “faith” [pistis ; πίστις] occurs about 243 times in the Bible and so is of great importance. The writer of Hebrews began chapter 11 with a definition of faith before beginning to mention many of the heroes of faith in the Old Testament period who gained God’s approval by their faith, “For by it the people of old received their commendation.” 11:2.
In brief, faith is described as the following:-
The writer now goes on in the rest of the chapter to describe how the people of faith exercised their faith in many different circumstances because of the confidence they had in the God they had begun to worship and to serve.
The exciting thing we will read as we come to the end of the chapter is that God has provided something better for us, “And all these, though commended through their faith, did not receive what was promised, 40 since God had provided something better for us, that apart from us they should not be made perfect. 11:39-40.
Blog No.530 posted on Wednesday 21 February 2024.
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About Jim Holbeck
Once an Industrial Chemist working for the Queensland Government but later an Anglican minister in Brisbane, Armidale and Sydney. Last position for eighteen years before retirement in 2006 was as the Leader of the Healing Ministry at St Andrew's Cathedral Sydney.