Who doesn’t love the Faith chapter in the Book of Hebrews?! “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” Hebrews 11:1 NKJV.
We want to believe. Let’s look at it a little more closely: Faith is the substance of things hoped for. The word translated substance comes from the Greek hupostasis, “a placing or setting under, a substructure or foundation”. In Hebrews 3:14 and 2 Corinthians 9:4, it appears as the word confidence.
Hupostasis is a substructure, or foundation that, although it may be hidden, exists beneath and supports what is visible!
Just as the foundation of a building is not seen, but the building above the ground is visible, the foundation, the hupostasis, is very real and is vital in supporting the building!
I became so excited when I discovered this explanation.
Our faith is that foundation, that confidence, that even though we can’t see it, we know that it’s there. It’s what holds everything together. It’s sure, it’s tested.
Now, “…the evidence of things not seen.”
And evidence? The Greek there we won’t attempt to pronounce, elegchos, which is translated “a proof or conviction”
Faith, hupostasis and elegchos, oh my!
So, Faith is the substance, foundation and confidence, of things hoped for, the evidence, or proof and conviction, of things not seen!
The Wycliffe Bible Commentary says, “Faith is trust in the unseen. It is not trust in the unknown, for we may know by faith what we cannot see with the eye.”
Take a look at the picture below of my youngest son, Korey Ross, taken in Jurmala, Latvia, in Eastern Europe. In this world things are not always as they seem. We get caught up in the cares of this life, we want more, think bigger is better and faster is cooler.
But as the picture reveals, we can be easily deceived. This world can trap us quickly and leave us empty. Thankfully Korey wasn’t fooled and didn’t invite the young cardboard lady home for dinner…
Where does your trust lie? Is it in the unseen? Where is your confidence? What do you hope for?“For we have become partakers of Christ, if we hold fast the beginning of our assurance firm until the end.” Hebrews 3:14 NASB.
My hope is built on nothing less
Than Jesus’ blood and righteousness
I dare not trust the sweetest frame
But wholly lean on Jesus’ Name
Sharing with Mama Moments Monday
Me too Cindy. Blessings to you friend. ♥
Great explination and I do love that song!!!
Thanks so much for sharing at AMAZE ME MONDAY!
Blessings,
Cindy
Thank you Nancy! Blessings to you dear friend, appreciate your prayers and support! ♥
Thank you Jenifer for the opportunity. Blessings to you and all you do for the Kingdom! ♥
Thank you Helene. It’s 40 years of sitting on a church pew, lol. I guess I listened more than I thought! 🙂 Thank you so much for stopping by. Blessings to you and your ministry!
Thank you Floyd! We KNOW it is the hand of the MASTER! So glad for the revelation of WHO HE IS! Blessings to you this holiday weekend friend. I enjoy your writings so very much.
Thank you Sheila, love that, everything else springs from there! Thanks for stopping by. Love your site and the ministry of you and your beloved 🙂 Blessings!
Thank you for hosting! Love your blog! I choose to believe ♥
So welcome Beth! Blessings to you on this lovely holiday weekend!
I love this! Thank you for sharing your study of this verse with us.
On Christ the Solid Rock I stand! I choose to have faith. I choose to believe. Thank you for linking up with The Weekend Brew!
Our faith, our foundation. Everything else springs from there…thanks for this study. Enjoy the weekend. Blessings…
Nice job! Great study and lesson. The senses have a way of making us rely on the things of this world and yet so much is unexplained. The “enlightened” of our day pass these things off to “unexplained phenomenon,” we know it is the hand of the Master that holds this cosmos in His hand and provided the very breath that allows our senses to operate. May we continue to share the “confidence” we have in Who dwells within. Thanks for the inspiration.
That’s a lot of study you put into that verse. It’s one of my favorites and deserves a closer look. Thanks.
Great picture to go with your encouragement! 🙂
Thanks for linking up with Woman to Woman’s Word Filled Wednesday! God bless!
Thank you! Great post.