The New Testament gives us a fascinating definition for faith: “Faith is the substance of things hoped for and the evidence of things unseen.”
Faith drives and empowers God’s redemptive story. Time and again, people believe God and miraculous events occur. While the Bible stresses the importance of certain truths like faith, grace, peace, and love, it rarely provides a clear definition. Western and Greek philosophy gave definitions, which is why we see more of these in the New Testament. However, the Jewish culture relied upon narrative and relationship to express truth, which was a more Eastern way of thinking.
Hebrews 11 does both. It gives a definition and points to peoples' stories as further explanation. We are saved by grace through faith. Without faith, we can’t please God. Faith justifies us. With faith, all things are possible. Therefore, it benefits us to learn more about the miracle and gift of faith.
Where Does the Phrase “Faith is the Substance of Things Hoped For” Come From?
Hebrews 11:1 reads, “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.”
Hebrews profoundly addresses Jewish Christians, encouraging them to hold fast to their new faith in Christ. Scholars don’t know who wrote the letter to the Hebrews, but the author affirms in several ways how Jesus is superior to the Old Covenant. Hebrews explains that Jesus is the ultimate high priest who offers a perfect sacrifice for sins, far greater than the animal sacrifices of the Old Law. The writer calls Jesus' followers to endure challenging times through faith and explains how Jesus fulfills the Old Testament messianic prophecies.
“Faith is the substance of things hoped for” begins Hebrews 11, known as the “faith chapter” or the hall of faith. From Abraham to Moses and even Rahab, men and women heard from God, believed his promises, obeyed God’s word, and saw the Lord do miraculous, redemptive things. At the end of the chapter, the author of Hebrews testifies how contemporary believers have also suffered persecution and seen miracles through faith in Christ. Even though each individual story is unique, their common faith in God has served as examples for Christians ever since.
What Does Faith Mean in This Verse?
The Greek word for faith in Hebrews 11 is pistis, which means trust, belief, and confidence in a person or thing. Pistis contains a combination of belief and firm conviction. This assurance is rooted in God’s promises rather than visible proof.
Yet pistis doesn’t simply wish something were true. Faith relies upon a greater reality, the Word of God. Hebrews 11 shows how faith is active, not passive, by sharing stories from the Old Testament and pointing to the faith of real people.
Noah heard God’s warning about the coming flood judgment and built an ark, even though it had never rained (Hebrews 11:7). Noah’s faith wasn’t a simple academic affirmation; he actively responded to God’s self-revelation. As another example, Abraham left his home and followed God’s command to travel to an unknown land, trusting in God’s covenant promise of a great nation through a miraculous son (Hebrews 11:8). Abraham risked everything to obey God’s voice.
In each case, faith involves hearing God and acting on his word with trust. Whether Hebrews 11 points to Abraham offering Isaac or Moses leading Israel out of Egypt, the author connects faith to obedience. Romans 10:17 reinforces this. “Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.”
What Does Substance Mean in This Verse?
Hebrews 11:1 uses the Greek word hypostasis for “substance.” Hypostasis means foundation, assurance, or underlying reality. Faith isn’t based on a wish or an abstract hope. It relies upon God’s Word, which reveals the unseen realities of the past, present, and future.
The unseen reality of God—his promises, power, and eternal kingdom—are more real and lasting than the temporal, material world we see with our eyes. The unseen created what we see and therefore has more power. The Bible consistently teaches how the physical world is fleeting, but spiritual realities will last forever. “We fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.” (2 Corinthians 4:18)
When God speaks to us, he reveals himself and the unseen realm. On our own, we couldn’t discover or hope to engage in the eternal, but God’s gift of faith bridges the gap between the unseen and what we see. Faith enables believers to understand and experience the spiritual war around them and the reality of God’s eternal promises for those who diligently seek the Lord. For example, Samuel anointed the boy David as Israel’s king, yet David had to endure hardships and exile while maintaining his faith in God’s promise before becoming king. At one point, David had the opportunity to kill Saul, the rejected king, but he didn’t because he trusted in God’s timing for the promise. David acted in faith.
Through faith, people understand the substance of God’s promises, the true reality in the unseen. And now we have something real to hope for.
How Does Faith Relate to Things Hoped For?
The Greek word for hope in Hebrews 11:1 is elpis, which means “expectation” or “confidence.” Hope places an assured expectation on God’s promises. When the Bible talks about hope, it refers to an assured event, not something that may or may not happen.
Godly hope finds foundation in God’s promises. Humanity has no ability to fulfill a promise or guarantee, even in everyday life. James 4:13-15 says, “Come now, you who say, ‘Today or tomorrow we will go into such and such a town and spend a year there and trade and make a profit’—yet you do not know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes. Instead you ought to say, ‘If the Lord wills, we will live and do this or that.’”
The Lord, however, can and will fulfill his own Word. We can rest in God’s faithfulness to do what he says.
Hope also relies upon God’s character. Even if humanity had great power, would we choose to love all people? Would we do good for every person? Thankfully, God’s omnipotence goes along with his absolute purity, goodness, holiness, and righteousness. Not only will he do what he says, he will do what is eternally best for all people. “Hope doesn’t not disappoint us, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit.” God’s holy and righteous nature doesn’t change, and our hope anchors within his abundant love.
As part of his character, God is generous and seeks to reward people. “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 diligently seek him.” Here in Hebrews 11:6, the writer connects true relationship with Christ within a belief in God’s existence and his character, that he will give goodness and bless those who endure in following him.
Through faith and hope, we live as if the things we hope for are already ours, even before we see them.
What Does “Evidence of Things Not Seen” Mean?
What is unseen becomes seen. An idea within the mind becomes a spoken word. Every innovation (washing machine, cell phone, video game, etc) began as a thought until execution made it a reality in the physical world.
Faith will result in tangible evidence, from a Christian’s obedient life to other miracles. In Hebrews 11:1, the word evidence comes from the Greek word elegchos, which means proof or conviction. Hebrews chapter 11, in the Hall of Faith, includes this, as well.
Noah saw the flood come and God’s salvation. Abraham received the promised son. Rahab’s protection of the spies saved her family from destruction. Some things promised were not seen within their lifetime. For instance, Abraham didn’t physically see a nation more numerous than the stars or sand on the shore. He wandered and sought for a heavenly country but only found it after death. God’s Word contains promises for this life and the life to come. He will fulfill them all.
Living in faith and hope is also a supernatural fulfillment. Humanity has no ability to obey God in its own power. We require God’s empowerment through the indwelling Spirit and the new creation to walk with our Father as sons and daughters. Jesus taught how our godly love for one another would be evidence to the world that we belong to the unseen Christ (John 13:34-35).
Why is This Verse So Important for Believers?
Hebrews 11:1 establishes how faith is how we engage with God in relationship and trust his unseen realities, such as his power, promises, and plan for salvation.
My mentor used to say, “Faith is the perception and the pursuit of the heavenly reality.” Without faith, we have no way to see and hear God. If we can’t see or hear him, how can we have a relationship or follow him? We have no way to discover God. He must reveal himself, an act of love, because apart from his self-revelation, we would have no hope. We would be lost in death and darkness.
With faith, we can please God, experiencing his existence and understanding from his character how he is a rewarder of those who seek him. Faith requires action and reliance upon God’s ability and character. We must exercise this faith and hope in every aspect of our lives, every choice we make. Hebrews 11 faith changes how we live. We operate within this temporary world with an eternal perspective. We don’t dismiss the world around us but now view everything through what is eternally important. The eternal perspective may sound mysterious, but without it, our actions have no impact, even if we seek to do good.
An old adage says people can be “so heavenly minded they’re no earthly good.” However, the opposite is true. Unless we’re heavenly-minded, we won’t be any earthly good. Apart from the eternal perspective, we allow challenges and temporary situations to guide our actions. But being heavenly-minded reveals the spiritual and emotional truth behind actions and situations, helping us to act with real love, leading to true transformation in our lives and in the lives of others, as well.
Knowing our lives align with heaven, we rely upon God’s generosity and promised rewards for this life and the life to come. God has promised all things will work together for good for those who love him and are called according to his heavenly purpose (Romans 8:33). God will work all things—not half or three-quarters or ninety percent, but all—for good. Our tragedies, mistakes, successes, failures, and more will be redeemed through faith in Christ. We have a secure inheritance in our Father’s Kingdom (1 Peter 1:3-4).
Living with faith, hope, and love has amazing results. We can have peace despite struggles, and we will begin to see the evidence in our lives. People will see our love and recognize the light of Christ within us. God will do miracles, and we will give him glory. All because of faith.
Peace.
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