Hebrews 11:1 defines faith as: “…the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.” (ESV). In the previous article, we discussed What Faith Is. That article focused on two keywords: assurance and conviction. In this article, What Faith Is Not, we’ll focus on the keyword “things.”
Meaning of Things
To the modern American audience, the word “things” opens up our imaginations to envision just about any desire we might have. After all, what is a “thing”? Is a “thing” good or is a “thing” bad? Does it matter?
Let’s start with a definition:
The Free Online Dictionary has quite a list of “things” that “thing” might mean! Following are just a few definitions:
- An object or entity that is not or cannot be named specifically.
- A possession or item in one’s control.
- An act, deed, or work.
- A thought, notion or utterance; also, a piece of information.
- An end or objective.
Applying Definitions to Context
Now let’s look at the definitions above and imagine which one or ones might the author(s) of Hebrews be using. After all, English was not one of the languages of the original Bible text.
Perhaps Strong’s Concordance, Greek Dictionary can help:
In searching for “things,” I was able to find it used in a phrase, which puts “things,” pertaining to “faith,” in context. The phrase is “of things hoped for.” Part of this phrase’s translation is detailed:
ἐλπίζω To hope.
- In a religious sense, to wait for salvation with joy and full confidence.
Taking that piece of information to heart, now how would you answer which definitions outlined above might the author(s) of Hebrews be using? Do you suppose the Lord God intended us to think of “things” in this context as any unnamed object? How about as a possession or item in one’s control? A notion? Any end or objective you could possibly think of? No? That’s right! Just because you want a Mercedes Benz to keep up with your friends who drive Porches does not mean you can rely on Hebrews 11:1 as your go-to verse on which to base your faith! Context is important when reading God’s Word!
Tool to Help You Understand
One last tool that can help us understand Hebrews 11:1, or any verse for that matter. I mentioned it briefly in the opening paragraph of What Faith Is: a working knowledge of the 5 Ws an 1 H. So let’s go find out more about this tool. OK? OK. Good.
