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Commentary Index | Return to PrayerRequest.comRobertson Word Pictures - Hebrews 11:1 - 11:1
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This Chapter Verse Commentaries:
Now faith is (estin de pistis). He has just said that “we are of faith” (Heb 10:39), not of apostasy. Now he proceeds in a chapter of great eloquence and passion to illustrate his point by a recital of the heroes of faith whose example should spur them to like loyalty now.
The assurance of things hoped for (elpizomenōn hupostasis). Hupostasis is a very common word from Aristotle on and comes from huphistēmi (hupo, under, histēmi, intransitive), what stands under anything (a building, a contract, a promise). See the philosophical use of it in Heb 1:3, the sense of assurance (une assurance certaine, Menegoz) in Heb 3:14, that steadiness of mind which holds one firm (2Co 9:4). It is common in the papyri in business documents as the basis or guarantee of transactions. “And as this is the essential meaning in Heb 11:1 we venture to suggest the translation ‘Faith is the title-deed of things hoped for’” (Moulton and Milligan, Vocabulary, etc.).
The proving of things not seen (pragmatōn elegchos ou blepomenōn). The only N.T. example of elegchos (except Textus Receptus in 2Ti 3:16 for elegmon). Old and common word from elegchō (Mat 18:15) for “proof” and then for “conviction.” Both uses occur in the papyri and either makes sense here, perhaps “conviction” suiting better though not in the older Greek.