Does faith line up with your thoughts of what it really is? Hebrews 11:1 according to the Kings James version provides the most admirable definition – “Now faith is the substance of things hope for, the evidence of things not seen.” It no doubt provides latitude for an exposition; so this very popular text may be interpreted and understood in its right context. Delve… plunge… however you are led into the depth of this faith.
Faith is mentioned as the “substance” of things that are hoped for. Substance in Greek means confidence (Hebrews 4:13). The root meaning of confidence is subsistence, which speaks to life and survival, and also defines as ground, basis, foundation or support upon which there is standing hope. It is steadfastly standing on this assurance with confidence. It provides the foundation or ground of our expectations and what we hope for – Faith is the giving substance of these things that are hoped for.
“Now faith is the substance of things hope for…” This faith referred to in the text speaks to the faith of the Old Testament Saints whose hope was in Christ, in eternal life, and in their future joy and contentment. For the New Testament Saints it is hope in the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, the abundance of grace and eternal life. It refers to things waiting to be fulfilled – of the future – things hoped for. Their faith stands as… the substance – the life – the survival – the subsistence – the assurance – the basis… All this is the ground and foundation for their hope.
According to Elliot’s Commentary, …for the Saints… “faith gives a kind of possession of these things before hand. Faith is holding to God’s word and gives substance to what that word promises, investing the future blessings with a present existence, and is received with full conviction.” Thus “every genuine act of faith is the act of the whole man, not of his understanding alone, not of his affections alone, not of his will alone, but of all three in their central, aboriginal unity.” And thus faith becomes “the faculty in man through which the spiritual world exercises its sway over him, and thereby enables him to overcome the world of sin and death.” (Hare, Victory of Faith from Elliot’s Commentary for English readers)
“The evidence of things not seen” – According to Jamieson Fausset Brown evidence is “demonstration”, which is a convincing proof to the believer – the soul is seeing what the eye cannot see. The idea of “evidence”, as explained in Barnes Notes, goes to demonstrate the thing that is given thought, or which is adapted to produce “conviction” in the mind, seems to be the basic idea in the word. So when a proposition is demonstrated; when a man is accused and evidence is furnished of his guilt, or when he establishes his innocence; or when one by argument refutes his adversaries, the idea of “convincing argument” enters into the use of the word in each case.
This is what Barnes thinks is the meaning of evidence. He goes further – “Faith in the divine declarations answers all the purposes of a convincing argument, or is itself a convincing argument to the mind, of the real existence of those things which are not seen.” But Barnes is mindful of the fact that this argument may very well not be convincing to an infidel, so he presents this point: “But when a man who has never seen it believes that there is such a place as London, his belief in the numerous testimonies respecting it which he has heard and read, is to his mind a good and rational proof of its existence, and he would act on that belief without hesitation. When a son credits the declaration or the promise of a father who has never deceived him, and acts as though that declaration and promise were true, his faith is to him a ground of conviction and of action, and he will act as if these things were so.”
It is in the same way that Christians accept the word of God, and even though a Christian has never seen Christ or heaven or a resurrection, he is convinced, he is satisfied, and he is confident in his mind with the evidence before him based on the word of God.
Beyond the Word 