Hebrews 11:1
Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.
KJV
Ἔστιν δὲ πίστις ἐλπιζομένων ὑπόστασις, πραγμάτων ἔλεγχος οὐ βλεπομένων.
Greek NT
Est autem fides sperandarum substantia rerum, argumentum non apparentium.
Vulgate
Now faith is assurance ofthingshoped for, a conviction of things not seen.
ASV
Now, faith is the substance of things to be hoped for, the evidence of things that appear not.
Douay-Rheims
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In the original Greek
9 distinct Greek words appear in this verse.
βλέπω
blepo
verb · 132×
δέ
de
conjunction · 2781×
εἰμί
eimi
verb · 2461×
οὐ
ou
particle · 1626×
πίστις
pistis
noun · 243×
πρᾶγμα
pragma
noun · 11×
ἐλπίζω
elpizo
verb · 31×
ἔλεγχος
elegchos
noun · 2×
ὑπόστασις
upostasis
noun · 5×
Themes
Historic Christian voices
24 passages from patristic writers, Reformers, and church catechisms citing this verse.
§146Abraham thus fulfils the definition of faith in Hebrews 11:1: "Faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen":7 "Abraham believed God, and it was reckoned to him as righteousness."8 Because he was "strong in his faith", Abraham became the "father of all who believe".9
1. As to believe carelessly and in a random way, comes of an over-easy temper; so to be beyond measure curious and meddlesome, marks a most gross understanding. On this account Thomas is held to blame. For he believed not the Apostles when they said, We have seen the Lord; not so much mistrusting them, as deeming the thing to be impossible, that is to say, the resurrection from…
2. Now then after that in every way he had shown her to be very exceedingly great, again he does so from another most important head, by a fresh comparison exalting her dignity, and saying thus; but whether there be prophecies, they shall be done away; whether there be tongues, they shall cease. For if both these were brought in in order to the faith; when that is every where s…
1. Faith needs a generous and vigorous soul, and one rising above all things of sense, and passing beyond the weakness of human reasonings. For it is not possible to become a believer, otherwise than by raising one's self above the common customs [of the world]. Inasmuch then as the souls of the Hebrews were thoroughly weakened, and though they had begun from faith, yet from ci…
The grace of faith, whereby the elect are enabled to believe to the saving of their souls, is the work of the Spirit of Christ in their hearts, and is ordinarily wrought by the ministry of the Word; by which also, and by the administration of the sacraments, and prayer, it is increased and strengthened. By this faith a Christian believeth to be true whatsoever is revealed in th…
Summa Theologica · 5 passages
Is the proposition "God exists" self-evident? Is it demonstrable? Does God exist? Article 1. Whether the existence of God is self-evident? Objection 1. It seems that the existence of God is self-evident. Now those things are said to be self-evident to us the knowledge of which is naturally implanted in us, as we can see in regard to first principles. But as Damascene says (De F…
Is the object of faith the First Truth? Is the object of faith something complex or incomplex, i.e. is it a thing or a proposition? Can anything false come under faith? Can the object of faith be anything seen? Can it be anything known? Should the things to be believed be divided into a certain number of articles? These articles: are they of faith for all times? The number of a…
What is faith? In what power of the soul does it reside? Is its form charity? Are living formata faith and lifeless informis faith one identically? Is faith a virtue? Is it one virtue? Its relation to the other virtues Its certitude as compared with the certitude of the intellectual virtues Article 1. Whether this is a fitting definition of faith: "Faith is the substance of thi…
…and 2 more from this source.
When the Apostle says that man is justified by faith and freely, those words are to be understood in that sense which the perpetual consent of the Catholic Church hath held and expressed; to wit, that we are therefore said to be justified by faith, because faith is the beginning of human salvation, the foundation and root of all Justification; without which it is impossible to …
Since human beings are totally dependent on God as their creator and lord, and created reason is completely subject to uncreated truth, we are obliged to yield to God the revealer full submission of intellect and will by faith. This faith, which is the beginning of human salvation, the Catholic Church professes to be a supernatural virtue by means of which, with the grace of Go…
An almost Christian has a dead faith — a faith which does not purify the heart, does not work by love, and does not overcome the world. He assents to the truths of the Gospel in his understanding, but his heart is not changed by them. The devils also believe and tremble, but they are not saved by their belief.
But what is that faith whereby we are sanctified, saved from sin and perfected in love? It is a divine evidence and conviction, first, that God hath promised it in the Holy Scripture. It is a divine evidence and conviction, secondly, that what God hath promised He is able to perform. It is a divine evidence and conviction, thirdly, that He is able and willing to do it now.
Q. What is true faith? A. True faith is not only a knowledge and conviction that everything God reveals in his Word is true; it is also a deep-rooted assurance, created in me by the Holy Spirit through the gospel, that, out of sheer grace earned for us by Christ, not only others, but I too, have had my sins forgiven, have been made forever right with God, and have been granted …
Christian faith is not an opinion or human conviction, but a most firm trust and a clear and steadfast assent of the mind, and then a most certain apprehension of the truth of God, presented in the Scriptures and in the Apostles' Creed. It is the gift of God, which is given to the elect according to the measure which God has distributed to each one. Because faith is a gift of G…
Moreover, faith is twofold. For faith comes by hearing. Romans 10:17 For by hearing the divine Scriptures we believe in the teaching of the Holy Spirit. The same is perfected by all the things enjoined by Christ, believing in work, cultivating piety, and doing the commands of Him Who restored us. For he that believes not according to the tradition of the Catholic Church, or who…
We believe that no one is saved without faith. And by faith we mean the right notion that is in us concerning God and divine things. Which being joined with a living hope in God and a fervent love, or rather being formed by charity, justifieth us in Christ. And without this faith it is impossible to please God. But we affirm that this faith which justifieth is not the faith of…
Faith is twofold: dogmatic faith is the soul's assent to revealed truth, while living faith is the confident trust that works through love. Even the mustard seed of faith can move mountains, but faith must be grounded in sound doctrine. Cyril warns against heretics who misuse the name of faith while corrupting its content, and exhorts candidates to hold fast to the Creed as the…
Do not trust your bodily senses in this matter — what you see is bread, but what faith perceives is the body of Christ. The senses report one thing, but faith, which is more certain than sight, knows another. Christ said "This is my body," and it is His word we believe, not our eyes. Ambrose exhorts the newly baptized to receive the sacrament with reverence and wonder.
Faith is the first movement of the soul toward God and the foundation on which all knowledge is built. Clement rejects the charge that Christian faith is irrational credulity. Every system of knowledge begins with first principles that must be accepted before reasoning can begin — and faith is precisely this kind of foundational assent. Faith is the substance of things hoped fo…
Cross-references
- 1Cor 13:13 — And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity.
- 1Pet 1:7 — That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ:
- 1Pet 1:8 — Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory:
- 2Cor 4:13 — We having the same spirit of faith, according as it is written, I believed, and therefore have I spoken; we also believe, and therefore speak;
- 2Cor 4:18 — While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.
- 2Cor 4:18 — While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.
- 2Cor 5:7 — (For we walk by faith, not by sight:)
- 2Cor 5:7 — (For we walk by faith, not by sight:)
- 2Cor 5:17 — Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.
- 2Cor 9:4 — Lest haply if they of Macedonia come with me, and find you unprepared, we (that we say not, ye) should be ashamed in this same confident boasting.
- 2Cor 11:17 — That which I speak, I speak it not after the Lord, but as it were foolishly, in this confidence of boasting.
- 2Pet 1:1 — Simon Peter, a servant and an apostle of Jesus Christ, to them that have obtained like precious faith with us through the righteousness of God and our Saviour Jesus Christ:
- 2Tim 3:16 — All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:
- Acts 20:21 — Testifying both to the Jews, and also to the Greeks, repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ.
- Gal 5:6 — For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision; but faith which worketh by love.
- Gen 22:18 — And in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed; because thou hast obeyed my voice.
- Heb 2:3 — How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation; which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard him;
- Heb 3:14 — For we are made partakers of Christ, if we hold the beginning of our confidence stedfast unto the end;
- Heb 6:12 — That ye be not slothful, but followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises.
- Heb 6:18 — That by two immutable things, in which it was impossible for God to lie, we might have a strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us:
- Heb 10:22 — Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water.
- Heb 10:39 — But we are not of them who draw back unto perdition; but of them that believe to the saving of the soul.
- Heb 10:39 — But we are not of them who draw back unto perdition; but of them that believe to the saving of the soul.
- Heb 11:7 — By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house; by the which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness whi
- Heb 11:7 — By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house; by the which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness whi
- Heb 11:13 — These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the eart
- Heb 11:27 — By faith he forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king: for he endured, as seeing him who is invisible.
- Heb 11:27 — By faith he forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king: for he endured, as seeing him who is invisible.
- John 20:29 — Jesus saith unto him, Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed.
- Josh 2:9 — And she said unto the men, I know that the LORD hath given you the land, and that your terror is fallen upon us, and that all the inhabitants of the land faint because of you.
- Ps 27:13 — I had fainted, unless I had believed to see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living.
- Ps 42:11 — Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted within me? hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise him, who is the health of my countenance, and my God.
- Ps 116:10 — I believed, therefore have I spoken: I was greatly afflicted:
- Rom 8:24 — For we are saved by hope: but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for?
- Rom 8:24 — For we are saved by hope: but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for?
- Titus 1:1 — Paul, a servant of God, and an apostle of Jesus Christ, according to the faith of God’s elect, and the acknowledging of the truth which is after godliness;