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NASB | Hebrews 11:1 Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. |
AMPLIFIED 2015 | Hebrews 11:1 Now faith is the assurance (title deed, confirmation) of things hoped for (divinely guaranteed), and the evidence of things not seen [the conviction of their reality--faith comprehends as fact what cannot be experienced by the physical senses]. |
Subject: Define Faith. |
Bible Note: Charis, What I mean by "description of the nature of faith" is that this verse tells us ABOUT faith, but it does not tell us its meaning. "A dog is man's best friend" is (aside from the truth of this statement:)) telling us something about dogs, but it is not a definition. A definition would be something like, "a hairy four-legged mammal that barks and bites mailmen." When God tell us that faith brings assurance and conviction of our hope in Christ, He is in deed telling us something about saving faith, yes, but He is not giving us a definition of this important term. He is saying that this ought to be the EFFECT of true saving faith. This agrees with what Paul says in Rom 5:1-5. True faith results in hope. Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom also we have obtained our introduction by faith into this grace in which we stand; and we exult in hope of the glory of God. And not only this, but we also exult in our tribulations, knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance; and perseverance, proven character; and proven character, hope; and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us. The test of a definition is to substitute the word with the definition. Try it, and you'll see that Heb 11:1 does not fit. It wasn't meant to; it is not a definition. If this verse were a definition then faith is a certain kind of assurance and a certain kind of conviction, which does not fit the way Paul uses the term in his epistles. While these things accompany saving faith (like good works) they are not what saving faith is. Peace, Lionstrong |