ELPIS (Hope)

WRITTEN BY DREW MATZ

What is the Word? 

Christians have a unique way of viewing the world that marks them as unique. To be sure, we acknowledge that the world is fallen and therefore contains many evils for which we must endure. However, everything that we view in this life is eclipsed by a trust and confidence that God really will make all things right according to the way they were intended. The New Testament calls this elpis, which we know as hope.  

How does the Bible use this word?

The scriptures are fundamentally eschatological. That is, the witness of the Bible is concerned with the end goal of all creation and the restoration of all things through Christ Jesus in the Spirit. Thus, the noun elpis is prominent throughout the teaching of the New Testament. It is that which we look forward to as Christians, and yet are presently already participating. We live by faith, but it is hope which helps us to endure.

Where in the Bible? 

Paul stresses often the necessity of hope in the life of the Christian. It is in hope that our life is lived, and in hope that we relate to others. 

Rejoice in hope (ἐλπίδι), be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer. Contribute to the needs of the saints and seek to show hospitality.

Romans 12:12-13

Notice that Paul not only tells us to hope, but to rejoice in it. Our hope as Christians should strengthen us and give us the resolve to see all things in light of the hope of resurrection and the presence of God.  

The theme of hope is also very prominent in the epistle to the Hebrews:

For God is not unjust so as to overlook your work and the love that you have shown for his name in serving the saints, as you still do. And we desire each one of you to show the same earnestness to have the full assurance of hope (ἐλπίδος) until the end, so that you may not be sluggish, but imitators of those who through faith and patience inherit the promises.

Hebrews 6:10-12

 As the author notes, it is this hope – the hope of inheriting the promises of God – that fuels our love and service of others. It sustains us in our spirit in order that that we can point forward and give an account of the hope that is within us.

Faith, Hope, Love 

The life of the Christian might be summed up in these three words. However, what is interesting is that each word in some sense incorporates the other two. Although love is the greatest, it cannot be divorced from faith or hope – as to truly love implies our faith in God and the hope that we have in eternity and the life of the world to come.