Jayhawker Soule

What is the 'proper' translation of Hebrews 11:1?

CJD

Good question.


Should Hebrews 11.1 be understood subjectively:

(RSV and NASB) “Now faith is the assurance (hupostasis) of things hoped for, the conviction (elegchos) of things not seen"
[NIV: “Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see�])

(cf the use of hupostasis in 3.14, "…if we hold the beginning of the hupostasis [RSV: "confidence"] firm to the end."). This would certainly be in keeping with an emphasis in Hebrews on holding firm to our boldness or confidence (10.35 in particular).

Or is it to be understood objectively?

"Faith is the substance (hupostasis) of things hoped for, the evidence (elegchos) of things not seen" (NKJV).

(cf the use of hupostasis in 1.3 Christ as the refulgence of God’s glory and the exact imprint of his nature (hupostaseôs)

The following comes from notes in an old class on this letter:

Lane says that the linguistic evidence at this time “demonstrates that hupostasis denoted tangible reality in contrast to mere appearance." Spicq empahsizes the use of hupostasis in certain papyri: "guarantee" (M&M: title-deed) — like John’s eternal life now and Paul’s earnest and firstfruits. Spicq: “It is, in itself, an objective assurance of our definite enjoyment of them. Consequently, faith ‘takes possession by anticipation’ of these heavenly blessings and is a genuine commencement of the divine life with the guarantee of its everlasting permanence.�

This sounds good to me. What the author says here is very reminiscent of Paul in Romans 8.18–25, where Paul not only says that hope has to do with what is unseen, invokes hupostasis as we wait for what we hope for, and in the context refers to our possession of the Spirit as the "firstfruits."

Thus the author of Hebrews renders a view of faith that is very Pauline and connects it to Pauline notions of hope and the Spirit. Faith is what connects us to the substance of the unseen things which we hope for; it is a proof or evidence of these things. It is a work of the Spirit in us, the Spirit who is our guarantee, for it is by the Spirit, by the faith that the Spirit gives, that we have a participation in these things.

Hope that helps,

CJD