Hebrews 11:1 Not A Warrant For Evidence of Certainty

[Ask Mr. Religion]

Apparently the author of Hebrews thinks you need evidence for things that are already certain. Paul just straight-up contradicts you.

Hebrews 11:1 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.

Er, no. The author of Hebrews here makes no such claim that the believer needs evidence, rather the author asserts that the believer’s faith is the objective reality, the evidence, of what is to come.

Please study the passage and its surrounding context.

The “substance” in the passage is the hypostasis, the very assurance or confidence (the same word is translated being in reference to God in Hebrews 11:1) of what we are confidently and patiently waiting for, the elpizomenōn.

Moreover that confident faith is our elenchus or “evidence”, or “conviction” (Augustine’s preference), of things to come.

In this passage Paul is not giving a full-orbed discussion of faith, but proving here what he set out in the previous chapter, wherein he relies upon Habakkuk’s testimony, that this aspect of faith is being sure, certain, and patient about unseen hopes and realities. In the next 39 verses Paul will continue even exhorting the believer to emulate the faithful, who, though fulfillment was not in sight, were a standard of persevering faith worthy of emulating.