Hard Evidence (Hebrews 11:1)

You may have watched a crime drama on TV where the prosecuting lawyer is proving a case and in order to bring a conviction, multiple pieces of hard evidence are presented, to solidly, and with resounding finality, demonstrate the veracity of what they are stating. There may have been a partial fingerprint on a glass; fibers on a couch; an article of clothing seeming to belong to the person on trial, left at the scene; no alibis produced; the same make and model car was parked in the underground parking garage; and a witness, who believes that the individual on trial was who they saw. All of these items individually may not be enough to produce a conviction, but the totality of these facts, and others that may be produced become hard evidence proving the veracity of the case.

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

This passage employs a literary device not unlike Jesus' teaching, where He repeated the same truths and concepts over and over again, in various ways and with similar examples, to effectively communicate, in as many ways as possible, the important spiritual reality to His disciples or to the multitudes. The two portions of the verse in Hebrews 11:1 are also similar to OT Hebrew poetry in Psalms or Proverbs, where the same thought is repeated, using different words, to reinforce what is being stated. In Hebrew poetry, this is called synonymous parallelism, where the thought presented in the first line is repeated in the second line using different, but similar concepts. (DNTT, Vol.2, p.142)

Proverbs 4:20, "...attend to my words, incline your ear to my sayings"

Though the words are different, the same idea or thought is portrayed in 'attend' and 'incline' and 'words' and 'sayings' are also parallel.

Proverbs 5:1, "...attend to my wisdom, bow your ear to my understanding"

Again, 'attend' and 'bow your ear' are parallel, as are 'wisdom' and 'understanding', even though specifically, the words have their own individual meaning, the words are used as a parallelism to communicate a similar truth. Often the parallel words or phrases simply add a more exact or specific meaning to what is being said, defining with more direct focus what is being stated.

Proverbs 5:13, "..I have not obeyed the voice of my teachers, nor inclined my ear to those that instructed me"

Here, 'not obeyed' and 'nor inclined my ear' are parallel, as are 'my teachers' and 'those that instructed me'. However, as emphasized, even though the meanings are similar, or parallel, each phrase, or word, actually adds more meaning to what is being said. In this verse, not only is a lack of obedience demonstrated in not obeying, but not inclining the ear meant the individual was not even really listening intently enough to receive the instruction being given so that they could obey what was being spoken.

Similarly, Hebrews 11:1 employs this same word craftsmanship in presenting truth, where, in the KJV, 'substance' is parallel to 'evidence' and 'things hoped for' is parallel to 'things not seen'.

The word in the Greek for 'substance', is (hypostasis), [5287], which is a combination of (hypo), meaning 'under' or 'beneath' and (stasis) has the meaning of 'to stand', so there is the very literal meaning of 'to stand under or beneath'. This lends itself to the meaning of 'foundation'. The word is actually translated in different ways in various contexts in the ancient Greek language and translates various Hebrew words in the LXX, but key to all the translations seems to be the idea of something that is foundational or what is essential.

The word came to be used in a legal context which expressed the ownership of property, which seems to be the specific use in Hebrews 11:1. In keeping with this thought, some translations have opted for the use of 'title deed' to convey this idea. However, 'title deed' does not completely cover the full meaning. In Greek culture, in relation to the possession of property, it was not just the title deed that may be required, but proof that you were the specific individual on the title and on the 'paperwork' showing the transaction of purchase, in addition to the title that you possessed. In other words, it was all documentation in relation to the property, that you held in possession, demonstrating not only the purchase of the property, the title deed of the property, and that you were the person written on the title, or heir to that property, through legal documentation, that could be presented to a judge or magistrate, that would demonstrate with emphatic certainty, your ownership. Specifically, then, (hypostasis), in keeping with the context of this passage, relates to legal documents presented in court that provide the utmost certainty of ownership and therefore the right of possession of the property in question, guaranteeing, absolutely, that the property belongs to the person or persons possessing those documents.

Similarly, the word translated 'evidence' is (elegchos), [1650], and it is also a legal term, meaning not only 'evidence', as presented in court, but evidence that is so compelling that it produces the response or result of a person or persons, acting on the evidence, and being fully persuaded as to the certainty of the facts so that all concerned accept the veracity of the claims as being legally and enforceably established, and a verdict is rendered in agreement with the truth, producing the desired outcome of the facts presented.

In addition, it is also interesting to note that in the phrase, "Now faith is'', at the beginning of the verse, the word (esti) is translated as "is''. The word (esti) carries the meaning of "exists''. (Expositors Greek Testament, Vol. 4, Hebrews). Approaching the verse with this understanding sheds new light on the meaning and interpretation of the passage, because the whole import of the verse relates to something legally binding and enforceable, in a courtroom setting, where the outcome or verdict impacts or alters circumstances determining what is or what shall be allowed or permitted under law, meaning, that if you have faith for something [what is hoped for, or what is not seen], then it has been legally established and determined, that it belongs to you, and your faith is the legal ownership and possession with indisputable finality and certainty that it is yours.

To paraphrase the verse, considering the implications and the meaning of the Greek words, "...faith exists as the complete legal ownership of what is hoped for and faith exists as the indisputable evidence of possession of things not seen".

You are God's Best and God's Best is Yours