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What is Hope
- Thread starter Joshua G.
- Start date
heymikey80
Quidquid Latine dictum sit, altum viditur
I'm not sure of the context involved -- "hope" in Greek is more a "looking forward to" verb, not specifically referring to the chance or possibility of a thing happening in the future, but a recognition that something not yet here is on its way. It seems more akin to the English term "anticipate".
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Thanks Mikey:
It seems you understood my question correctly. The context was simply the Scritpures, I suppose more specfically 1 Corithians 13.
If you were wondering what I mean by "as a Calvnist" I was curious because of your belief that one is either elect (pre-destinied) or not. With that, I was wondering how one fits hope into a situation that's already decided for you.
So, I saw it like in this analogy. My brother and I each receive an envelope. One has a check for $1M and the other, nothing. We don't know who is going to get which envelope. In regualr everyday usag of the word "hope" I could say "I hope I get the big check" but that doesn't really fit what I understand the biblical understanding of hope or what it seems you believe the biblical understanding of hope to be.
That said, how is this analogy unlike the Calvinist perspective on Salvation.
I'm not expecting to "trap ya!" with this question, in fact I wasnt even expecting to be so blunt with my wonderings with you guys but then I just figured how else am I going to understand unless I ask you guys? So, take the qustion for what it's worth. I am not here to challenge you except only to understand, not to prove or disprove anything to you or coming in assuming I will stump you.
God bless you guys,
Josh
It seems you understood my question correctly. The context was simply the Scritpures, I suppose more specfically 1 Corithians 13.
If you were wondering what I mean by "as a Calvnist" I was curious because of your belief that one is either elect (pre-destinied) or not. With that, I was wondering how one fits hope into a situation that's already decided for you.
So, I saw it like in this analogy. My brother and I each receive an envelope. One has a check for $1M and the other, nothing. We don't know who is going to get which envelope. In regualr everyday usag of the word "hope" I could say "I hope I get the big check" but that doesn't really fit what I understand the biblical understanding of hope or what it seems you believe the biblical understanding of hope to be.
That said, how is this analogy unlike the Calvinist perspective on Salvation.
I'm not expecting to "trap ya!" with this question, in fact I wasnt even expecting to be so blunt with my wonderings with you guys but then I just figured how else am I going to understand unless I ask you guys? So, take the qustion for what it's worth. I am not here to challenge you except only to understand, not to prove or disprove anything to you or coming in assuming I will stump you.
God bless you guys,
Josh
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Jeffersonian
Soli Deo Gloria
well, for some reason, i believe that we were predestinated for salvation but we also make many choices without divine intervention.
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epistemaniac
Senior Member
hey there Josh.... I will take a crack at your question if you don't mind...
"hope" means to anticipate with pleasure... : In 1 Cor. 13:13 its the word 1680 ἐλπίς [elpis /el·pece/] n f. From a primary elpo (to anticipate, usually with pleasure); TDNT 2:517; TDNTA 229; GK 1828; 54 occurrences; AV translates as “hope” 53 times, and “faith” once. 1 expectation of evil, fear. 2 expectation of good, hope. 2a in the Christian sense. 2a1 joyful and confident expectation of eternal salvation. 3 on hope, in hope, having hope. 3a the author of hope, or he who is its foundation. 3b the thing hoped for.
Strong, J. (1996). The exhaustive concordance of the Bible :
so to give another analogy, suppose I am engaged, and I eagerly anticipate my marriage. Well just because I know I will married, it doesn't follow that I should therefore not "hope" for it as well.
In terms of salvation, from God's perspective who it is that is going to be saved is a given, its settled, its certain.... and this is true if you are an Arminian or a Calvinist, no matter what your views on election/predestination might be. The only ones who would deny this would be heretical groups like the Socinians and today's Open Theists who deny God's perfect absolute exhaustive foreknowledge. But just because my salvation is a given if I am of the elect, it doesn't follow that I should not hope (eagerly anticipate) it...
Here is how a few Calvinistic theologians understand the word as used in 1 Cor. 13:13:
http://www.christianforums.com/#_ftnref4Kistemaker, S. J., & Hendriksen, W. (1953-2001). Vol. 18: New Testament commentary : Exposition of the First Epistle to the Corinthians. Accompanying biblical text is author's translation. New Testament Commentary (470). Grand Rapids: Baker Book House.
"It is a little surprising that hope should figure in this short list. And yet—we cannot live without hope. No movement has really gripped the hearts of significant numbers of people which has not given them hope. In the first centuries Christianity made a habit of taking people from the depressed classes, slaves, women, outcasts, and giving them a living hope. It is not a gain, but a grievous loss, that so often today Christians are people whose hope is no more than the mild optimism of the worldly. It is important to see that hope in the New Testament sense is one of the great, abiding realities. Hope is linked with God, who is ‘the God of hope’ (Rom. 15:13). And unless we think of the afterlife as a static, monotonous heaven, there will always be room for an eager hope based on the God of hope.http://www.christianforums.com/#_ftn1 http://www.christianforums.com/#_ftnref1Morris, L. (1985). Vol. 7: 1 Corinthians: An introduction and commentary. Cover: 1 Corinthians. Tyndale New Testament Commentaries (182). Nottingham, England: Inter-Varsity Press.
http://www.christianforums.com/#_ftnref2MacArthur, J. (1996, c1984). 1 Corinthians. Includes indexes. (366). Chicago: Moody Press.
But love abides on into eternity. So too probably do faith and hope (v. 13a), if faith is taken as belief in Jesus and faithful service to him, and if hope refers to the expectant anticipation of the good things God has in the future for us. Paul adds these other two virtues because the triad “faith, hope, and love” is a favorite of his (cf. 1 Thess. 1:3; http://www.christianforums.com/#_ftnref2Blomberg, C. (1994). The NIV Application Commentary: 1 Corinthians (260). Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House.
"hope" means to anticipate with pleasure... : In 1 Cor. 13:13 its the word 1680 ἐλπίς [elpis /el·pece/] n f. From a primary elpo (to anticipate, usually with pleasure); TDNT 2:517; TDNTA 229; GK 1828; 54 occurrences; AV translates as “hope” 53 times, and “faith” once. 1 expectation of evil, fear. 2 expectation of good, hope. 2a in the Christian sense. 2a1 joyful and confident expectation of eternal salvation. 3 on hope, in hope, having hope. 3a the author of hope, or he who is its foundation. 3b the thing hoped for.
Strong, J. (1996). The exhaustive concordance of the Bible :
so to give another analogy, suppose I am engaged, and I eagerly anticipate my marriage. Well just because I know I will married, it doesn't follow that I should therefore not "hope" for it as well.
In terms of salvation, from God's perspective who it is that is going to be saved is a given, its settled, its certain.... and this is true if you are an Arminian or a Calvinist, no matter what your views on election/predestination might be. The only ones who would deny this would be heretical groups like the Socinians and today's Open Theists who deny God's perfect absolute exhaustive foreknowledge. But just because my salvation is a given if I am of the elect, it doesn't follow that I should not hope (eagerly anticipate) it...
Here is how a few Calvinistic theologians understand the word as used in 1 Cor. 13:13:
13. Now remain faith, hope, love, these three; and the greatest of these is love.
Paul returns to the word love that was mentioned last in verse 8a but which remained in the background all along. Next to this term he places faith and hope, so that these three virtues form a well-known triad that occurs frequently in the New Testament.http://www.christianforums.com/#_ftn1
The first word in this verse, “now,” can mean either “for the moment” or “therefore.” The first explanation relates to time and the second to logic. The preceding verse features adverbs of time, “now” and “then,” so that the temporal aspect fits the context of verse 13. But in the light of Paul’s discourse, he differentiates the triad of faith, hope, and love from the gifts of prophecy, tongues, and knowledge. These gifts are set aside and cease, but the three virtues remain. Hence it is apparent that Paul wrote a logical conclusion to this chapter and not merely a temporal description of the present age.
However, the verb in the first clause of verse 13 is difficult to interpret: “So faith, hope, love abide.” Does the verb signify that this triad of Christian virtues extends from the present into eternity? The Scriptures teach that faith and hope pertain to the present age, but they cease when faith becomes sight (II Cor. 5:7) and hope becomes reality (Rom. 8:24). Saving faith in Jesus Christ comes to an end, but another aspect of faith, namely, trust in him, remains forever; similarly, hope in Jesus Christ is timeless (see 15:19). Faith and hope are intimately linked, so that where there is faith there is hope.http://www.christianforums.com/#_ftn2 We interpret the three virtues of faith, hope, and love to endure without end, for they are present in both time and eternity. Accordingly, it is impossible not to recognize a temporal element in the word now of verse 13, yet the logical connotation predominates.
http://www.christianforums.com/#_ftn4 http://www.christianforums.com/#_ftnref4Kistemaker, S. J., & Hendriksen, W. (1953-2001). Vol. 18: New Testament commentary : Exposition of the First Epistle to the Corinthians. Accompanying biblical text is author's translation. New Testament Commentary (470). Grand Rapids: Baker Book House.
"It is a little surprising that hope should figure in this short list. And yet—we cannot live without hope. No movement has really gripped the hearts of significant numbers of people which has not given them hope. In the first centuries Christianity made a habit of taking people from the depressed classes, slaves, women, outcasts, and giving them a living hope. It is not a gain, but a grievous loss, that so often today Christians are people whose hope is no more than the mild optimism of the worldly. It is important to see that hope in the New Testament sense is one of the great, abiding realities. Hope is linked with God, who is ‘the God of hope’ (Rom. 15:13). And unless we think of the afterlife as a static, monotonous heaven, there will always be room for an eager hope based on the God of hope.http://www.christianforums.com/#_ftn1 http://www.christianforums.com/#_ftnref1Morris, L. (1985). Vol. 7: 1 Corinthians: An introduction and commentary. Cover: 1 Corinthians. Tyndale New Testament Commentaries (182). Nottingham, England: Inter-Varsity Press.
13. And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.
And now. These words may either indicate time—during the present state; or they may be inferential—since things are so. In the latter case, the sense is, “Since these extraordinary gifts are to pass away, faith, hope, and love remain.” The former are temporary; the latter are permanent. The only objection to this interpretation arises from the apostle’s speaking about faith and hope remaining in a future state, whereas elsewhere (Romans 8:24; 2 Corinthians 5:7; Hebrews 11:1) faith and hope seem to be represented as pertaining only to our present state of existence and as being merged respectively in sight and in fruition hereafter. This apparent inconsistency arises from the comprehensiveness of the terms. The state of mind indicated by faith and hope as now exercised will not continue in the future life; but the state of mind, so to speak, of the saints in heaven may be indicated by these same terms because confidence and expectation will continue forever.
http://www.christianforums.com/#_ftn1 http://www.christianforums.com/#_ftnref1Hodge, C. (1995). 1 Corinthians. The Crossway classic commentaries (1 Co 13:13). Wheaton, Ill.: Crossway Books.But now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love. (13:13
Returning to the temporal, to the Christian’s earthly life, Paul mentions the three greatest spiritual virtues: faith, hope, and love. Actually faith and hope are encompassed by love, which “believes all things,” and “hopes all things” (v. 7. Because faith and hope will have no purpose in heaven, where everything true will be known and everything good will be possessed, they are not equal to love.
http://www.christianforums.com/#_ftn2 http://www.christianforums.com/#_ftnref1. Because faith and hope will have no purpose in heaven, where everything true will be known and everything good will be possessed, they are not equal to love.http://www.christianforums.com/#_ftnref2MacArthur, J. (1996, c1984). 1 Corinthians. Includes indexes. (366). Chicago: Moody Press.
But love abides on into eternity. So too probably do faith and hope (v. 13a), if faith is taken as belief in Jesus and faithful service to him, and if hope refers to the expectant anticipation of the good things God has in the future for us. Paul adds these other two virtues because the triad “faith, hope, and love” is a favorite of his (cf. 1 Thess. 1:3; http://www.christianforums.com/#_ftnref2Blomberg, C. (1994). The NIV Application Commentary: 1 Corinthians (260). Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House.
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