Endurance of Hope

The Thessalonian Christians are commended for their “endurance” or “steadfastness” of “hope” (1 Thess. 1:3). In the New Testament ἐλπίς (“hope”),¹ particularly with reference to what lies ahead for the faithful child of God, is an earnest expectation, something eagerly anticipated. It “consists of a great longing and a positive certainty.”² The term in the Greek New Testament is much stronger than what the English typically conveys and “is Paul’s primary way of speaking about the certainty of the future.”³

 

Embracing the stability of God’s promises, hope is the sure and steadfast anchor of the soul (Heb. 6:18-19); it is to the Christian what a steady anchor is to a ship. It supports, braces, secures, and gives confidence to the believer during life’s storms. Without hope, we drift aimlessly and have no security in this turbulent world. 

Hope engenders, drives, and sustains ὑπομονή,⁴ “steadfastness,” “perseverance,” “endurance,” “fortitude,” which “is not a quiet, passive resignation, but an active constancy in the face of difficulties.”⁵ Both the noun and verb forms are used throughout the New Testament in connection with the inevitable afflictions encountered by followers of Jesus.⁶

 

In Christ alone, my hope is found
He is my light, my strength, my song
This Cornerstone, this solid ground
Firm through the fiercest drought and storm ...⁷

 

Thank you Lord for the endurance of hope, your gracious gift that takes us home.

--Kevin L. Moore

 

Endnotes:

     ¹ Cf. Acts 2:26; 16:19; 23:6; 24:15; 26:6, 7; 27:20; 28:20; Rom. 4:18; 5:2, 4, 5; 8:20, 24; 12:12; 15:4, 13; 1 Cor. 9:10; 13:13; 2 Cor. 1:7; 3:12; 10:15; Gal. 5:5; Eph. 1:18; 2:12; 4:4; Phil. 1:20; Col. 1:5, 23, 27; 1 Thess. 1:3; 2:19; 4:13; 5:8; 2 Thess. 2:16; 1 Tim. 1:1; Tit. 1:2; 2:13; 3:7; Heb. 3:6; 6:11, 18; 7:19; 10:23; 1 Pet. 1:3, 21; 3:15; 1 John 3:3.

     ² H. N. Ridderbos, Epistle to Galatia 189-90.

     ³ G. D. Fee, Thessalonians 108, emp. in the text.

     ⁴ This is a compound word, comprised of ὑπό (“under”) + μένω (“remain”). The verb form ὑπομένω appears in Matt. 10:22; 24:13; Mark 13:13; Luke 2:43; Acts 17:14; Rom. 12:12; 1 Cor. 13:7; 2 Tim. 2:10, 12; Heb. 10:32; 12:2, 3, 7; Jas. 1:12; 5:11; 1 Pet. 2:20.

     ⁵ L. Morris, Thessalonians 42.

     ⁶ Cf. Luke 8:15; 21:19; Rom. 2:7; 5:3, 4; 8:25; 15:4, 5; 2 Cor. 1:6; 6:4; 12:12; Col. 1:11; 1 Thess. 1:3; 2 Thess. 1:4; 3:5; 1 Tim. 6:11; 2 Tim. 3:10; Tit. 2:2; Heb. 10:36; 12:1; Jas. 1:3, 4; 5:11; 2 Pet. 1:6; Rev. 1:9; 2:2, 3, 19; 3:10; 13:10; 14:12.

     ⁷ Lyrics by Keith Getty and Stuart Townsend, © Thankyou Music Ltd.

Related Posts: Obligation of Love & Power of Hope 

 

Image credit: https://theconversation.com/how-hope-can-keep-you-healthier-and-happier-132507