Lexical Summary elpis: Hope Original Word: ἐλπίς Strong's Exhaustive Concordance faith, hope. From a primary elpo (to anticipate, usually with pleasure); expectation (abstractly or concretely) or confidence -- faith, hope. HELPS Word-studies 1680 elpís (from elpō, "to anticipate, welcome") – properly, expectation of what is sure (certain); hope. NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom the same as elpizó Definition expectation, hope NASB Translation hope (53), hopes (1). Thayer's Greek Lexicon STRONGS NT 1680: ἐλπίςἐλπίς (sometimes written ἐλπίς; so WH in Romans 8:20; Tdf. in Acts 2:26; see (in 2 below, and) the references under the word ἀφειδον), ἐλπίδος, ἡ (ἔλπω to make to hope), the Sept. for בֶּטַח and מִבְטַח, trust; מַחְסֶה that in which one confides or to which he flees for refuge; תִּקְוָה expectation, hope; in the classics a vox media, i. e. expectation whether of good or of ill; 1. rarely in a bad sense, expectation of evil, fear; as, ἡ τῶν κακῶν ἐλπίς, Lucian, Tyrannic c. 3; τοῦ φοβοῦ ἐλπίς, Thucydides 7, 61; κακῇ ἐλπίς, Plato, rep. 1, p. 330 e. (cf. legg. 1, p. 644 c. at the end); πονηρά ἐλπίς Isaiah 28:19, the Sept. 2. much more frequent in the classics, and always in the N. T., in a good sense: expectation of good, hope; and in the Christian sense, joyful and confident expectation of eternal salvation: Acts 23:6; Acts 26:7; Romans 5:4; Romans 12:12; Romans 15:13; 1 Corinthians 13:13; 1 Peter 1:3; 1 Peter 3:15; ἀγαθή ἐλπίς (often in secular authors, as Plato, Phaedo 67 c.; plural ἐλπίδες ἀγαθαί, legg. 1, p. 649 b.; Xenophon, Ages. 1, 27), 2 Thessalonians 2:16; ἐλπίς βλεπομένη, hope whose object is seen, Romans 8:24; ὁ Θεός τῆς ἐλπίδος, God, the author of hope, Romans 15:13; ἡ πληροθορια τῆς ἐλπίδος, fullness, i. e. certainty and strength of hope, Hebrews 6:11; ἡ ὁμολογία τῆς ἐλπίδος, the confession of those things which we hope for, Hebrews 10:23; τό καύχημα τῆς ἐλπίδος hope wherein we glory, Hebrews 3:6; ἐπεισαγωγή κρείττονος ἐλπίδος, the bringing in of a better hope, Hebrews 7:19; ἐλπίς with the genitive of the subjunctive, Acts 28:20; 2 Corinthians 1:7 (6); Philippians 1:20; with the genitive of the object, Acts 27:20; Romans 5:2; 1 Corinthians 9:10; 1 Thessalonians 5:8; Titus 3:7; with the genitive of the thing on which the hope depends, ἡ ἐλπίς τῆς ἐργασίας αὐτῶν, Acts 16:19; τῆς κλήσεως, Ephesians 1:18; Ephesians 4:4; τοῦ εὐαγγελίου, Colossians 1:23; with the genitive of the person in whom hope is reposed, 1 Thessalonians 1:3 (cf. Buttmann, 155 (136)). ἐπ' (or ἐφ' — so Acts 2:26 L T; Romans 4:18 L; b. the thing hoped for: προσδέχεσθαι τήν μακαρίαν ἐλπίδα, Titus 2:13; ἐλπίδα δικαιοσύνης ἀπεκδέχεσθαι, the thing hoped for, which is righteousness (cf. Meyer edition Sieffert at the passage), Galatians 5:5 (προσδοκῶν τάς ὑπό Θεοῦ ἐλπίδας, 2 Macc. 7:14); διά ἐλπίδα τήν ἀποκειμένην ἐν τοῖς οὐρανοῖς, Colossians 1:5; κρατῆσαι τῆς προκειμένης ἐλπίδος, Hebrews 6:18 (cf. Bleek at the passage). — Zöckler, De vi ac notlone vocis ἐλπίς in N. T. Gissae 1856. Hope in Scripture is not wishful thinking but a confident, Spirit-wrought expectation that God will fulfill every promise He has made in Christ. It rests on the character of God (Hebrews 6:18) and is secured by the resurrection of Jesus Christ (1 Peter 1:3). While faith looks back to the finished work of the cross and love acts in the present, hope stretches forward toward the consummation of redemption (1 Corinthians 13:13). Old Testament Roots and Continuity The New Testament vocabulary of hope stands on the steady platform of Old Testament expectation—Abraham “against all hope, in hope believed” (Romans 4:18), echoing Genesis 15:5-6. The prophets speak of a future restoration, resurrection, and kingdom, themes that reappear explicitly in Acts 24:15 where Paul affirms “the same hope in God … that there will be a resurrection of both the righteous and the wicked.” Christological Foundation Jesus Christ Himself is called “our hope” (1 Timothy 1:1). His resurrection validates every promise (1 Peter 1:21) and His indwelling presence is “the hope of glory” (Colossians 1:27). Apart from Him Gentiles were “without hope and without God in the world” (Ephesians 2:12), but in union with Him believers possess an imperishable inheritance. Hope and Justification Justification by faith opens the door to hope: “through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God” (Romans 5:2). Because God has poured His love into our hearts, “hope does not disappoint” (Romans 5:5). Hope, therefore, is not an optional add-on to the gospel; it is its inevitable fruit. Hope, Suffering, and Perseverance Suffering refines hope. Tribulation → perseverance → proven character → hope (Romans 5:3-4). Believers were “saved in hope” (Romans 8:24) and so “wait for it patiently” (Romans 8:25). When waves threaten to overwhelm, hope surfaces as an anchor (Hebrews 6:18) and a helmet (1 Thessalonians 5:8). Paul could stand before chains and storms alike because “I am wearing this chain for the hope of Israel” (Acts 28:20) and “I urge you to take heart, for there will be no loss of life” (Acts 27:22, cf. 27:20). The Blessed Hope of Christ’s Return The climactic focus of New Testament hope is the visible, glorious appearing of Jesus Christ: “as we await the blessed hope and glorious appearance of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ” (Titus 2:13). This hope is neither vague nor conditional; it is guaranteed by the same grace that brought salvation (Titus 2:11). Accordingly, the church lives in eager anticipation (Philippians 1:20) and refuses to grieve “like the rest, who are without hope” (1 Thessalonians 4:13). Corporate Dimension in the Body of Christ “There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called” (Ephesians 4:4). Hope binds believers together across ethnic and social lines (Colossians 1:23). The Thessalonian assembly became a model because of its “endurance inspired by hope in our Lord Jesus Christ” (1 Thessalonians 1:3). Hope fuels missions, generosity, and unity. Ethical and Sanctifying Power “Everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself, just as Christ is pure” (1 John 3:3). Christian morality is future-oriented: the certainty of seeing Christ promotes present holiness (1 Peter 1:13-21). Hope also sustains bold evangelism and gentle apologetics: “Always be prepared to give a defense to everyone who asks you the reason for the hope that is in you” (1 Peter 3:15). Prayer and Worship Scripture teaches believers to pray for hope’s increase: “Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you believe in Him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit” (Romans 15:13). Worship is saturated with hope—songs, creeds, and communion look forward to the marriage supper of the Lamb. Historical Witness in the Early Church In the first three centuries, inscriptions on tombs often bore the word ἐλπίς, testifying that believers faced martyrdom with expectant confidence. The catacomb fresco of an anchor (Hebrews 6:19 allusion) became a widespread Christian symbol. Church Fathers such as Clement of Rome urged hope as a motive for steadfastness, echoing Hebrews 3:6. Pastoral and Discipleship Applications • Ground preaching and teaching in the promises of God to cultivate durable hope. Summary Strong’s Greek 1680 portrays hope as a God-given certainty anchored in Jesus Christ, nurtured by Scripture, tested through suffering, shared within the church, proclaimed to the world, and consummated at the Lord’s return. It is both the anchor of individual souls and the rallying cry of the redeemed community—“Christ in you, the hope of glory” (Colossians 1:27). Englishman's Concordance Acts 2:26 N-DFSGRK: κατασκηνώσει ἐπ' ἐλπίδι NAS: ALSO WILL LIVE IN HOPE; KJV: shall rest in hope: INT: will dwell in hope Acts 16:19 N-NFS Acts 23:6 N-GFS Acts 24:15 N-AFS Acts 26:6 N-DFS Acts 26:7 N-GFS Acts 27:20 N-NFS Acts 28:20 N-GFS Romans 4:18 N-AFS Romans 4:18 N-DFS Romans 5:2 N-DFS Romans 5:4 N-AFS Romans 5:5 N-NFS Romans 8:20 N-DFS Romans 8:24 N-DFS Romans 8:24 N-NFS Romans 8:24 N-NFS Romans 12:12 N-DFS Romans 15:4 N-AFS Romans 15:13 N-GFS Romans 15:13 N-DFS 1 Corinthians 9:10 N-DFS 1 Corinthians 9:10 N-DFS 1 Corinthians 13:13 N-NFS 2 Corinthians 1:7 N-NFS Strong's Greek 1680 |
    |