Ἔστι δὲ πίστις ἐλπιζομένων ὑπόστασις, πραγμάτων ἔλεγχος οὐ βλεπομένων. (Hebrews 11:1)
Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the proof of things not seen.
Defining the Indefinable
Hebrews 11:1 is among the most quoted verses in the New Testament, often called the “definition” of faith. The Greek reads: “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.” The verse employs a copula construction (ἔστι), nominative predicates (ὑπόστασις, ἔλεγχος), and genitive modifiers (ἐλπιζομένων, πραγμάτων) to frame faith in both ontological and epistemological terms. The grammar itself presses readers beyond abstract definition to experiential reality.
Core Lexical and Grammatical Elements
- ἔστι — “is”: present active indicative, 3rd singular of εἰμί. The copula defines identity: faith = substance and conviction.
- πίστις — “faith”: nominative feminine singular noun. The subject of the sentence, here given two descriptive predicates.
- ὑπόστασις — “substance, reality, assurance”: nominative feminine singular noun. A predicate nominative defining faith.
- ἐλπιζομένων — “of things hoped for”: present middle/passive participle, genitive neuter plural of ἐλπίζω. Modifies ὑπόστασις.
- ἔλεγχος — “conviction, proof”: nominative masculine singular noun. Second predicate nominative.
- οὐ βλεπομένων — “of things not seen”: present middle/passive participle, genitive neuter plural of βλέπω. Modifies πραγμάτων in the implied sense.
Parsing Table
| Greek Form | Parsing | Aspect | Function | Translation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ἔστι | Pres. act. ind., 3rd sg. of εἰμί | Stative | Copula linking subject and predicates | “is” |
| πίστις | Noun, nom. fem. sg. | — | Subject of the sentence | “faith” |
| ὑπόστασις | Noun, nom. fem. sg. | — | Predicate nominative | “substance/assurance” |
| ἐλπιζομένων | Pres. mid./pass. part., gen. neut. pl. of ἐλπίζω | Imperfective | Genitive modifier of ὑπόστασις | “of things hoped for” |
| ἔλεγχος | Noun, nom. masc. sg. | — | Predicate nominative | “conviction/proof” |
| βλεπομένων | Pres. mid./pass. part., gen. neut. pl. of βλέπω | Imperfective | Genitive modifier, “things not seen” | “not being seen” |
The Copula Structure: Faith Defined
The structure Ἔστι δὲ πίστις … ὑπόστασις … ἔλεγχος … places faith as subject with two predicate nominatives. Rather than a dictionary-style definition, the author uses analogy and function. Faith is substance and conviction. The present tense ἔστι underscores that this is a timeless, ongoing truth.
ὑπόστασις: Substance or Assurance
The word ὑπόστασις carries rich nuance: in secular Greek, it could mean “substructure, foundation, reality.” In Hellenistic Jewish contexts, it often conveys assurance or confident reality. Faith gives substance to things hoped for; it makes the future real in the present. The genitive ἐλπιζομένων specifies the content: faith does not make just anything real, but specifically the promises one hopes for in God.
ἔλεγχος: Conviction of the Unseen
The second predicate nominative, ἔλεγχος, means proof, conviction, or evidence. It denotes the inner certainty of unseen realities. The genitive phrase οὐ βλεπομένων identifies the realm: what cannot be observed by the senses. Grammar expresses the paradox: faith functions as conviction about that which is invisible.
Lexical Observations
- πίστις — more than intellectual assent; in biblical usage, it includes trust, loyalty, and confident reliance.
- ὑπόστασις — can mean material foundation or metaphysical reality; here, it affirms the substantial reality of hope.
- ἔλεγχος — not abstract reasoning, but existential conviction, almost courtroom “evidence.”
Theological Implications
Hebrews 11:1 does not define faith exhaustively but functionally. Faith connects the believer to God’s promises (ἐλπιζομένων) and unseen realities (οὐ βλεπομένων). The grammar makes this clear: two genitives describe what faith relates to; two predicate nominatives define what faith is. Faith is thus both ontological — grounding hope in reality — and epistemological — providing conviction of unseen truth. The verse sets the stage for the examples of faith in Hebrews 11, where the grammar of definition is lived out in narrative form.
Grammar that Gives Shape to Hope
The genius of Hebrews 11:1 lies in how grammar makes the intangible tangible. The copula ἔστι equates faith with reality and conviction. The nouns ὑπόστασις and ἔλεγχος anchor faith as both foundation and proof. The genitives situate faith in the realm of hope and unseen reality. Syntax itself enacts what it describes: it gives “substance” to abstract ideas and “evidence” of what cannot be seen. Thus, grammar becomes theology, embodying the very essence of faith it seeks to describe.
