What does it mean that faith is the evidence of things not seen (Hebrews 11:1)?

Answer

The author of Hebrews aims to encourage readers that Jesus is supreme and to challenge them to walk focused on Him (Hebrews 12:1-2). In chapter 11, the writer highlights various examples of faith to demonstrate that, although they were all justified by their faith, God’s promises to them also benefit us (Hebrews 11:39-40). The author introduces the “Hall of Faith,” as chapter 11 is sometimes called, by stating that faith provides assurance of things hoped for, “the evidence of things not seen” «Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. », (Hebrews 11:1, NKJV). But what does it mean that faith is the evidence of “things not seen”?

In Romans 8:23, Paul illustrates a principle of hope by explaining that we eagerly await the redemption of our bodies—something that is not currently visible as a reality. He further explains that in hope we have been saved and that visible hope is not true hope—because if it were visible, there would be no need for hope since what we hoped for would already be a reality «For we are saved by hope: but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for? », (Romans 8:24). Because we do not see it yet, it remains hope, and we eagerly wait with perseverance to see it «But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it. », (Romans 8:25). Similarly, Paul suggests that we can endure momentary light affliction because it produces in us a weight of glory.«For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory; », (2 Corinthians 4:17). Anticipating that future result, we are looking at things that are not currently seen because the things that are not seen are future things—eternal things, in this case «while we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.», (2 Corinthians 4:18). Working from the same essential principle, the writer of Hebrews reminds readers that faith is “the evidence of things not seen” «Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. », (Hebrews 11:1). The term translated “evidence” is the Greek word elengchos, which often refers to an argument or a case being made. Faith is an argument for that which is not yet seen. Of course, faith doesn’t prove something that is not yet seen—only the One who made the promise can prove the promise by fulfilling it. Faith, though, is the certainty of something that one does not see and an argument for its validity.

Elsewhere, Paul argues for the superiority of love over faith and hope «And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity.», (1 Corinthians 13:13). Love never fails «Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away. », (1 Corinthians 13:8), but

Faith will one day be unnecessary, as it will be turned to sight, and hope will be realized and be unneeded after that. Love, on the other hand, will sustain throughout eternity. The author of Hebrews makes a similar case that faith is vitally important, for through faith comes justification “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.”, (Hebrews 11:1), but the author is also quick to point out that faith is only as good as the object of that faith. In this case, the author directs us to fix our eyes on Jesus, who is the Author and Perfector of the faith “looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.”, (Hebrews 12:2). In so doing, we can run the race before us without growing weary “Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us.”, (Hebrews 12:1). The power of faith, then, is not on its own merits, for faith is temporary. Rather, the power of faith is in the One who began the faith and who will complete the faith. Because He is trustworthy, the faith itself is an assurance, an argument for—and the evidence of—things not seen “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.”, (Hebrews 11:1).

Because of the cloud of witnesses that has preceded us and that has modeled putting faith into action, we can be encouraged in our own lives that, just as God will fulfill

Just as He fulfilled His promise to them, He will fulfill His promises to us. Until we see that come to pass, our faith in Him is an evidence of things not seen.