THE BIBLICAL DOCTRINE OF HOPE

Charlie Paine
Pastor Blue River Bible Church
Kansas City, MO
Pre-Trib Study Group Conference
December 7, 2021

I. THE OVERVIEW OF HOPE: The PRINCIPLES of Hope are ELEMENTAL.

1. The DEFINITION of Hope – what it means

• The definition of the English terms
  • The noun, hope:  “desire accompanied by expectation of or belief in fulfillment; expectation of fulfillment or success; someone or something  on which hopes are centered; something desired or hoped for” (Merriam-Webster Dictionary, 2021)
  • The verb, hope:  “to desire with expectation of obtainment or fulfillment; to expect with confidence:  trust” (Merriam-Webster Dictionary, 2021)
• The definition of the Greek terms
  • The noun, elpis:  “the looking forward to something, with some reason for confidence respecting fulfillment, hope, expectation” (A Greek-English Lexi-con of the New Testament and Other Christian Literature, Third Edition (BDAG), revised/edited by Frederick William Danker, 2000, p. 319).
  • The verb, elpizo:  “to look forward to something, with implication of confidence about something coming to pass, hope, hope for. . . to look forward to something in view of the measures one takes to ensure fulfillment, expect” (BDAG, p. 319).
  • A concise definition of the biblical term
    A confident desire and expectation that what is still future and unseen will be fulfilled.

2. The DESCRIPTION of Hope – how it is characterized

• Hope relates to what is future. . . not what is present (Rom. 8:25).  There is no need for hope when it is present. When it is here in the present, it is not hope. 
• Hope relates to what is unseen. . . not what is seen (Rom. 8:24-25).   There is no need for hope when you see it.  When you see it with your eyes, it is not hope. 
• Hope relates to what is laid up. . . not what is laid hold of (Col. 1:5; I Pet. 1:3-4;          I John 3:2-3).  There is no need for hope when you possess it.  When you have it in your hands, it is not hope. 

3. The DUPLICATION of Hope – to what it is similar

• Faith and hope are grouped together in several passages (Heb. 11:1; Rom. 4:18; 15:13; I Cor. 13:13; I Pet. 1:21). 
• Faith and hope seem to be synonymous in several passages (Luke 24:21; John 5:45; Rom. 15:12; I Cor. 15:19; II Cor. 1:10, 13; 13:6; I Tim. 4:10; 6:17). 
• Faith and hope have common characteristics:  focus on the unseen and future. . . expectation of results. . . elements of confidence and trust.
  
  

II. THE OBSERVATION OF HOPE:  The PREVIEW of Hope is EXPRESSED.

How hope is conveyed through the terms, elpis and elpizo, in the Septuagint (LXX):

1. What is PRESENTED – in certain contexts it contains the ideas of. . .

• Dwelling in safety/security (Psa. 4:8; 77:53; Prov. 1:33; Ezek. 28:26; 34:27-28; Zech. 2:15)
• Having a place of refuge (Psa. 14:6; 91:9; 94:22; 142:5; Isa. 28:15)
• Placing trust in an object (Prov. 22:19; Jer. 17:5, 7)
• Placing confidence in an object (Job. 4:6; Ezek. 29:16)

2. Where It is PLACED – the objects of hope. . .

• The only absolutely trustworthy object:  the LORD God (the primary object of hope in the Old Testament—79 usages of elpizo and 17 of elpis in reference to God—a few examples:  elpizo—II Kings 18:5; I Chron. 5:20; II Chron. 13:18; Psa. 4:5; 5:11; 7:1; 9:10; Isa. 11:10; 25:9; 26:4, 8; elpis—Psa. 14:6; 22:9; 40:4; 61:3; 62:7; 65:5; 71:5; 73:28; 78:7; 91:9; 94:22; 142:5; Prov. 14:26; 22:19; Isa. 26:3; Jer. 17:7)
• Often faulty objects
  • Weapons (Psa. 44:6)
  • Security (Job 24:23)
  • Unrighteousness (Psa. 62:10; Isa. 47:10)
  • Falsehood/Lies (Isa. 28:15; 30:12; Jer. 13:25)
  • Men (Judg. 9:26; 20:36; I Chron. 5:20; Psa. 41:9; Jer. 2:37; 17:5; 48:13;  Ezek. 29:16; Hos. 10:13; Mic. 7:5)

3. How It is PERCEIVED – general principles of hope in the books of Job and Proverbs. . .

• Job’s assessment of his own life – the loss of hope (Job 7:6-10; 17:10-16; 19:7-10)
• In the lives of those who forget God and are hypocrites – the perishing of hope (Job 8:11-14; 11:20; 27:7-10; Prov. 10:28; 11:7, 23)
• In the lives of the righteous – the restoration of hope (Job 11:13-19; Prov. 10:28; 23:17-18; 24:13-14)
• In a tree cut down – the possibility of hope (Job 14:7-12) – in contrast to man
• In a sick heart – the deferring of hope (Prov. 13:12)
  
  

III. THE OBJECT OF HOPE: The PLACEMENT of Hope is ESSENTIAL.

Hope is only as solid and firm as its object. 

1. TEMPORAL EVENTS:  When Hope Is Not So Certain

Whenever the object is our own desire. . . our own plan. . . material possessions. . . or other human beings, there is uncertainty as to its fulfillment. 

Of the 31 uses of the verb, elpizo, in the New Testament, 15 refer to uncertain events. 

• Hope dependent on other people
  • Receiving back what you loaned to someone (Luke 6:34)
  • Herod desiring to see a sign from Jesus (Luke 23:8)
  • Felix hoping for money to be given to him by Paul (Acts 24:26)
  • The laborer being confident of receiving the reward of labor (I Cor. 9:10)
  • Love hoping all things (I Cor. 13:7)
  • Paul being confident in their understanding (II Cor. 1:13)
  • Paul being manifest in their consciences (II Cor. 5:11)
  • Paul being confident in their generosity (II Cor. 8:5)
  • Paul’s ministry being expanded as their faith increased (II Cor. 10:14-16)
  • Paul being confident in their knowledge (II Cor. 13:6)
• Hope dependent on future plans
  • Paul planning to see the Roman believers (Rom. 15:24)
  • Paul planning to stay with the Corinthian believers (I Cor. 16:7)
  • Paul planning to send Timothy to the Philippian believers (Phil. 2:19, 23)
  • Paul planning to come to Timothy shortly (I Tim. 3:14)
  • Paul planning to come to Philemon after release from prison (Philem. 22)
  • John planning to come to see the elect lady and her children (II John 12)
  • John planning to see Gaius shortly (III John 14)
• Hope dependent on material prosperity
  • Slave girl’s masters seeing that their hope of profit was gone (Acts 16:16,19)
  • The rich not placing their hope on their uncertain riches (I Tim. 6:17)

2. ETERNAL TRUTHS:  When Hope Is Absolutely Certain

Whenever the object is the character, work, or promises of God, there is certainty as to its fulfillment. 

• Truths relating to God
  • The Person of God (Acts 24:15; I Tim. 4:10; 5:5; 6:17; I Pet. 1:21; 3:5)
  • The promises of God (Acts 2:26; 26:6-7; 27:21-26; Rom. 4:17-21; Tit. 1:2; Heb. 6:13-20; 10:23)
  • The glory of God (Rom. 5:2)
  • The calling of God (Eph. 1:18)
  • The deliverance of God (II Cor. 1:10)
  • The Word of God (through Moses) (John 5:45)
• Truths relating to Jesus Christ
  • The Person of Christ (Rom. 15:12; I Cor. 15:19; I Tim. 1:1)
  • The presence of Christ (Col. 1:27)
  • The Name of Christ (Matt. 12:21)
  • The redemption of Christ (Luke 24:21)
  • The death and resurrection of Christ (I Cor. 15:19-20; I Thess. 4:13-14)
  • The priesthood of Christ (Heb. 7:19)
  • The return of Christ (I Thess. 2:19; Tit. 2:13; I Pet. 1:13; I John 3:2-3)
  • The magnifying of Christ (Phil. 1:20)
• Truths relating to salvation
  • Eternal life (Tit. 1:2; 3:7)
  • Righteousness (Gal. 5:5)
  • The helmet—the future aspect of salvation (I Thess. 5:8)
  • The calling of the believer (Eph. 4:4)
  • The deliverance of creation from the bondage of corruption (Rom.8:20-22)
  • The redemption of the believer’s body (Rom. 8:23)
  • The heavenly inheritance (I Pet. 1:3-4; Col. 1:5)
  • The glory of God—Christlikeness in character (Rom. 5:2; cp. Rom. 8:29)
  • The resurrection of the dead (Acts 23:6; 24:15)
  • The believer partaking of consolation after partaking of suffering (II Cor. 1:7)
    
    

IV. THE OBSTACLES TO HOPE: The PREVENTION of Hope is ELIMINATED.

1. No Resurrection of Christ (I Cor. 15:19-20; cp. 15:12-20)—there is no hope beyond the grave if Christ is not risen.   
2. No Relationship with Christ (Eph. 2:12; I Thess. 4:13-14)—there is no hope in the world without Christ and God. 
3. No Reliance on God’s Promises and Power (Acts 27:20-25; Rom. 4:16-21; II Cor. 1:8-10)—there is no hope in the midst of impossible circumstances without reliance on God’s power to do the impossible.
   
   

V. THE ORIGIN OF HOPE: The PRODUCTION of Hope is EXTENSIVE.

1. How Hope is Produced Through the Work of God in Salvation (hope established)

• Through the resurrection of Christ (I Pet. 1:3)
• Through the new birth (I Pet. 1:3)
• Through grace (II Thess. 2:16)

2. How Hope is Proclaimed Through the Message of Salvation:  the Gospel (Col. 1:5, 23) (hope declared)
   
3. How Hope is Promoted in the Christian Life (hope practiced)

• Through tribulation (Rom. 5:2-5)
• Through the perseverance and encouragement of the Scriptures (Rom. 15:4)
• Through the power of the Holy Spirit (Rom. 15:13)
  
  

Vi. THE OUTCOME OF HOPE: The PRACTICE of Hope is EFFECTIVE.

1. Changing the Way We LIVE in the PRESENT – hope results in. . .
   • Personal access to God (I Tim. 5:5; Heb. 7:19).
   • Pure conduct of life (Tit. 2:11-13; I Pet. 3:5; I John 3:2-3).
   • Prepared boldness in speech (II Cor. 3:12; I Pet. 3:15).
   • Prevailing joy despite circumstances (Rom. 5:2; 12:12).
   • Persistent labor for Christ (I Tim. 4:10).
   • Potential persecution for Christ (I Tim. 4:10; Acts 26:7; 28:20).
   • Patient endurance in affliction (Rom. 8:25; I Cor. 13:7; I Thess. 1:3; Heb. 3:6; 6:11; 10:23).
2. Changing the Way We LOOK at the FUTURE – hope motivates us to. . .

• Rest in the promises of God (Acts 2:26; 26:6-7; 27:21-26; Rom. 4:17-21; Tit. 1:2; Heb. 6:13-20; 10:23).
• Await the return of Christ (I Thess. 2:19; Tit. 2:13; I Pet. 1:13; I John 3:2-3).
• Focus on the glories of heaven (Col. 1:5; I Pet. 1:3-4; Gal. 5:5; I Thess. 5:8)