The Nature of the Church's Hope in Scripture
The church's hope in Scripture rests fundamentally on God himself and the promises he has made. The psalmist declares, "My hope is in you" (Psalm 39:7), establishing that Christian hope is not wishful thinking but confident trust in the character and faithfulness of God [1]. This hope extends specifically to Christ, who is identified as "our hope" (1 Timothy 1:1) and becomes the actual object of the believer's expectation [5].
Biblical Foundations
Scripture presents hope as one of three essential elements of Christian character alongside faith and love (1 Corinthians 13:13) [5]. The writer of Hebrews describes this hope as "an anchor of the soul, a hope both sure and steadfast and entering into that which is within the veil" [3]—a metaphor emphasizing both security and forward orientation toward heavenly realities. Paul identifies the resurrection as central to Christian hope, declaring in Acts 24:15 a "hope toward God...that there will be a resurrection of the dead, both of the just and unjust" [2].
The nature of this hope differs fundamentally from mere optimism. Biblical hope "does not mean wishing for an event to turn out favorably" but rather "trusts the Lord's will and gives the courage to face disappointments" [9]. It is "opposed to seeing or possessing" (Romans 8:24), oriented toward what is not yet visible [5, 6]. Faith itself is described as "the substance of things hoped for" and "the evidence of things not seen" (Hebrews 11:1) [6, 11], establishing the inseparable connection between these two realities.
The Spirit's Work and the Church's Experience
Hope emerges through the Holy Spirit's activity. Romans 15:13 identifies God as "the God of hope" who fills believers "with all joy and peace through faith, so that all hope may be yours in the power of the Holy Spirit" [4]. This hope is "obtained through grace" and sustained by "patience and comfort of the Scriptures" [1]. The experience of persevering through trials produces hope (Romans 5:4) [1], suggesting that the church's hope deepens through tested faithfulness rather than untested theory.
The corporate dimension matters significantly. To have God as "our portion is the one only foundation of hope" [10], and this shared foundation unites believers across their diversity into one body [7, 8]. Unbelievers, by contrast, exist "without this hope" (Ephesians 2:12; 1 Thessalonians 4:13) [5], marking hope as a defining characteristic of the church's identity and a privilege of those reconciled to God.
Sources
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Hope — In God -- Ps 39:7; 1Pe 1:21. In Christ -- 1Co 15:19; 1Ti 1:1. In God's promises -- Ac 26:6,7; Tit 1:2. In the mercy of God -- Ps 33:18. Is the work of the Holy Spirit -- Ro 15:13; Ga 5:5. Obtained through Grace. -- 2Th 2:16. The word. -- Ps 119:81. Patience and comfort of the Scriptures. -- Ro 15:4. The gospel. -- Col 1:5,23. Faith. -- Ro 5:1,2; Ga 5:5. The result of experience -- Ro 5:4. A better hope brought in by Christ -- Heb 7:19. Described as Good. -- 2Th 2:16. Lively. -- 1Pe 1:3. Sure and steadfast. -- Heb 6:19. Gladdening. -- Pr 10:28. Blessed. -- Tit ”
- Acts “having hope toward God, which these also themselves look for, that there will be a resurrection of the dead, both of the just and unjust. -- Acts 24:15”
- Hebrews “This hope we have as an anchor of the soul, a hope both sure and steadfast and entering into that which is within the veil; -- Hebrews 6:19”
- Romans “Romans 15:13 (BBE) — Now may the God of hope make you full of joy and peace through faith, so that all hope may be yours in the power of the Holy Spirit.”
- Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Hope — One of the three main elements of Christian character (1 Cor. 13:13). It is joined to faith and love, and is opposed to seeing or possessing (Rom. 8:24; 1 John 3:2). "Hope is an essential and fundamental element of Christian life, so essential indeed, that, like faith and love, it can itself designate the essence of Christianity (1 Pet. 3:15; Heb. 10:23). In it the whole glory of the Christian vocation is centred (Eph. 1:18; 4:4)." Unbelievers are without this hope (Eph. 2:12; 1 Thess. 4:13). Christ is the actual object of the believer's hope, because it is in”
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Faith — Is the substance of things hoped for -- Heb 11:1. Is the evidence of things not seen -- Heb 11:1. Commanded -- Mt 11:22; 1Jo 3:23. The objects of, are God. -- Joh 14:1. Christ. -- Joh 6:29; Ac 20:21. Writings of Moses. -- Joh 5:46; Ac 24:14. Writings of the prophets. -- 2Ch 20:20; Ac 26:27. The gospel. -- Mr 1:15. Promises of God. -- Ro 4:21; Heb 11:13. In Christ is The gift of God. -- Ro 12:3; Eph 2:8; 6:23; Php 1:29. The work of God. -- Ac 11:21; 1Co 2:5. Precious. -- 2Pe 1:1. Most holy. -- Jude 1:20. Fruitful. -- 1Th 1:3. Accompanied by repentance. -- Mr 1”
- 1 Corinthians (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on 1 Corinthians 12:20: But now are they many members,.... Of different make and shape, in different parts and places, and of different use and service: yet but one body; all are united together, and make up one complete body, and which without each of them would not be perfect: so there are many members in the body of Christ, the church; some are teachers, others are hearers; some give, and others receive; but all make up but one church, of which Christ is the head; nor can anyone of them be spared; was anyone wanting, even the meanest, there would be a deficiency, and the church ”
- 1 Corinthians (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on 1 Corinthians 12:25: 12:25-26 The church is a unified body, so harmony and care for each other in the church is essential.”
- Psalms (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Psalms 25:5: 25:5 Biblical hope does not mean wishing for an event to turn out favorably. Hope trusts the Lord’s will and gives the courage to face disappointments (33:22; 130:5).”
- Lamentations (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Lamentations 3:24: (Num 18:20; Psa 16:5; Psa 73:26; Psa 119:57; Jer 10:16). To have God for our portion is the one only foundation of hope.”
- Hebrews (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Hebrews 11:1: Now faith is the substance of things hoped for,.... The "faith" here spoken of is not a mere moral virtue, which is a branch of the law; nor a bare assent to anything revealed, declared, and affirmed in the Gospel; nor a faith of doing miracles; nor an implicit one; nor a mere profession of faith, which sometimes is but temporary; nor the word or doctrine of faith; but that which is made mention of in the preceding chapter, by which the just man lives, and which has the salvation of the soul annexed to it: and it does not so much design any particular branch, or act ”