The Substance of Unseen Spiritual Reality in Scripture
The concept of unseen spiritual reality in Scripture is fundamentally tied to faith, which Hebrews 11:1 defines as "the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen" [2]. This verse establishes faith not merely as a belief, but as a tangible assurance of what is anticipated and a conviction regarding what remains invisible to the physical senses [1].
The "substance" (Greek: hypostasis) in Hebrews 11:1 has been interpreted in various ways. John Gill, a Baptist/Reformed commentator, explains that the faith described here is not a mere moral virtue, a simple assent to revealed truths, or a temporary profession, but rather the kind of faith by which "the just man lives" and which leads to the "salvation of the soul" [8]. This faith provides a solid foundation for the believer's hope, making future realities present in a real sense [8]. The Jamieson, Fausset & Brown commentary, representing a Presbyterian perspective, suggests that through spiritual intelligence, believers "perceive with our spiritual intelligence the fact of the world's creation by God, though we see neither Him nor the act of creation" [9]. This implies that faith grants an understanding of unseen spiritual truths that natural observation alone cannot provide, though creation can confirm these truths once apprehended by faith [9].
The unseen spiritual realm encompasses God himself, who is invisible yet clearly understood through the things he has made [7]. Romans 1:20 states that "the invisible things of him from... the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made" [7]. This means that while God's essence is unseen, his attributes and eternal power are discernible through the created order, acting as an "interpreter of our faith in God" [7]. The primary source of this faith is within the human heart, but it becomes an "intelligible and articulate conviction" through observing creation [7].
Beyond God, the unseen spiritual reality includes the Holy Spirit, referred to as "the Spirit of truth" [3]. Jesus tells his disciples that "the world is not able to receive" the Spirit of truth "because it does not see him or know him" [3]. However, believers know the Spirit because he "resides with you and will be in you" [3]. Adam Clarke, a Methodist/Wesleyan commentator, elaborates that "the world" in this context refers to those influenced by "the desire of the flesh, the desire of the eye, and the pride of life," who are incapable of receiving the Spirit [12]. The Spirit's essential role is to "manifest, vindicate, and apply the truth," exposing falsehood and guiding believers to knowledge of God [12].
The concept of "substance" itself, particularly when applied to God, is complex. John Chrysostom, an early Church Father, notes that "not even the word God is a name of substance, nor is it at all possible to find a name of that Substance" [11]. one tradition argues that just as one cannot find a name expressive of an angel's substance or even the soul's substance, it is impossible to fully grasp or name the substance of God [11]. The term "soul," for instance, Chrysostom suggests, may not signify its substance but rather "breathing," and the soul is also called "Heart and Mind" [11]. This highlights the difficulty in verbally encapsulating the essence of spiritual realities, even as they are understood and experienced through faith.
Prayer is another interaction with the unseen spiritual realm. While Scripture does not offer a theoretical explanation for the "mystery which attaches to prayer," it affirms its efficacy [4]. The difficulty in understanding prayer's effectiveness often arises from the tension between the belief in unalterable general laws and the belief in human agency [4]. Nevertheless, prayer is a commanded act of faith, directed towards God [1].
Divine revelation itself is an "uncovering, a bringing to light of that which had been previously wholly hidden or only obscurely seen" [6]. God has supernaturally revealed himself and his purposes in various ways and at different times, with these revelations committed to writing under the guidance of the Holy Spirit [6]. The Scriptures are not merely a record of revelation but are "the revelation itself in a written form," ensuring the accurate preservation and propagation of truth [6]. This written revelation provides insight into the unseen spiritual world, making it accessible to humanity.
Dreams and visions also feature in Scripture as vehicles for divine communication, though their significance shifted with the Christian dispensation. Smith's Bible Dictionary notes that while the Spirit of God influences both sleeping and waking thoughts, dreams, where the understanding is asleep, are placed below prophetic visions, where the understanding is active [5]. Under the Christian dispensation, while trances and visions are mentioned, dreams are "never referred to as vehicles of divine revelation" [5]. This suggests a progression in how God communicates unseen truths, emphasizing more conscious and intelligible forms of revelation.
The "substance" that believers are to inherit, according to Proverbs 8:21, is described as "substantial blessings, blessings indeed, as all spiritual ones are; and substantial grace, as every grace is; and substantial communion with God and Christ" [10]. This "substance" also refers to "substantial happiness hereafter, as eternal life is," denoting its reality and its being "actually promised, prepared, and laid up for the saints" [10]. This reinforces the idea that the unseen spiritual realm is not merely abstract but comprises real, tangible benefits and realities for those who have faith.
Sources
- 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”
- King James Version “[KJV] Hebrews 11:1 — Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.”
- John “John 14:17 (LEB) — the Spirit of truth, whom the world is not able to receive, because it does not see him or know him. You know him, because he resides with you and will be in you.”
- Smith's Bible Dictionary “Smith's Bible Dictionary: Prayer — The object of this article will be to touch briefly on-- + The doctrine of Scripture as to the nature and efficacy of prayer; + Its directions as to time, place and manner of prayer; + Its types and examples of prayer. + Scripture does not give any theoretical explanation of the mystery which attaches to prayer. The difficulty of understanding real efficacy arises chiefly from two sources: from the belief that man lives under general laws, which in all cases must be fulfilled unalterably; and the opposing belief that he is master of his own destiny, and need ”
- Smith's Bible Dictionary “Smith's Bible Dictionary: Dreams — The Scripture declares that the influence of the Spirit of God upon the soul extends to its sleeping as well as its waking thoughts. But, in accordance with the principle enunciated by St. Paul in (1 Corinthians 14:15) dreams, in which the understanding is asleep, are placed below the visions of prophecy, in which the understanding plays its part. Under the Christian dispensation, while we read frequently of trances and vision, dreams are never referred to as vehicles of divine revelation. In exact accordance with this principle are the actual records of the ”
- Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Revelation — An uncovering, a bringing to light of that which had been previously wholly hidden or only obscurely seen. God has been pleased in various ways and at different times (Heb. 1:1) to make a supernatural revelation of himself and his purposes and plans, which, under the guidance of his Spirit, has been committed to writing. (See WORD OF [532]GOD.) The Scriptures are not merely the "record" of revelation; they are the revelation itself in a written form, in order to the accurate presevation and propagation of the truth. Revelation and inspiration differ. Rev”
- Romans (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Romans 1:20: For the invisible things of him from--or "since" the creation of the world are clearly seen--the mind brightly beholding what the eye cannot discern. being understood by the things that are made--Thus, the outward creation is not the parent but the interpreter of our faith in God. That faith has its primary sources within our own breast (Rom 1:19); but it becomes an intelligible and articulate conviction only through what we observe around us ("by the things which are made," Rom 1:20). And thus are the inner and the outer revelation of God the comp”
- 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 ”
- Hebrews (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Hebrews 11:3: we understand--We perceive with our spiritual intelligence the fact of the world's creation by God, though we see neither Him nor the act of creation as described in Gen. 1:1-31. The natural world could not, without revelation, teach us this truth, though it confirms the truth when apprehended by faith (Rom 1:20). Adam is passed over in silence here as to his faith, perhaps as being the first who fell and brought sin on us all; though it does not follow that he did not repent and believe the promise. worlds--literally, "ages"; all that exists in tim”
- Proverbs (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Proverbs 8:21: That I may cause those that love me to inherit substance,.... Substantial blessings, blessings indeed, as all spiritual ones are; and substantial grace, as every grace is; and substantial communion with God and Christ, which is a real thing, and had in the way of righteousness; also substantial happiness hereafter, as eternal life is; which being expressed by "substance", or "that which is" (g), as the word used signifies, denotes the reality of it; it being not only actually promised, prepared, and laid up for the saints, but is what is known by them now, and of wh”
- CCEL/NPNF (Eastern Orthodox) “John Chrysostom, Homilies on John & Hebrews: not even the word God is a name of substance, nor is it at all possible to find a name of that Substance. And what marvel, if it be so in respect of God, since not even in respect of an Angel, could one find a name expressive of his substance? Perhaps too, neither in respect of the soul. For this name [soul] doth not seem to me to be significative of the substance thereof, but of breathing. For one may see that the same [thing] is called both Soul and Heart and Mind: for, saith he, “Create in me a clean heart, O God” ( Ps. li. 10 ), and one may ofte”
- John (Methodist/Wesleyan) “Adam Clarke on John 14:17: The Spirit of truth - The Spirit, or Holy Ghost, whose essential office is to manifest, vindicate, and apply the truth. The Gospel of Christ may be thus called, because it exposes falsity, removes error, and teaches the knowledge of the true God - shows the way to him, saves from vanity and illusive hopes, and establishes solid happiness in the souls of those who believe. The world cannot receive - By the world, St. John means those who are influenced only by the desire of the flesh, the desire of the eye, and the pride of life, Jo1 2:16. Now these cannot receive the”