Answers from church history on today's questions
What Christian writers said, from about AD 107 to 1938.
308 passages · 56 writers · 15 centuries
Of the 308 passages here, 145 from 39 writers state what hope is, and 163 mention it in passing. The writers who state a view describe hope as expectation of a promised good that is not yet seen or possessed, and they name its object as eternal life, glory with God, and the appearing of Christ. They place its ground in God's promises, in Christ and his resurrection, and in grace, and not in human merit. They also connect hope with patience in affliction, with moderation of grief, and with holiness, and they set it against despair and presumption. They differ on whether hope is assured or may fall short of certainty. Of the 145 statements, 87 come from Protestant writers (Reformed, Lutheran, and Anglican included), 43 from the Fathers, 12 from Catholic writers, and 3 from Philaret of Moscow (1839), the only Orthodox writer after the Fathers. The earliest statement is from Clement of Alexandria (about 190); the earliest passage, a mention, is from Ignatius of Antioch (about 107).
36 passages · 19 writers · 100s to 1900s
Writers describe hope as the expectation of a promised good that is not yet seen or possessed, and name its object as eternal life, glory with God, heaven, and the appearing of Christ.
It is therefore the contemplation of our blessed hope even in this life by faith (that he speaks of)—not its presence nor its possession, but only its expectation. Concerning this expectation and hope Paul writes to the Galatians: “For we through the Spirit wait for the hope of righteousness by faith.” He says “we wait for it,” not we are in possession of it.
Tertullian, On the Resurrection of the Flesh 23
That hope is of future things, and therefore that faith concerning those things which are promised ought to be patient.
Cyprian of Carthage, The Treatises of Cyprian 12.4.2
For of these two things we speak of—faith and godliness—the hope is the same, even everlasting life; for he saith, ‘Fight the good fight of faith; lay hold on eternal life.’ And, ‘exercise thyself unto godliness, for it hath the promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come .’
Athanasius of Alexandria, Letters of Athanasius with Two Ancient Chronicles of His Life 3.3.9
He sets no temporal limit to our hope, he bids our faithful expectation stretch out into infinity. We are to hope for ever and ever, winning the hope of future life through the hope of our present life which we have in Christ Jesus our Lord, Who is blessed for ever and ever.
Hilary of Poitiers, Homilies on Psalms I., LIII., CXXX 2.3
“That we should live godly in this present world.” And what is this hope? what the reward of our labors? “Looking for the blessed hope and the appearing.” For nothing is more blessed and more desirable than that appearing.
John Chrysostom, Homilies on Titus 5
What means, “according to the hope”? That, as we have hoped, so we shall enjoy eternal life, or because ye are even already heirs.
John Chrysostom, Homilies on Titus 5
For as yet our salvation is in hope, not in deed: for we do not already possess that which is promised, but we hope for it to come. And “faithful is He that promised;” He deceiveth not thee: only do thou not faint, but wait for the promise.
Augustine of Hippo, Ten Homilies on the First Epistle of John 7
“From the hope,” he saith, “of the Gospel, which ye heard, which was preached in all creation under heaven.” But what is the hope of the Gospel, except Christ? For He Himself is our peace, that hath wrought all these things: so that he who ascribes them to others is “moved away”: for he has lost all, unless he believe in Christ.
John Chrysostom, Homilies on Colossians 4
The apostle says not, "we are to be saved," but, "We are now saved," that is, in hope, though not yet in reality. And in the same way it is in hope, though not yet in reality, that we now know no man after the flesh. This hope is in Christ, in whom what we hope for as promised to us has already been fulfilled.
Augustine of Hippo, Reply to Faustus the Manichæan 13
For that system also had a hope, but not such as this. For they hoped that, if they were well pleasing [to God], they should possess the land, that they should suffer nothing fearful. But in this [dispensation] we hope that, if we are well pleasing [to God], we shall possess not earth, but heaven; or rather (which is far better than this) we hope to stand near to God, to come unto the very throne of the Father, to minister unto Him with the Angels.
John Chrysostom, The Homilies of St. John Chrysostom on the Epistle to the Hebrews 17
This salvation, however, he says, consists in hope, while we live here below, where he says, “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? But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it.”
Augustine of Hippo, A Treatise on the Merits and Forgiveness of Sins, and on the Baptism of Infants 1.23
But for the present we must, as he goes on to say, “place our hope in God.” … But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it.” Being, then, for the present established in this hope, let us do what the Psalmist further indicates, and become in our measure angels or messengers of God, declaring His will, and praising His glory and His grace.
Augustine of Hippo, City of God 10.25
Now the object of hope, which is the arduous good, has the character of a principle of attraction, if it be considered in the light of something attainable; and thus hope tends thereto, for it denotes a kind of approach. But in so far as it is considered as unobtainable, it has the character of a principle of repulsion, because, as stated in Ethic. iii, 3, "when men come to an impossibility they disperse."
Thomas Aquinas, Summa Theologica I-II.Q40.A4
The object of hope is not the possible as differentiating the true, for thus the possible ensues from the relation of a predicate to a subject. The object of hope is the possible as compared to a power.
Thomas Aquinas, Summa Theologica I-II.Q40.A3
Holy Writ speaks of hope in two ways: as the object of the emotion, and hope as the emotion itself. In the first chapter of the Epistle to the Colossians we have an instance of its first use: “For the hope which is laid up for you in heaven,” i.e., the thing hoped for. In the sense of emotion we quote the passage from the eighth chapter of the Epistle to the Romans: “For we are saved by hope.”
Martin Luther, Commentary on Galatians 5:5
Lastly, he calls Christ the hope of glory , that they may know that nothing is wanting to them for complete blessedness when they have obtained Christ. This, however, is a wonderful work of God, that in earthen and frail vessels ( 2 Corinthians 4:7 ) the hope of heavenly glory resides.
John Calvin, Commentary on Philippians, Colossians, and Thessalonians Colossians 1.6
When we are said to be saved by hope, the meaning is that we are not fully or perfectly saved now, and that this is what we hope for. “Eternal salvation,” says Grotius , “we have not yet, but we hope for it.” There is present salvation, but that which is perfect is future.
John Calvin, Commentary on Romans 8.7
And hence if you wish to include in a few words the meaning of the whole passage, arrange Paul’s arguments in this way, “To all the godly there is salvation laid up in hope; it is the character of hope to look forward to future and absent benefits: then the salvation of the faithful is not visible. Now hope is not otherwise sustained than by patience; then the salvation of the faithful is not to be consummated except by patience.”
John Calvin, Commentary on Romans 8.7
There is a common and blessed hope for all true Christians in the other world. … By hope is meant the thing hoped for, namely, Christ himself, who is called our hope ( 1 Tim. i. 1 ), and blessedness in and through him, even riches of glory ( Eph. i. 18 ), hence fitly termed here that blessed hope. [2.] The design of the gospel is to stir up all to a good life by this blessed hope.
Matthew Henry, Commentary on Titus 2.2
For their hope: The hope which is laid up for you in heaven, v. 5 . The happiness of heaven is called their hope, because it is the thing hoped for, looking for the blessed hope, Tit. ii. 13 . What is laid out upon believers in this world is much; but what is laid up for them in heaven is much more. And we have reason to give thanks to God for the hope of heaven which good Christians have, or their well-grounded expectation of the future glory.
Matthew Henry, Commentary on Colossians 1.2
Observe, God is our Saviour.— Jesus Christ, who is our hope. Observe, Jesus Christ is a Christian's hope; our hope is in him, all our hope of eternal life is built upon him; Christ is in us the hope of glory, Col. i. 27 .
Matthew Henry, Commentary on First Timothy 1.1
So hope in God and in the promises of his word, is often spoken of in the Scripture, as a very considerable part of true religion. … Hope is so great a part of true religion, that the apostle says, "we are saved by hope," Rom. 8:24.
Jonathan Edwards, Religious Affections 1.0
Hope is so great a part of true religion, that the apostle says, "we are saved by hope," Rom. 8:24. And this is spoken of as the helmet of the Christian soldier. 1 Thess. 5:8, "And for a helmet, the hope of salvation;" and the sure and steadfast anchor of the soul, which preserves it from being cast away by the storms of this evil world.” … It is spoken of as a great fruit and benefit which true saints receive by Christ's resurrection: 1 Pet. 1:3, "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which, according to his abundant mercy, hath begotten us again unto a lively hope, by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead."
Jonathan Edwards, Religious Affections 1.0
For we are saved by hope - Our salvation is now only in hope. We do not yet possess this full salvation.
John Wesley, Notes on the Bible 6.8
Hope is a compound emotion, made up of a "desire" for an object and an "expectation" of obtaining it. But both these will exist in heaven. It is folly to say that a redeemed saint will not "desire" there eternal happiness; it is equal folly to say that there will be no strong expectation of obtaining it.
Albert Barnes, Notes on the Bible First Corinthians 13:13
What is Christian hope? The resting of the heart on God, with the full trust that he ever cares for our salvation, and will give us the happiness he has promised. 387. What is the ground of Christian hope? The Lord Jesus Christ is our hope, or the ground of our hope.
Philaret of Moscow, The Longer Catechism of the Orthodox, Catholic, Eastern Church q. 386–388
When our first parents had confessed before God their sin, God, of his mercy, gave them a hope of salvation. … This: that Jesus Christ should overcome the devil who had deceived men, and deliver them from sin, the curse, and death.
Philaret of Moscow, The Longer Catechism of the Orthodox, Catholic, Eastern Church q. 166–179
hope that is seen is not hope—for the very meaning of hope is, the expectation that something now future will become present. for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for?—the latter ending when the other comes. 25. But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it—that is, then, patient waiting for it is our fitting attitude.
Robert Jamieson, A.R. Fausset, and David Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible Romans 8
Live like men who look for that blessed hope—the second coming of Jesus Christ. This is the prospect to which we should all look forward. It is not so much the thought of going to heaven as of heaven coming to us, that should fill our minds.
J.C. Ryle, Holiness 14
Surely somewhere there must be a reason for this great and in some respects awful faculty, a vindication of its existence in an adequate object for its grasp. The New Testament has much to say about hope. Christianity lays hold of it and professes to supply it with its true nourishment and support. Let us look at the characteristics of Christian hope, or, as our text calls it, the hope of the Gospel, that is, the hope which the Gospel creates and feeds in our souls.
Alexander Maclaren, Second Corinthians, Galatians, Philippians, Colossians, Thessalonians, and First Timothy 2.2.2
In contrast with these the objects of the Christian hope are certain and sufficient for all blessedness. In the most general terms they may be stated as 'That blessed hope, even the appearing of the Great God and our Saviour.' That is the specific Christian hope, precise and definite, a real historical event, filling the future with a certain steadfast light.
Alexander Maclaren, Second Corinthians, Galatians, Philippians, Colossians, Thessalonians, and First Timothy 2.2.2
Let us rather rise high above symbols, high above negations, to the positive truth, and not contented with saying ‘We shall be full of blessedness; we shall be full of purity; we shall be full of knowledge,’ let us rather think of that which embraces them all—we shall be full of God. So much, then, for the one object of Christian hope.
Alexander Maclaren, Romans and Corinthians 1.10
Brethren, I believe that one great source of the weakness of average Christianity amongst us to-day is the dimness into which so many of us have let the hope of the glory of God pass in our hearts.
Alexander Maclaren, Romans and Corinthians 1.31
It is the personal experience and presence of Christ in the individual life of all believers that Paul has in mind, the indwelling Christ in the heart as in Eph 3:17 . He constitutes also the hope of glory for he is the Σεκινα of God. Christ is our hope now (1Ti 1:1 ) and the consummation will come (Ro 8:18 ).
A.T. Robertson, Word Pictures in the New Testament 13.1
The old word ελπις, from ελπιζω, to hope, has the idea of waiting with expectation and patience.
A.T. Robertson, Word Pictures in the New Testament 9.1
Many would stop at Romans 5:1, “Being justified by faith, we have peace with God.” But in this present verse God speaks as the God of hope; and He wants us filled with all joy as well as peace, so as to be abounding in hope, in the power of the Holy Spirit. Now, if God is the God of hope, looking forward with expectancy and delight to the certain, glorious things of the future, then a dejected, depressed, discouraged saint of His is yielding to a spirit directly contrary to His will, which is, for each of us, that we abound in hope. 2. It is God Himself alone who can fill us with all joy and peace, making us to abound in hope.
William R. Newell, Romans Verse-by-Verse 15
34 passages · 15 writers · 300s to 1900s
Writers place the ground of hope in God and his promises, in Christ and his work, and in grace and the work of the Spirit, and not in human merit.
Wherefore, since all these things are true and certain, in harmony with the predicted announcement of the prophets, since Trismegistus and Hystaspes and the Sibyl s have foretold the same things, it cannot be doubted that all hope of life and salvation is placed in the religion of God alone. Therefore, unless a man shall have received Christ, whom God has sent, and is about to send for our redemption, unless he shall have known the Supreme God through Christ, unless he shall have kept His commandments and law, he will fall into those punishments of which we have spoken. Therefore frail things must be despised, that we may gain those which are substantial; earthly things must be scorned, that we may be honoured with heavenly things; temporal things must be shunned, that we may reach those which are eternal.
Lactantius, The Divine Institutes 8.69
“According to my earnest expectation and hope,” says he, “that in nothing shall I be put to shame.” Do you see how great a thing it is to hope in God? Whatever happens, he says, I shall not be put to shame, i.e. they will not obtain the mastery, over me, “but with all boldness, as always, so now also, Christ shall be magnified in my body.”
John Chrysostom, Homilies on Philippians 4
“It hath concluded all under sin;” but with what hope? The hope of grace, the hope of mercy. … For if thou take away the Spirit from the letter, “the letter killeth;” if it kill, where is hope?
Augustine of Hippo, Sermons on Selected Lessons of the New Testament 88
What then must we do, if we are not to hope in sons of men, nor in princes? … Meanwhile, while yet groaning in this life, “his hope is in the Lord his God.”…Who is this, “Lord his God”?…“To us there is one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and one Lord Jesus Christ, through whom are all things.” Therefore let Him be thy hope, even the Lord thy God; in Him let thy hope be.
Augustine of Hippo, Expositions on the Book of Psalms 146
At the same time, it is one thing to love man, and another thing to set one’s hope in man; and the difference is so great, that God enjoins the one and forbids the other.
Augustine of Hippo, On the Catechising of the Uninstructed 25
Our sole hope, our sole confidence, our sole assured promise, is Thy mercy.
Augustine of Hippo, The Confessions 10.32
But if in spite of the truth being so clear, their persistence in heresy will not abandon their position in the darkness, let them show whence they promise themselves the hope of eternal life, which no one can attain to, save through the mediator between God and man, the man Jesus Christ. For “there is not another name given to men under heaven, in which they must be saved .”
Leo the Great, The Letters and Sermons of Leo the Great 4.118
All priests, monks, and nuns—and I am now speaking of the best of them—who repose their hope for salvation in their own works, and not in Christ, whom they imagine to be an angry judge, hear this sentence pronounced against them that Christ shall profit them nothing. If one can earn the forgiveness of sins and everlasting life through one’s own efforts to what purpose was Christ born?
Martin Luther, Commentary on Galatians 5:2
Let us begin, therefore, with despairing of ourselves, but with the view of placing our hope in God. Let us be brought low in ourselves, but in order that we may be raised up by his power. Paul, accordingly, having brought to nothing the pride of the flesh, immediately substitutes in its place a confidence that rests upon God.
John Calvin, Commentary on Corinthians, Vol. 2 1.2
We now then perceive the reason why the Prophets, when they sought to strengthen the faithful in the hope of salvation, set forth Christ, because the promises had no certainty without the general covenant. And further, as the general covenant could not stand, nor have any validity, except in Christ, this is the point to which Jeremiah now turns his attention, as we have also seen in other places, especially in the twenty-third chapter, from which he repeats this prophecy.
John Calvin, Commentary on Jeremiah and Lamentations, Vol. 4 33.10
If then at this day we desire to raise up our minds to God, Christ must immediately become a Mediator between us; for when he is taken away, despair will ever overwhelm us, nor can we attain any sure hope. We may indeed be raised up by some wind or another; but our empty confidence will shortly come to nothing, except we have a confidence founded on Christ alone.
John Calvin, Commentary on Joel, Amos, and Obadiah Amos 9.9
Here, then, we must place, and, as it were, firmly fix our whole hope, paying no respect to our works, and asking no assistance from them.
John Calvin, Institutes of the Christian Religion III.13
Thus Augustine says, “Of all pious men groaning under this burden of corruptible flesh, and the infirmities of this life, the only hope is, that we have one Mediator Jesus Christ the righteous, and that he intercedes for our sins,” (August. ad Bonif. lib. 3, c. 5). What do we hear? If this is their only hope, where is their confidence in works? When he says only, he leaves no other.
John Calvin, Institutes of the Christian Religion III.12
That God, that was our Creator, is our Redeemer, the repairer of our breaches, and the restorer of our paths to dwell in. And the plenteous redemption from all iniquity, manifested in the incarnation and passion of the Son of God, is much more a ground of hope in the Lord than it was in past ages, when it could not be said, “The Lord hath, but the Lord shall, redeem Israel from all his iniquities” (Ps. cxxx. 8). It is a full warrant to cast ourselves into his arms.
Stephen Charnock, The Existence and Attributes of God 9
Observe, Christ is the hope of glory. The ground of our hope is Christ in the word, or the gospel revelation, declaring the nature and methods of obtaining it. The evidence of our hope is Christ in the heart, or the sanctification of the soul, and its preparation for the heavenly glory.
Matthew Henry, Commentary on Colossians 1.4
They had no hope, that is, beyond this life—no well-grounded hope in God, no hope of spiritual and eternal blessings. Those who are with out Christ, and strangers from the covenant, can have no good hope; for Christ and the covenant are the ground and foundation of all the Christian's hopes.
Matthew Henry, Commentary on Ephesians 2.3
Jesus Christ is the object and ground of the believer's hope, and so it is a stedfast hope. Jesus Christ is the object and ground of the believer's hope in several respects. … 2. As he is the forerunner of his people, gone within the veil, to prepare a place for them, and to assure them that they shall follow him; he is the earnest and first fruits of believers, both in his resurrection and in his ascension.
Matthew Henry, Commentary on Hebrews 6.2
Some refer this to the last judgment, as if the apostle directed their hope to the final revelation of Jesus Christ; but it seems more natural to take it, as it might be rendered, " Hope perfectly, or thoroughly, for the grace that is brought to you in or by the revelation of Jesus Christ; that is, by the gospel, which brings life and immortality to light. Hope perfectly, trust without doubting to that grace which is now offered to you by the gospel."
Matthew Henry, Commentary on First Peter 1.5
Having mentioned salvation and the hope of it, the apostle shows what grounds and reasons Christians have to hope for this salvation, as to which observe, He says nothing of their meriting it. No, the doctrine of our merits is altogether unscriptural and antiscriptural; there is no foundation of any good hope upon that account. But our hopes are to be grounded, (1.) Upon God's appointment: because God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation, v. 9 .
Matthew Henry, Commentary on First Thessalonians 5.2
Christ dwelling and reigning in you, The hope of glory - The ground of your hope.
John Wesley, Notes on the Bible 12.1
Hope shameth us not - That is, gives us the highest glorying. We glory in this our hope, because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts - The divine conviction of God's love to us, and that love to God which is both the earnest and the beginning of heaven.
John Wesley, Notes on the Bible 6.5
Hope, in the New Testament, is often spoken of as a great Christian grace and virtue, and one of the main things that distinguishes a true Christian, which would be difficult to understand or account for, if by hope is meant no more than what we commonly understand by the word, viz. his thinking well of his own state, or hoping well of his future state. That is not hard to do; it is what nature is prone to; but by hope they doubtless meant something more, viz. an embracing the promises of God and fiducial relying on them through Christ for salvation. This is the great Christian grace that the apostle speaks of in the 13th chap. of 1 Cor. where he speaks of faith, hope, charity; and by faith there, and also where it is distinguished from hope, is meant faith in a larger sense, viz. acquiescing in the truth in whatever he testifies or reveals, without any special regard to our own concern and future interest in what he reveals. Hope is our acquiescing and relying on God’s truth and sufficiency as to what concerns our own future happiness.
Jonathan Edwards, Notes on the Bible 24
It is a characteristic of true piety that all hope centers in God, or that the soul feels that there is no other ground of hope. (a) The truly pious man despairs of success in anything else, or from any other quarter, for he feels that God alone can give success. (b) He does hope in God - in reference to all that is needful for himself as an individual; all that will be for the good of his family; all that will tend to bless the world; all that he desires in heaven. Hope in God cheers him, sustains him, comforts him; makes life happy and prosperous; and makes death calm, serene, triumphant.
Albert Barnes, Notes on the Bible Psalms 31:24
Let Israel hope in the Lord ... - The connection would seem to require us to understand this as the assertion of him who had been accused of thoughts which seemed to be too lofty. As the result of all his reflections (of those reflections for which he was rebuked and charged with pride, but which were really conceived in a modest spirit) - as expressing what he saw that seemed to be in advance of what others saw, or to indicate a habit of thought beyond his years - he says that there were reasons why Israel should hope in the Lord; that there was a foundation for confident trust; that there was that in the divine character which was a just ground of reliance; that there was that in the course of events - in the tendencies of things - which made it proper for the people of God, for the church, to hope, to confide, to feel assured of its ultimate and permanent safety.
Albert Barnes, Notes on the Bible Psalms 131:3
As high as the heavens are above the earth, so high is a hope founded on the work of Christ for us, above a hope founded on the merit of anything wrought in us.
Charles Hodge, Systematic Theology III.17.2
None have such solid expectations as a saved soul. He can say, “My soul, wait thou only upon God; my expectation is from Him.” (Ps. lxii. 5.) In all true saving religion Christ is all: all in justification—all in comfort—all in hope.
J.C. Ryle, Holiness 21
The hope of the Gospel rests at last on the Being and Heart of God. It is that which God 'who cannot lie hath promised before the world was' is working towards whilst the world lasts, and will accomplish when the world is no more. … The hope of the Gospel strikes its roots deep into the heart of God.
Alexander Maclaren, Second Corinthians, Galatians, Philippians, Colossians, Thessalonians, and First Timothy 2.2.2
Paul's expression of his purpose to send Timothy is very much more than a piece of emotional piety. He 'hopes in the Lord' to accomplish his design, and that hope so rooted and conditioned is but one instance of the all-comprehending law of his life, that, to him, to 'live is Christ.' … Our hopes should be derived from union with Him. … We should be trusting to Him to fulfil them.
Alexander Maclaren, Second Corinthians, Galatians, Philippians, Colossians, Thessalonians, and First Timothy 1.3.12
That is to say, to put it into general words, and, of course, presupposing the revelation in Jesus Christ as the basis of all, without which there is no assured hope of a future beyond the grave, then the facts of a Christian man’s life are for him the best brighteners of the hope beyond. Of course, that is so. ‘Justified by faith’—‘peace with God’—‘access into grace’; what, in the name of common-sense, can death do with these things?
Alexander Maclaren, Romans and Corinthians 1.10
Do we long for a bright hope which shall light up the dark future, and spread a rainbow span over the great gorge and gulf of death? Jesus Christ spans the void, and gives us unfailing and undeceiving hope.
Alexander Maclaren, Isaiah and Jeremiah 1.2.25
It is the prerogative of Christian remembrance, that it merges into Christian hope. … But when we are occupied with an unchanging Friend, whose love is inexhaustible, and whose arm is unwearied, it is good logic to say: ‘It has been, therefore it shall be.’
Alexander Maclaren, Deuteronomy, Joshua, Judges, Ruth, First and Second Samuel, First Kings, and Second Kings Chapters I to VII 1.1.2
A paradox, but a paradox that is a truth in the case of Christians whose memory is of a God that has loved and blessed them whose hope is in a God that changes never; whose memory is charged with ‘every good and perfect gift that came down from the Father of Lights,’ whose hope is in that same Father, ‘with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.’ … Remember that you may hope, and hope because you remember.
Alexander Maclaren, Deuteronomy, Joshua, Judges, Ruth, First and Second Samuel, First Kings, and Second Kings Chapters I to VII 1.1.2
It is by the power of the indwelling Spirit that we are to “abound in hope.” Some human beings are naturally introspective and gloomy. Others are naturally jovial and buoyant: but the joy in which we as believers are to abound does not in any wise flow from nature, but from the direct, inworking energy of the Holy Ghost.
William R. Newell, Romans Verse-by-Verse 15
Verse 5: And [our state of] hope does not make us ashamed: because God’s love [for us] is poured out in our hearts through the Holy Spirit which has been given to us. Furthermore, then, no matter how much the world or worldly Christians may avoid or deride us, this hopefulness is not “ashamed,” or is not “put to shame”: because there is supplied the inward and wonderful miracle of the consciousness of God’s love shed abroad in our hearts through that second mighty gift of God to us (Christ Himself being the first),—the indwelling Holy Spirit.
William R. Newell, Romans Verse-by-Verse 5
29 passages · 14 writers · 300s to 1900s
Writers connect hope with holiness, diligence, and joy, and set hope in heavenly things against hope in worldly things.
The root of all good works is the hope of the Resurrection; for the expectation of the recompense nerves the soul to good works. … In like manner every soul believing in a Resurrection is naturally careful of itself; but, disbelieving it, abandons itself to perdition. He who believes that his body shall remain to rise again, is careful of his robe, and defiles it not with fornication; but he who disbelieves the Resurrection, gives himself to fornication, and misuses his own body, as though it were not his own.
Cyril of Jerusalem, The Catechetical Lectures of S. Cyril 22
Let the hope of this life give way, and the hope of God advance; that thou mayest say, “And the Lord is become my refuge:” may I sorrow for this end that the Lord may become my refuge! “And my God the help of my hope.” For as yet the Lord is our hope, since as long as we are here, we are in hope, and not in possession. But lest we fail in hope, there is near us a provision to encourage us, and to mitigate those very evils which we suffer.
Augustine of Hippo, Expositions on the Book of Psalms 94
And so if thou feel in doubt about those to come; from those now present, and what thou hast already received, believe in the other also. For this is why he says, “And we rejoice ( καυχώμεθα ) in hope of the glory of God,” that you may learn, what kind of soul the faithful ought to have. For it is not only for what hath been given, but for what is to be given, that we ought to be filled with confidingness, as though it were already given.
John Chrysostom, The Homilies of St. John Chrysostom on Paul's Epistle to the Romans 11
Now what is hoped for, but good things? But since each one would obtain from God that good, which he loves; and they are not easy to be found who love interior goods, that is, which belong to the inward man, which alone should be loved, but the rest are to be used for necessity, not to be enjoyed for pleasure; excellently did he subjoin, when he had said, “hope in the Lord” ( ver. 6 ), “Many say, Who showeth us good things?”
Augustine of Hippo, Expositions on the Book of Psalms 4
No: but holding His commandments, we hope this will come to pass. This hope is spoken of under the figure of sons; because sons are the hope of man living in this life, sons are his fruit.
Augustine of Hippo, Expositions on the Book of Psalms 132
The reader may remember this as said before, or he may find it on looking back. For if any one tries to serve God with two hopes, one of earthly felicity, and the other of the kingdom of heaven, the two hopes cannot agree; and when the latter is shaken by some affliction, the former will be lost too. … Even in that ancient people, the holy patriarchs and prophets, who understood the part they performed, or which they were instrumental in performing, had this hope of eternal life in the New Testament. They belonged to the New Testament, because they understood and loved it, though revealed only in figure. Those belonging to the Old Testament were the people who cared for nothing else but the temporal promises, without understanding them as significant of eternal things.
Augustine of Hippo, Reply to Faustus the Manichæan 17
Since then it is not possible to have one’s hopes of salvation in another, but [it must be] in one’s self after the lovingkindness of God, let us do all things, I entreat you, so that our conduct may be pure, and our course of life the best, and that it may not receive any stain even from the beginning. … For there is no pardon, no, none for him who does not do works of mercy.
John Chrysostom, The Homilies of St. John Chrysostom on the Epistle to the Hebrews 35
Hope also shuts out the assaults of all faults: for “all who hope in Him shall not fail.” … For faith is what makes us shun the stains of sin from fear of future judgment and punishment; hope is what withdraws our mind from present things, and despises all bodily pleasures from its expectation of heavenly rewards; love is what inflames us with keenness of heart for the love of Christ and the fruit of spiritual goodness, and makes us hate with a perfect hatred whatever is opposed to these.
John Cassian, The Conferences of John Cassian. Part II. Containing Conferences XI-XVII 2.6
The precepts that belong to the substance of the Law are those which relate to right conduct and are imposed on man already subject and ready to obey: wherefore when the Law was given these precepts were set forth from the very outset under form of a command. Yet the precepts of hope and faith were not to be given under the form of a command, since, unless man already believed and hoped, it would be useless to give him the Law: but, just as the precept of faith had to be given under the form of an announcement or reminder, as stated above ( Q[16], A[1] ), so too, the precept of hope, in the first promulgation of the Law, had to be given under the form of a promise. For he who promises rewards to them that obey him, by that very fact, urges them to hope: hence all the promises contained in the Law are incitements to hope.
Thomas Aquinas, Summa Theologica II-II.Q22.A1
There is no sharper prick to prick men forward, with all desire to lead a godly and holy life, than the hope of the last resurrection, as the Scripture teacheth in many places. … And surely an evil conscience is as good as a thousand witnesses to accuse men of blockishness, that they may gather for a certainty that they do not earnestly and thoroughly believe eternal life, after which they never long.
John Calvin, Commentary on the Acts of the Apostles, Vol. 2 24.2
Three things are here connected together, and seem in a manner to belong to the clause “serving the time;” for the person who accommodates himself best to the time, and avails himself of the opportunity of actively renewing his course, is he who derives his joy from the hope of future life, and patiently bears tribulations. However this may be, (for it matters not much whether you regard them as connected or separated,) he first; forbids us to acquiesce in present blessings, and to ground our joy on earth and on earthly things, as though our happiness were based on them; and he bids us to raise our minds up to heaven, that we may possess solid and full joy. If our joy is derived from the hope of future life, then patience will grow up in adversities; for no kind of sorrow will be able to overwhelm this joy. Hence these two things are closely connected together, that is, joy derived from hope, and patience in adversities.
John Calvin, Commentary on Romans 12.4
Many indeed imagine hope to be I know not what — a dead speculation; and hypocrites, when God spares them, go on securely and exult, but their confidence is mere ebriety, very different from hope. We must then remember what the Prophet says here, that they alone hope hi God who from the heart seek him, that is, who acknowledge how greatly they need the mercy of God, who go directly to him whenever any temptation harasses them, and who, when any danger threatens them, flee to his aid, and thus prove that they really hope in God.
John Calvin, Commentary on Jeremiah and Lamentations, Vol. 5 2.3.27
And every man that hath this hope He now draws this inference, that the desire for holiness should not grow cold in us, because our happiness has not as yet appeared, for that hope is sufficient; and we know that what is hoped for is as yet hid. The meaning then is, that though we have not Christ now present before our eyes, yet if we hope in him, it cannot be but that this hope will excite and stimulate us to follow purity, for it leads us straight to Christ, whom we know to be a perfect pattern of purity.
John Calvin, Commentary on the Catholic Epistles 1 John 3.1
All unholy persons, therefore, who feed and refresh themselves with hopes of heaven and eternity do it merely on false notions of God and blessedness, whereby they deceive themselves. Heaven is a place where as well they would not be as they cannot be; in itself it is neither desired by them nor fit for them. “He that hath this hope” indeed, that he shall see God, “purifieth himself, even as he is pure,” 1 John iii. 2, 3. There is, therefore, a manifold necessity of holiness impressed on us from the consideration of the nature of that God whom we serve and hope to enjoy, which is holy.
John Owen, Pneumatologia 5.1
We must make God our hope in the way of duty and then we shall have a comfortable subsistence in this world, v. 3 . (1.) It is required that we trust in the Lord and do good, that we confide in God and conform to him. The life of religion lies much in a believing reliance on God, his favour, his providence, his promise, his grace, and a diligent care to serve him and our generation, according to his will.
Matthew Henry, Commentary on Psalms 37.1
To keep our eye upon God's favour as our end: " Lord, I have hoped for thy salvation, not only temporal but eternal salvation. I have hoped for that as my happiness and laid up my treasure in it; I have hoped for it as thine, as a happiness of thy preparing, thy promising, and which consists in being with thee. … But those that sincerely endeavour to do his commandments ought to keep up a good hope of the salvation; and that hope will both engage and enlarge the heart in doing the commandments.
Matthew Henry, Commentary on Psalms 119.119
It would leave no hope beyond this world, and would frequently make his condition the worst in the world. Indeed, the Christian is by his religion crucified to this world, and taught to live upon the hope of another. Carnal pleasures are insipid to him in a great degree; and spiritual and heavenly pleasures are those which he affects and pants after. How sad is his case indeed, if he must be dead to worldly pleasures and yet never hope for any better!
Matthew Henry, Commentary on First Corinthians 15.2
We must make salvation our hope, and should have a lively hope of it. This good hope, through grace, of eternal life, will be as a helmet to defend the head, and hinder our being intoxicated with the pleasures of sin, which are but for a season. If we have hope of salvation, let us take heed of doing any thing that shall shake our hopes, or render us unworthy of or unfit for the great salvation we hope for.
Matthew Henry, Commentary on First Thessalonians 5.2
Practice is the proper evidence of a gracious hope: 1 John 3:3, "Every man that hath this hope in him, purifieth himself even as he is pure." Patient continuance in well-doing, through the difficulties and trials of the Christian course, is often mentioned as the proper expression and fruit of a Christian hope.
Jonathan Edwards, Religious Affections 3.12
What must we join with prayer in order to be grounded in the hope of salvation and blessedness? Our own exertions for the attainment of blessedness.
Philaret of Moscow, The Longer Catechism of the Orthodox, Catholic, Eastern Church q. 435–438
It is a faithful saying and worthy to be remembered by all believers, “He that hath this hope in Him purifieth himself, even as He is pure.” (1 John iii. 3.) A hope that does not purify is a mockery, a delusion, and a snare.“The true assurance of salvation which the Spirit of God hath wrought in any heart hath that force to restrain a man from looseness of life, and to knit his heart in love and obedience to God, as nothing else hath in all the world.
J.C. Ryle, Holiness 8
There are no taskmasters with whips to stand over the heart that responds to Christ and to His love. But hope and joy, as well as love, are the animating motives which make sacrifices easy, soften the yoke that is laid upon our shoulders, and turn labour into joy and delight. So, dear brethren, we have to set before us this great hope, that Jesus Christ is coming, and that, therefore, our labour on ourselves is sure not to be in vain.
Alexander Maclaren, Second Corinthians, Galatians, Philippians, Colossians, Thessalonians, and First Timothy 2.1.1
Let us then simply consider these two sorts of hope, the earthly and the heavenly, in their working in the three great realms of life, death, and eternity. … Its true sphere is the unseen future which is at God’s right hand. We may run a series of antitheses, e.g.— Earthly hope is so uncertain that its larger part is often fear. Heavenly hope is fixed and sure.
Alexander Maclaren, Second Kings from Chap. VIII, and Chronicles, Ezra, and Nehemiah, Esther, Job, Proverbs and Ecclesiastes 1.7.3
‘Every man who hath this hope in Him purifieth himself, even as He is pure.’ The result of the great promise of eternal life and of the hope that it kindles is meant to be that it shall purge our spirits from meanness, from sense, from undue dependence upon the miserable trivialities of to-day, that it shall emancipate us from slavery to the moment, and lead us into the liberty of the eternities, ‘while we look not at the things that are seen, but at the things which are not seen.’
Alexander Maclaren, Psalms 2.27
If such hope has any solidity in it, it will certainly detach us from the order of things in which we dwell. … In like manner, the pressure of the apparently solid realities of to-day, the growth of the ‘scientific’ temper of mind which confines knowledge to physical facts, the drift of tendency among religious people to regard Christianity mainly in its aspect of dealing with social questions and bringing present good, powerfully reinforce our natural sluggishness of Hope, and have brought it about that the average Christian of this day has fewer of his thoughts directed to the future life than his predecessors had, or than it is good for him to have.
Alexander Maclaren, Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus and Numbers 1.1.51
The more distinctly that a man is conscious of his own imperfection in the Christian life, the more he will be stung and stirred into earnestness and energy of effort, if only, side by side with the consciousness of imperfection, there springs triumphant the confidence of success. … We are saved by hope, and the more brightly there burns before us, not as a tremulous hope, but as a future certainty, the thought, 'I shall be like Him, for I shall see Him as He is,' the more shall I set my face to the loved goal and my feet to the dusty road, and 'press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God.' Christian progress comes out of the clash and collision of these two things, like that of flint and steel—the consciousness of imperfection and the confidence of success.
Alexander Maclaren, Second Corinthians, Galatians, Philippians, Colossians, Thessalonians, and First Timothy 1.3.21
‘To scorn delights and live laborious days,’ which is the prerogative of the man with a future, is always best. He is rather a beast than a man, who floats lazily on the warm, sunny wavelets as they lift him in their roll, and does not raise his head high enough above them to see and steer for the solid shore where they break. But only he has found the full, controlling, blessing, quickening power that lies in the thought of the future, and in life directed by it, to whom that future is all summed in the name of his Saviour. Whatever makes a man live in the past and in the future raises him; but high above all others stand those to whom the past is an apocalypse of God, with Calvary for its centre, and all the future is fellowship with Christ, and joy in the heavens. Having these hopes, it will be our own faults if we are not pure and gentle, calm in changes and sorrows, armed against frowning dangers, and proof against smiling temptations.
Alexander Maclaren, Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus and Numbers 1.1.50
It has been said that, while Paul represents faith and John love, Peter is the apostle of hope. This distinction, which may easily be misconstrued, nevertheless contains an element of truth. The basic idea of the Epistle is that the readers are begotten again unto a lively hope, the hope of an incorruptable, undefiled and unfading inheritance. This glorious expectation must be an incentive for them to strive after holiness in all the relations of life, and to bear patiently the reproach of Christ, mindful of the fact that He is their great prototype, and that suffering is the pre-requisite of everlasting glory.
Louis Berkhof, Introduction to the New Testament 27
I am with you (εγω μετα υμων). This is the amazing and blessed promise. … This blessed hope is not designed as a sedative to an inactive mind and complacent conscience, but an incentive to the fullest endeavor to press on to the farthest limits of the world that all the nations may know Christ and the power of his Risen Life.
A.T. Robertson, Word Pictures in the New Testament 2.28
10 passages · 8 writers · 100s to 1700s
Writers distinguish hope from faith and love, call it a theological virtue with God as its object, and discuss how the three relate and what remains in heaven.
The first step to salvation is the instruction accompanied with fear, in consequence of which we abstain from what is wrong; and the second is hope, by reason of which we desire the best things; but love, as is fitting, perfects, by training now according to knowledge.
Clement of Alexandria, The Stromata, or Miscellanies 4.6
These three things, therefore, “abide, faith, hope, charity:” because thou hast believed, thou hast hoped; because thou hast hoped, thou hast loved.…
Augustine of Hippo, Expositions on the Book of Psalms 116
Again, can anything be hoped for which is not an object of faith? It is true that a thing which is not an object of hope may be believed. … And the man who believes that punishment to be hanging over himself, and who shrinks in horror from the prospect, is more properly said to fear than to hope.
Augustine of Hippo, The Enchiridion 8
Since, then, the very idea of a theological virtue is one that has God for its object, as stated above ( FS, Q[62], A[1] ), it is evident that hope is a theological virtue. Reply to Objection 1: Whatever else hope expects to obtain, it hopes for it in reference to God as the last end, or as the first efficient cause, as stated above (A[4]) .
Thomas Aquinas, Summa Theologica II-II.Q17.A5
Now faith begets hope, in so far as it enables us to appreciate the prize which God awards to the just, while it is the cause of fear, in so far as it makes us appreciate the punishments which He intends to inflict on sinners.
Thomas Aquinas, Summa Theologica II-II.Q7.A1
The Apostle is not satisfied to say “justified by faith.” He adds hope to faith.
Martin Luther, Commentary on Galatians 5:5
Faith believes that he is our Father; hope expects that he will always act the part of a Father towards us. Faith believes that eternal life has been given to us; hope expects that it will one day be revealed. Faith is the foundation on which hope rests; hope nourishes and sustains faith.
John Calvin, Institutes of the Christian Religion III.2
Faith believes the revelations of God, hope expects his promises, and charity loves his excellencies and mercies. Faith gives us understanding to God, hope gives up all the passions and affections to heaven and heavenly things, and charity gives the will to the service of God. Faith is opposed to infidelity, hope to despair, charity to enmity and hostility; and these three sanctify the whole man, and make our duty to God and obedience to his commandments to be chosen, reasonable, and delightful, and therefore to be entire, persevering, and universal.
Jeremy Taylor, Holy Living 5.1
It is acknowledged that one of the principal graces of a Christian is hope ( 1 Cor. xiii. 13 ), which necessarily implies a good thing to come, which is the object of that hope. Faith respects the promise, hope the thing promised. Faith is the evidence, hope the expectation, of things not seen. Faith is the mother of hope.
Matthew Henry, Commentary on Romans 8.3
Faith, hope, love - Are the sum of perfection on earth; love alone is the sum of perfection in heaven.
John Wesley, Notes on the Bible 7.13
9 passages · 8 writers · 100s to 1900s
Writers ground hope in the resurrection of Christ, expect the resurrection of the body and life after death, and apply that hope to grief and the fear of death.
Let us see, then, first of all in what title this hope of ours is held out to our view. There is, I imagine, one divine edict which is exposed to the gaze of all men: it is “The Resurrection of the Dead.”
Tertullian, On the Resurrection of the Flesh 18
For He gained life for us by overcoming death. No hope, therefore, of gaining immortality is given to man, unless he shall believe on Him, and shall take up that cross to be borne and endured.
Lactantius, The Divine Institutes 4.19
If the hope of Christians is limited to this life, it might rightly have been reckoned a bitter lot to be prematurely parted from the body; but if, to them that love God, the sundering of the soul from these bodily fetters is the beginning of our real life, why do we grieve like them which have no hope? Be comforted then, and do not fall under your troubles, but show that you are superior to them and can rise above them.
Basil of Caesarea, The Letters 101
Hope therefore for thine uplifting after thy death: have hope in the resurrection of the dead, because He rose again and ascended.
Augustine of Hippo, Expositions on the Book of Psalms 127
But thou, who art travelling toward better things, and hast the opportunity of meditating on the hope of the future; what excuse hast thou, if whilst assured of a resurrection, thou are yet at the same time as fearful of death, as those who believe not the resurrection?
John Chrysostom, The Homilies on the Statues to the People of Antioch 7
The hope of a resurrection, accordingly, he shows to be so necessary, that, if it is taken away, the whole gospel falls to pieces.
John Calvin, Commentary on Corinthians, Vol. 1 5
of the hope and resurrection of the dead—that is, not the vague hope of immortality, but the definite expectation of the resurrection.
Robert Jamieson, A.R. Fausset, and David Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible Acts 23
Scripture rests the hope of a future life, not on the inherent immortality of the soul, but on the restoration of the body with the soul.
Robert Jamieson, A.R. Fausset, and David Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible Job 14
Christ’s resurrection as a fact bears on the belief in a future state as nothing else can. It changes hope into certainty. … It changes shadowy hopes of continuous life into a solid certainty of resurrection life. The former is vague and powerless.
Alexander Maclaren, St John Chaps. XV to XXI 1.35
9 passages · 8 writers · 300s to 1700s
Writers set despair and presumption against hope, distinguish true hope from false, and ground the hope of sinners in God's mercy.
For do not despair of thyself, O man, in going to God, who has not spared even His Son for thee. … So that thou oughtest to hope for all things kind.
John Chrysostom, Homilies on First Thessalonians 9
For the reason why the devil plunges us into thoughts of despair is that he may cut off the hope which is towards God, the safe anchor, the foundation of our life, the guide of the way which leads to heaven, the salvation of perishing souls. “For by hope” it is said, “we are saved.” For this assuredly it is which, like some strong cord suspended from the heavens, supports our souls, gradually drawing towards that world on high those who cling firmly to it, and lifting them above the tempest of the evils of this life.
John Chrysostom, An Exhortation to Theodore After His Fall 3
Understand, beloved, this Psalm, which I am about to explain, by the grace of God, of our hope in the Lord Jesus Christ, and be of good cheer, because He who promised, will fulfil all, as He has fulfilled much: for it is not our own merit, but His mercy, that gives us confidence in Him. … No man in this world is strong, except in the hope of God’s promises: for as to our own deservings, we are weak, in His mercy we are strong.
Augustine of Hippo, Expositions on the Book of Psalms 89
Having therefore before our eyes the price of our redemption, that is, the death and blood of our Redeemer, which was shed for the remission of our sins; having also the example of the robber, and of many compassed about by many and great sins, whom the Fountain of Pity, Jesus Christ, in His mercy loosed from them, let us not despair, but run to the Fountain of Pity Himself, in sure and certain hope of obtaining the forgiveness of our sins there, where we see and acknowledge so many and so great sinners to have been washed clean, and let us assure ourselves that we in like manner may be washed clean by the same Fountain of Mercy, if we abstain from our sins and wickedness and, so far as we may, strive hereafter to do good.
Anselm of Canterbury, The Devotions of Saint Anselm 5
But the reason for restraining presumptuous hope which pertains to humility is not the same as the reason for strengthening the soul against despair. Because the reason for strengthening the soul against despair is the acquisition of one's proper good lest man, by despair, render himself unworthy of a good which was competent to him; while the chief reason for suppressing presumptuous hope is based on divine reverence, which shows that man ought not to ascribe to himself more than is competent to him according to the position in which God has placed him.
Thomas Aquinas, Summa Theologica II-II.Q161.A2
“And I tell you that so great is that shame and confusion that unless in their life they have taken the habit of hoping in My mercy, that is, have taken the milk of mercy (although on account of their sins this is great presumption, for you cannot truly say that he who strikes Me with the arm of My mercy has a hope in mercy, but rather has presumption), there is not one who would not despair, and with despair they would arrive with the Devil in eternal damnation.
Catherine of Siena, The Dialogue 4.31
As God then is so gracious, that he reserves not wrath for ever, but that it is only for a time, we ought to entertain hope; and corresponding with this is what is said in the Psalms, “A moment is he in his wrath; and life is in his goodness and mercy,” ( Psalm 30:5 ;) as though he had said, that God’s wrath soon passes away, provided we repent, but that he shews his mercy through all ages; for this is what is meant by the word “life.”
John Calvin, Commentary on Jeremiah and Lamentations, Vol. 1 3.12
Ignorance: It comforts me in hopes of heaven. Christian: That may be through its deceitfulness; for a man’s heart may minister comfort to him in the hopes of that thing for which he has yet no ground to hope.
John Bunyan, The Pilgrim's Progress 10
Our fear must save our hope from swelling into presumption, and our hope must save our fear from sinking into despair; thus must we take our work before us. [2.] We must hope in God's mercy, his general mercy, even when we cannot find a particular promise to stay ourselves upon.
Matthew Henry, Commentary on Psalms 147.1
9 passages · 9 writers · 300s to 1900s
Writers differ on whether hope carries certainty of salvation, some calling it assured and sure, others holding it firm but not a guarantee of final perseverance.
Evidently what we obtain in the washing of regeneration is not the salvation itself, but the hope of it. And yet, because this hope is certain, we are said to be saved, as if the salvation were already bestowed. Elsewhere it is said explicitly: "We groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, even the redemption of our body. For we are saved by hope.
Augustine of Hippo, Reply to Faustus the Manichæan 13
For He willeth that we be as assured in hope of the bliss of heaven while we are here, as we shall be in sureness while we are there. And ever the more pleasance and joy that we take in this sureness, with reverence and meekness, the better pleaseth Him, as it was shewed. This reverence that I mean is a holy courteous dread of our Lord, to which meekness is united: and that is, that a creature seeth the Lord marvellous great, and itself marvellous little. For these virtues are had endlessly by the loved of God, and this may now be seen and felt in measure through the gracious presence of our Lord when it is [seen]: which presence in all things is most desired, for it worketh marvellous assuredness in true faith, and sure hope, by greatness of charity, in dread that is sweet and delectable.
Julian of Norwich, Revelations of Divine Love 17.2
Labor a little now, and soon you shall find great rest, in truth, eternal joy; for if you continue faithful and diligent in doing, God will undoubtedly be faithful and generous in rewarding. Continue to have reasonable hope of gaining salvation, but do not act as though you were certain of it lest you grow indolent and proud.
Thomas à Kempis, The Imitation of Christ 1.25
Heirs according to the hope of eternal life This clause is added by way of exposition. He had said that we have been saved through the mercy of God. But our salvation is as yet hidden; and therefore he now says that we are heirs of life, not because we have arrived at the present possession of it, but because hope brings to us full and complete certainly of it.
John Calvin, Commentary on Timothy, Titus, and Philemon Titus 3.2
So also as regards the gift of perseverance, of which it is written, He that shall persevere to the end, he shall be saved; —which gift can not be derived from any other but Him, who is able to establish him who standeth that he stand perseveringly, and to restore him who falleth:—let no one herein promise himself any thing as certain with an absolute certainty; though all ought to place and repose a most firm hope in God's help.
Council of Trent, Canons and Dogmatic Decrees of the Council of Trent Session 6, ch. XIII
Although hypocrites and other unregenerate men may vainly deceive themselves with false hopes and carnal presumptions of being in the favor of God, and estate of salvation (which hope of theirs shall perish): yet such as truly believe in the Lord Jesus, and love him in sincerity, endeavoring to walk in all good conscience before him, may, in this life, be certainly assured that they are in the state of grace, and may rejoice in the hope of the glory of God, which hope shall never make them ashamed.
Westminster Assembly, Westminster Confession of Faith 18.1
The armour for this is the hope of salvation. The lowest degree of this hope is a confidence that God will work the whole work of faith in us; the highest is a full assurance of future glory, added to the experimental knowledge of pardoning love.
John Wesley, Notes on the Bible 10.6
At the same time, Scripture and experience teach that assurance is not only attainable, but a privilege and a duty. … They look too exclusively within, so that their hope is graduated by the degree of evidence of regeneration which they find in their own experience. … The grounds of assurance are not so much within, as without us.
Charles Hodge, Systematic Theology III.16.8
A consistent Arminian, with his doctrines of free will and of falling from grace, can never in this life be certain of his eternal salvation. He may, indeed, have the assurance of his present salvation, but he can have only a hope of his final salvation. He may regard his final salvation as highly probable, but he cannot know it as a certainty.
Loraine Boettner, The Reformed Doctrine of Predestination 26
9 passages · 9 writers · 200s to 1900s
Writers describe hope as what sustains patience, endurance, and quiet waiting in tribulation and affliction.
We must endure and persevere, beloved brethren, in order that, being admitted to the hope of truth and liberty, we may attain to the truth and liberty itself; for that very fact that we are Christians is the substance of faith and hope. But that hope and faith may attain to their result, there is need of patience.
Cyprian of Carthage, The Treatises of Cyprian 9
Expect tribulation after tribulation, hope upon hope; yet a little while; yet a little while. Thus the Holy Ghost knows how to comfort His nurslings by a promise of the future. After tribulations comes hope, and what we are hoping for is not far off, for let a man name the whole of human life, it is but a tiny interval compared with the endless age which is laid up in our hopes.
Basil of Caesarea, The Letters 140
In the mean while dwell in hope: for “hope that is seen is not hope; but if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it.”
Augustine of Hippo, Expositions on the Book of Psalms 42
Hope (he means) carries us through: it recovers us again. Be not wearied out, do not despair, lest your hope be in vain. For he that worketh good hopeth also good, and never despairs of himself.
John Chrysostom, The Homilies of St. John Chrysostom on the Epistle to the Hebrews 14
Hope is a soldier. It fights against tribulations, the Cross, despondency, despair, and waits for better things to come in the midst of evil. … By faith we begin, by hope we continue.
Martin Luther, Commentary on Galatians 5:5
It is necessary in this world that the faithful should, as to outward things, be miserable, at one time exposed to want, at another subject to various dangers — at; one time exposed to reproaches and calumnies, at another harassed by losses: why so? because there would be no occasion for exercising hope, were our salvation complete. This is the very thing which the Prophet now teaches us, when he declares that it is good for us to learn in silence to wait for the salvation of God.
John Calvin, Commentary on Jeremiah and Lamentations, Vol. 5 2.3.28
We are saved by hope. This grace is compared to the soldier's helmet and sailor's anchor, and is of great use in times of danger. Wherever there is a well-grounded hope of eternal life, it will appear by the exercise of patience; in a patient bearing of the calamities of the present time and a patient waiting for the glory to be revealed.
Matthew Henry, Commentary on First Thessalonians 1.2
The Christian hope comes from being ‘justified by faith, having peace with God . . . and access into grace,’ and it comes from tribulation, which ‘worketh patience,’ and patience which ‘worketh approval.’
Alexander Maclaren, Romans and Corinthians 1.10
It is true that there is a state of hope which belongs to bright prospects and the morning; but that is not the virtue of hope. The virtue of hope exists only in earthquake and eclipse. … For practical purposes it is at the hopeless moment that we require the hopeful man, and the virtue either does not exist at all, or begins to exist at that moment.
G.K. Chesterton, Heretics 13
10 passages · 9 writers · 300s to 1900s
Writers use the images of an anchor, a helmet, and a refuge for what hope does for the believer.
They now ride safe themselves at the anchor of a good hope, far out of reach of the tumult of the billows; and for others who will follow they radiate the splendour of their lives as beacon-fires on some high watch-tower. We have indeed a mark to guide us safely over the ocean of temptations; and why make the too curious inquiry, whether some with such thoughts as these have not fallen nevertheless, and why therefore despair, as if the achievement was beyond your reach? Look on him who has succeeded, and boldly launch upon the voyage with confidence that it will be prosperous, and sail on under the breeze of the Holy Spirit with Christ your pilot and with the oarage of good cheer .
Gregory of Nyssa, On Virginity 2.25
“And for a helmet the hope of salvation.” For as the helmet guards the vital part in us, surrounding the head and covering it on every side, so also this hope does not suffer the reason to falter, but sets it upright as the head, not permitting anything from without to fall upon it.
John Chrysostom, Homilies on First Thessalonians 9
With Him is not iniquity: do thou only belong to Him; on Himself thy hope set thou, let Himself be thy Helper, thy Salvation: in Him be there the fortified place, the tower of strength, thy refuge let Himself be, and He will not suffer thee to be tempted above that which thou art able to bear, but will make with the temptation also an escape, that thou mayest be able to support it: so that His suffering thee to bear temptation, be His power; His suffering not any more on thee to be done than thou art able to bear, be His mercy: “for power is of God, and to Thee, O Lord, is mercy, because Thou wilt render to each one after his works.”
Augustine of Hippo, Expositions on the Book of Psalms 62
“And for an helmet the hope of salvation.” The helmet is what protects the head. As then Christ is our head, we ought always in all temptations and persecutions to protect it with the hope of future good things to come, and especially to keep faith in Him whole and undefiled.
John Cassian, The Conferences of John Cassian. Part I. Containing Conferences I-X 8.5
In a passage already quoted, ( 1 Thessalonians 5:8 ,) “the hope of salvation” is said to be a helmet, which I consider to be in the same sense as this passage. The head is protected by the best helmet, when, elevated by hope, we look up towards heaven to that salvation which is promised. It is only therefore by becoming the object of hope that salvation is a helmet.
John Calvin, Commentary on Galatians and Ephesians Ephesians 6.4
When those that fear God walk in darkness, and have no light, yet let them not say, The Lord has forsaken us, or, Our God has forgotten us; but let them do as these mariners did, cast anchor, and wish for the day, and be assured that the day will dawn. Hope is an anchor of the soul, sure and stedfast, entering into that within the veil. Hold fast by that, think not of putting to sea again, but abide by Christ, and wait till the day break, and the shadows flee away.
Matthew Henry, Commentary on Acts 27.3
The meaning here is, that Jesus went first into the heavenly sanctuary. He led the way. He has gone there on our account, to prepare a place for us; Joh 14:3. Having such a friend and advocate there, we should be firm in the hope of eternal life, and amidst the storms and tempests around us, we should be calm.
Albert Barnes, Notes on the Bible Hebrews 6:20
Make sure that you have fled for ‘Refuge to the hope set before you in the Gospel.’ … Take Christ for your hiding-place by simple faith in Him and loving obedience born of faith, and then the experience of our Psalmist will be yours. Your life will not want for deliverances which will thrill your heart with thankfulness, and turn the truth of faith into a truth of experience.
Alexander Maclaren, Psalms 1.36
What would life be without this blessed hope based on Christ as our Redeemer? As an anchor of the soul (ως αγκυραν της ψυχης). Old word, literally in Ac 27:29 , figuratively here, only N.T. examples. The ancient anchors were much like the modern ones with iron hooks to grapple the rocks and so hold on to prevent shipwreck (1Ti 1:19 ).
A.T. Robertson, Word Pictures in the New Testament 20.6
Both sure and steadfast (ασφαλη τε κα βεβαιαν). This anchor of hope will not slip (alpha privative and σφαλλω, to totter) or lose its grip (βεβαια, from βαινω, to go, firm, trusty). … The anchor is out of sight, but it holds. That is what matters.
A.T. Robertson, Word Pictures in the New Testament 20.6
13 passages · 11 writers · 300s to 1900s
Writers say hope should rest on God, and not on people, wealth, or oneself.
Rather I should say, hope in God is the strongest of all things. For it is not from unreasonable desire, but from strength of faith, that I expect a way out, even from the greatest difficulties, and that you will find a way to get over all hindrances, and to come to see the Church that loves you best of all, and to be seen by her.
Basil of Caesarea, The Letters 145
And you, O widow, find those who will pray for you, if as a true widow and desolate you hope in God, continue instant in supplications, persist in prayers, treat your body as dying daily, that by dying you may live again; avoid pleasures, that you, too, being sick, may be healed.
Ambrose of Milan, Concerning Widows 10
How was it that he “believed in hope against hope?” It was against man’s hope, in hope which is of God. (For he is showing the loftiness of the action, and leaving no room for disbelieving what is said.) Things which are contrary to one another, yet faith blends them together.
John Chrysostom, The Homilies of St. John Chrysostom on Paul's Epistle to the Romans 10
Fix your hope in God, desire the things eternal, wait for the things eternal. … We cannot but exhort you, that ye may have something to say and answer in defence of your hope against the deriders and blasphemers of the Christian name.
Augustine of Hippo, Sermons on Selected Lessons of the New Testament 57
O Lord our God, under the shadow of Thy wings let us hope, defend us, and carry us. Thou wilt carry us both when little, and even to grey hairs wilt Thou carry us; for our firmness, when it is Thou, then is it firmness; but when it is our own, then it is infirmity.
Augustine of Hippo, The Confessions 4.16.2
Be Thou our exultation, for Thou art our hope, our salvation, and our redemption. Be Thou our joy, for Thou wilt be our prize.
Anselm of Canterbury, Meditations and Prayers 2.14
How often have I failed to find faithfulness in places where I thought I possessed it! And how many times I have found it where I least expected it! Vain, therefore, is hope in men, but the salvation of the just is in You, O God.
Thomas à Kempis, The Imitation of Christ 3.45
Likewise whatever I shall begin, I will begin it in the name of the Lord, and in the matter I will put my hope in the Lord that He will direct me therein to the way of my salvation; put not any trust in the divining of fate, or in reading the stars, but hope only in God, and in prayer; in good angels and their protection. … “Blessed is the man whose hope is in God”; “Cast therefore all thy care upon Him, for He careth for thee!”
Thomas à Kempis, The Founders of the New Devotion 2.19
The widow who is really in need and left all alone puts her hope in God and continues night and day to pray and to ask God for help. But the widow who lives for pleasure is dead even while she lives.
Martin Luther, Luther's Small Catechism 50
He who confesses that there is nothing solid or stable on the earth, and yet firmly retains his hope in God, undoubtedly contemplates a happiness reserved for him elsewhere. To this contemplation he is wont to invite believers whenever he would have them to be truly comforted.
John Calvin, Institutes of the Christian Religion II.10
The pillar and ground of truth, the great fundamental doctrine of the Gospel, is often elsewhere declared to be the doctrine of the manifestation of God in the flesh. On this doctrine all our hopes of salvation rest.
Charles Hodge, Systematic Theology I.7.3
The reason why "we both ('both' is omitted in the oldest manuscripts) labor (endure hardship) and suffer reproach (some oldest manuscripts read 'strive') is because we have rested, and do rest our hope, on the living (and therefore, life-giving, 1Ti 4:8) God."
Robert Jamieson, A.R. Fausset, and David Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible First Timothy 4
It will not do for us to make excuses for ourselves: God is the God of hope! His yearning is to fill you and me with all joy and peace, if we will just launch out and believe. … All the more, then, may the God of hope fill YOU with all joy and peace in believing, that YOU may abound in hope!
William R. Newell, Romans Verse-by-Verse 15
10 passages · 8 writers · 300s to 1900s
Writers name Christ as the hope of believers and rest hope on him, on his mediation, or on union with him.
Come forward, ye philosophers, and tell us what god or hero has yet been known to fame, who has delivered the doctrines of eternal life and a heavenly kingdom as he has done who is our Saviour? Who, like him, has persuaded multitudes throughout the world to pursue the principles of Divine wisdom, to fix their hope on heaven itself, and look forward to the mansions there reserved for them that love God?
Eusebius of Caesarea, The Life of Constantine with Orations of Constantine and Eusebius 8.18
In the which orison the priest inciteth us to have mind of the passion of our Lord Jesu Christ, of his resurrection, and of his glorious ascension, to the end that, by his passion we be incited to charity, by his holy resurrection we be incited to faith, and by his glorious ascension to hope of our health; for his passion showeth to us charity, for this, that by his charity he would suffer death for us. And therefore the priest, in that orison, he maketh five times the sign of the cross, in the memory and mind of the five wounds that our Lord received on the cross, and there that time every creature ought to set his heart to think on the passion of Christ. And thus doing, the creature shall acquire very faith by the knowledge of the holy resurrection, and very hope by his glorious ascension.
Jacobus de Voragine, The Golden Legend 35
Nevertheless, our neglect and coldness is much to be deplored and pitied, when we are not moved to receive with greater fervor Christ in Whom is the hope and merit of all who will be saved. He is our sanctification and redemption. He is our consolation in this life and the eternal joy of the blessed in heaven.
Thomas à Kempis, The Imitation of Christ 4.1
Behold, all that I can or ought to desire is in You. You are my salvation and my redemption, my hope and strength, my honor and glory.
Thomas à Kempis, The Imitation of Christ 4.3
Christ alone can supply us with perfect righteousness. Therefore we must always believe and always hope in Christ. “Whosoever believeth shall not be ashamed” (Rom. 9:33). Do not despair if you feel the flesh battling against the Spirit or if you cannot make it behave.
Martin Luther, Commentary on Galatians 5:17
It is as if we had been brought from the deepest hell to heaven itself. And certainly, although, as respects ourselves, our salvation is still the object of hope, yet in Christ we already possess a blessed immortality and glory; and therefore, he adds, in Christ Jesus . … Of everything which we now want, we have a sure pledge and foretaste in the person of Christ.
John Calvin, Commentary on Galatians and Ephesians Ephesians 2.2
But twice in this prophecy is the calling of the Gentiles confirmed, — by the expression, that Christ was to be raised up as a sign, and he reigns among the faithful alone, — and by the declaration, that they shall hope in Christ, which cannot take place without the preaching of the word and illumination of the Spirit. With these things corresponds the song of Simeon. It may be further added, that hope in Christ is an evidence of his divinity.
John Calvin, Commentary on Romans 15.3
How vain it is to expect much from the enjoyments of life: " Thou destroyest the hope of man, " that is, "puttest an end to all the projects he had framed and all the prospects of satisfaction he had flattered himself with." Death will be the destruction of all those hopes which are built upon worldly confidences and confined to worldly comforts. Hope in Christ, and hope in heaven, death will consummate and not destroy.
Matthew Henry, Commentary on Job 14.3
We may learn the importance of building our hopes of heaven on a firm foundation, Mat 7:24-27. No other foundation can any man lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ, Co1 3:11. He is the tried Corner Stone, Pe1 2:6; Eph 2:20. On an edifice raised on that foundation the storms of persecution and calamity will beat in vain.
Albert Barnes, Notes on the Bible Matthew 7:28
The emblem of the vine and the branches, and the other emblem of the house and its inhabitants, and the other of the head and the members, all point to this one same thing which shallow and unspiritual men call ‘mystical,’ but which is the very heart of the Christian prerogative and the anchor of the Christian hope. Christ in us is our present righteousness and our hope of a future glory.
Alexander Maclaren, St John Chaps. I to XIV 1.68
12 passages · 12 writers · 200s to 1900s
Writers speak of hope as looking to eternal life, heaven, glory, and the believer's inheritance.
Wherefore, beloved brethren, with a firm faith, with a robust devotion, with a virtue opposed to the fierce threatenings of the world, and the savage murmurs of the attending crowds, we must resist and not fear, seeing that ours is the hope of eternity and heavenly life, and that our ardour is inflamed with the longing for the light, and our salvation rejoices in the promise of immortality.
Cyprian of Carthage, Treatises Attributed to Cyprian on Questionable Authority 3
The Priest prays, saying : — O Sovereign giver of life, and provider of good things, who didst give to mankind the blessed hope of eternal life, our Lord Jesus Christ , count us worthy in holiness, and perfect this Thy divine service to the enjoyment of future blessedness.
Anonymous (ANF), Early Liturgies 2
How much the more then ought we to raise our hopes to the kingdom of God, where will be newness of life, and where will be a change of grace not of age!
Ambrose of Milan, Selections from the Letters of St. Ambrose 15
For by mentioning grace he clearly points at what we have at present received, but by saying, “And we rejoice in hope of the glory of God,” he unveils the whole of things to come. And he had well said, “wherein also we stand.” For this is the nature of God’s grace.
John Chrysostom, The Homilies of St. John Chrysostom on Paul's Epistle to the Romans 11
In this world, then, we celebrate, as it were, the forty days’ abstinence, when we live aright, and abstain from iniquities and from unlawful pleasures. But because this abstinence shall not be without reward, we look for “that blessed hope, and the revelation of the glory of the great God, and of our Saviour Jesus Christ.” In that hope, when the reality of the hope shall have come to pass, we shall receive our wages, a penny (denarius) .
Augustine of Hippo, Lectures or Tractates on the Gospel According to St. John 18
Thou hast caused me to be called after Thy Name, a Christian; the Name by which I make confession of Thee, and Thou too dost own me among Thy redeemed; Thou hast lifted me up, moreover, and raised me to the knowledge and the love of Thee; Thou hast made me have good hope for the salvation of my soul, my soul for which Thou gavest Thine, and, only that I follow Thee, hast promised me Thy glory. And lo, although not yet I follow Thee as Thou hast counselled nay, rather, have committed many sins which Thou hast forbidden still Thou dost wait, dost wait that I may follow Thee, dost wait to give what Thou hast promised.
Anselm of Canterbury, Meditations and Prayers 2.11
Ye rejoice, or, Ye exult . He again refers to the fruit of faith which he had mentioned, and not without reason; for it is an incomparable benefit, that consciences are not only at peace before God, but confidently exult in the hope of eternal life.
John Calvin, Commentary on the Catholic Epistles 1 Peter 1.3
In a conversation some days since with a person of piety, he told me the spiritual life was a life of grace, which begins with servile fear, which is increased by hope of eternal life, and which is consummated by pure love; that each of these states had its different stages, by which one arrives at last at that blessed consummation.
Brother Lawrence, The Practice of the Presence of God 7
"Let the dead bury their dead." But the heirs of glory, and children of the King of kings, should be men of a different stamp. They should declare plainly, by their conduct, that the world to come is the great reality which fills their thoughts. They should not be ashamed to let men see that they have no time either to rejoice or to sorrow like others who have no hope. (1 Thess. 4:13.) Their Master's work waits for them, and their Master's work must have the chief place in their hearts.
J.C. Ryle, Expository Thoughts on Luke Luke 9:57-62
But the inheritance which my text speaks about is also that which a Christian hopes to receive and enter upon in heaven. The same principle precisely applies there. There is no inheritance of heaven without sonship; because all the blessings of that future life are of a spiritual character.
Alexander Maclaren, Romans and Corinthians 1.18
The exhortation is that we keep on enjoying peace with God and keep on exulting in hope of the glory of God. But let us also rejoice in our tribulations (αλλα κα καυχωμεθα εν ταις θλιψεσιν).
A.T. Robertson, Word Pictures in the New Testament 7.5
Romans 5:1,2 teaches us that justification by faith brings not only peace with God, but also access to God and joy in the hope of glory.
Louis Berkhof, Systematic Theology 4.9
9 passages · 7 writers · 200s to 1900s
Writers identify the blessed hope with the appearing or coming of Christ.
These things, then, I have set shortly before thee, O Theophilus, drawing them from Scripture itself , in order that, maintaining in faith what is written, and anticipating the things that are to be, thou mayest keep thyself void of offence both toward God and toward men, “looking for that blessed hope and appearing of our God and Saviour,” when, having raised the saints among us, He will rejoice with them, glorifying the Father.
Hippolytus of Rome, The Extant Works and Fragments of Hippolytus 2.1
Since if He were never to punish those who still do amiss, this would not be so much grace, as encouragement to evil and wickedness. “For the grace of God,” he says, “hath appeared, teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present world; looking for the blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ.” … He speaks here of two appearings; for there are two; the first of grace, the second of retribution and justice.
John Chrysostom, Homilies on Titus 5
It is also worthy of notice, that he uses the expression waiting for Christ , instead of the hope of everlasting salvation. For, unquestionably, without Christ we are ruined and thrown into despair, but when Christ shews himself, life and prosperity do at the same time shine forth upon us.
John Calvin, Commentary on Philippians, Colossians, and Thessalonians 1 Thessalonians 1.4
In the meantime, he bids us to correct the softness of the heart, which weakens us, so as not to persevere in hope. And doubtless the time appears long, because we are too tender and delicate. We ought, then, to gather strength that we may become hardened and this cannot be better attained than by hope, and as it were by a realizing view of the near approach of our Lord.
John Calvin, Commentary on the Catholic Epistles James 5.2
The advent itself, not the millennium, is prominently presented in the New Testament as ‘the blessed hope’ of the Church, and is uniformly referred to as an event near at hand, ever imminent, to be ‘looked for’ with longing expectation. (4.) The Saviour’s repeated command to ‘watch’ for his coming, because we ‘know not the hour,’ is inconsistent with the idea of a millennium intervening.
Charles Hodge, Systematic Theology IV.4.5
God is ‘the God of patience,’ and He has waited for millenniums for the establishment of His kingdom on earth; His ‘own elect’ may learn long-suffering from Him, and need to take to heart the old exhortation, ‘If the vision tarry, wait for it, for it will surely come, and will not tarry.’ Yes, God’s delays are not delays, but are for our profit that we may always pray and not faint, and may keep alight the flame of the sure hope that the Son of man cometh, and that in His coming all adversaries shall be destroyed, and the widow, no longer a widow, but the bride, go in to the feast and forget her foes, and ‘the days of her mourning be ended.’
Alexander Maclaren, Luke 2.17
Paul never sets the time for the Lord's return, but he is cheered by that blessed hope.
A.T. Robertson, Word Pictures in the New Testament 12.1
The blessed hope and appearing of the glory (την μακαριαν ελπιδα κα επιφανειαν της δοξης). The word επιφανεια (used by the Greeks of the appearance of the gods, from επιφανησ, επιφαινω) occurs in 2Ti 1:10 of the Incarnation of Christ, the first Epiphany (like the verb επεφανη, Tit 2:11 ), but here of the second Epiphany of Christ or the second coming as in 1Ti 6:14; 2Ti 4:1,8 .
A.T. Robertson, Word Pictures in the New Testament 18.2
The question of rewards for work for our Lord will indeed come up at His judgment seat—bēma (II Cor. 5:10); but it is after the Church is caught up that this judgment occurs, when Christ comes, “apart from sin, to them that wait for Him.” Blessed hope!
William R. Newell, Romans Verse-by-Verse 8
11 passages · 10 writers · 200s to 1800s
Writers say hope of the resurrection moderates grief and the fear of death for believers.
Death assuredly makes life more complete, death finds the glory that was lost. For in this the hope once lost is regained, in this all salvation is restored.
Cyprian of Carthage, Treatises Attributed to Cyprian on Questionable Authority 3
But whither am I going, in my immoderate grief, forgetful of my duty, mindful of kindness received? The Apostle calls me back, and as it were puts a bit upon my sorrow, saying, as you heard just now: “We would not that ye should be ignorant, brethren, concerning them that sleep, that ye be not sorrowful, as the rest which have no hope.”
Ambrose of Milan, On the Decease of His Brother Satyrus 2
“Moreover too My flesh shall rest in hope.” Moreover too My flesh shall not fail unto destruction, but shall sleep in hope of the resurrection.
Augustine of Hippo, Expositions on the Book of Psalms 16
Wherefore also Paul says, “But concerning them which are asleep, I would not have you ignorant, that ye sorrow not even as the rest who have no hope.” ( 1 Thess. iv. 13 .) He wrote not this to solitaries, nor to perpetual virgins, but to women and men in the world. … For those who are indeed worthy of being grieved for, are these who still fear and shudder at death, who have no faith in the resurrection.
John Chrysostom, The Homilies of St. John Chrysostom on the Epistle to the Hebrews 8
We have been distinctly taught the hopes of the resurrection, and we look for the time when the dead shall live again. We know how the Lord many times called death sleep. If we trust, as in truth we do, the Saviour’s words, we are bound not to mourn those that have fallen asleep, even though their sleep lasts somewhat longer than it is wont. We must await the resurrection.
Theodoret of Cyrrhus, The Ecclesiastical History, Dialogues, and Letters of Theodoret 10.137
He does not, however, forbid us altogether to mourn, but requires moderation in our mourning, for he says, that ye may not sorrow, as others who have no hope . He forbids them to grieve in the manner of unbelievers, who give loose reins to their grief, because they look upon death as final destruction, and imagine that everything that is taken out of the world perishes. As, on the other hand, believers know that they quit the world, that they may be at last gathered into the kingdom of God, they have not the like occasion of grief. Hence the knowledge of a resurrection is the means of moderating grief.
John Calvin, Commentary on Philippians, Colossians, and Thessalonians 1 Thessalonians 4.4
I have no doubt, that the custom of anointing the dead, which they had borrowed from the Fathers, was applied by them to its proper object, which was, to draw consolation, amidst the mourning of death, from the hope of the life to come. I readily acknowledge that they sinned in not immediately raising their minds to that prediction which they had heard from the lips of their Master, when he foretold that he would rise again on the third day. But as they retain the general principle of the final resurrection, that defect is forgiven, which would justly have vitiated, as the phrase is, the whole of the action.
John Calvin, Harmony of the Evangelists, Vol. 3 1.45
Note, Those may leave this world with a great deal of cheerfulness that die in the faith of Christ, and in the hope of heaven, and with Canaan in their eye.
Matthew Henry, Commentary on Deuteronomy 34.1
These words of Jacob furnish us with comfort in reference to the death of our friends: But God shall be with us, and his gracious presence is sufficient to make up the loss. They leave us, but he will never fail us. He will bring us to the land of our fathers, the heavenly Canaan, whither our godly fathers are gone before us. If God be with us while we stay behind in this world, and will receive us shortly to be with them that are gone before to a better world, we ought not to sorrow as those that have no hope.
John Wesley, Notes on the Bible 28.48
We must not sorrow for them as those who have no hope. While we are sorrowing they are rejoicing. While we are putting on our mourning, and weeping at their funerals, they are safe and happy with their Lord.
J.C. Ryle, Expository Thoughts on Luke Luke 23:39-43
Wherever the resurrection of the body is an article of faith the identity of the present and future body has been admitted. The usual form of Christian burial, in the case of the faithful, has ever been, “We commit this body to the grave in the sure hope of a blessed resurrection.”
Charles Hodge, Systematic Theology IV.2.1
12 passages · 12 writers · 300s to 1900s
Writers name the resurrection of Christ and of the dead as the basis and content of hope.
Clearly, when they shall hear the sound of trumpet summoning them, and the cornet sounding forth from on high, and the earthquake that shall be, and the tombs that shall be opened, then the mighty ones shall arise in glory, and recount one to another in the tombs, saying, “Great is the grace that is performed towards us. For our hope was cut off; yet (another) hope has arisen for us. We were imprisoned in darkness, and have come forth to the light.
Aphrahat, Aphrahat: Select Demonstrations 6
Water for washing, Blood for drink, the Spirit for His rising again. For Christ alone is to us hope, faith, and love—hope in His resurrection, faith in the laver, and love in the sacrament.
Ambrose of Milan, Concerning Virgins 4.5
For we too have risen with Christ, and we are with Christ our Head, now for a while by faith and hope; but our hope will be completed in the last resurrection of the dead. But when our hope shall be completed, then shall our justification be completed also. And the Lord who was to complete it showed us in His Own Flesh (that is, in our Head), Wherein He rose again and ascended to the Father, what we ought to hope for.
Augustine of Hippo, Sermons on Selected Lessons of the New Testament 96
The mere mention of the sufferings that wrought our salvation is enough to quench distress, even at its worst. Those sufferings were all undergone for humanity. Our Lord did not destroy death to make one body victorious over death, but through that one body to effect our common resurrection, and make our hope of it a sure and certain hope.
Theodoret of Cyrrhus, The Ecclesiastical History, Dialogues, and Letters of Theodoret 10.8
The third cause for the exemplar of our resurrection: there should be but few that should believe the resurrection to come if Jesu Christ had not risen. And this is our example and our hope. And therefore say the apostles, Jesu Christ is arisen and we shall arise, for his resurrection is cause of ours. … Thus in ourself we should have hope of the reward of his resurrection, and we ought to know that Jesu Christ would not prolong his resurrection above three days, to the end that desperation should not be in the world.
Jacobus de Voragine, The Golden Legend 13
Hence Christ's resurrection is an exemplar of ours, and through our faith therein there arises in us the hope of our own resurrection.
Thomas Aquinas, Summa Theologica Suppl..Q77.A1
Therefore, according to the hope of the resurrection to come, David saith by good right that he shall not see corruption; for that ought not altogether to be counted corruption for which there is a better restoring prepared; for the bodies of the faithful corrupt to this end, that they may put on blessed incorruption in their time. Yet this is no let but that the estate of the head and members may be far unlike, and that we may follow the Son of God afar off and lazily.
John Calvin, Commentary on the Acts of the Apostles, Vol. 1 13.7
Concerning the dead, Saint Paul, in 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 , forbids us to mourn for them, for this suits the pagans, who have no hope of a resurrection.
Reformed Churches, Guanabara Confession 17
I stand in judgment for the hope of the promise - Of the resurrection. So it was in effect. For unless Christ had risen, there could have been no resurrection of the dead. And it was chiefly for testifying the resurrection of Christ, that the Jews still persecuted him.
John Wesley, Notes on the Bible 5.26
The stick when that rose brought up the iron with it; so Christ when he rose brings up believers with him; they are risen with Christ, that they may walk in newness of life. Christ is the first-fruits, afterwards they that are Christ’s; he rose again for our justification, and hath thereby begotten us again to a lively hope.
Jonathan Edwards, Notes on the Bible 6
Above all, the resurrection of Christ is the pledge of our own. As the grave could not detain the Head, so it shall not detain the members. Well may we say with Peter, "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has begotten us again unto a living hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead."
J.C. Ryle, Expository Thoughts on John John 21:1-14
Jesus Christ is our ground of hope and guarantee of immortality. Life is in Christ.
A.T. Robertson, Word Pictures in the New Testament 5.6
9 passages · 9 writers · 200s to 1800s
Writers say hope of pardon keeps sinners from despair and leads them to repent.
I entreat you, beloved brethren, that each one should confess his own sin, while he who has sinned is still in this world, while his confession may be received, while the satisfaction and remission made by the priests are pleasing to the Lord. Let us turn to the Lord with our whole heart, and, expressing our repentance for our sin with true grief, let us entreat God’s mercy. Let our soul lie low before Him. Let our mourning atone to Him. Let all our hope lean upon Him.
Cyprian of Carthage, The Treatises of Cyprian 3
Though thou be a publican, or a fornicator, have hope of salvation: the publicans and the harlots go into the kingdom of God before you . Paul also is witness, saying, Neither fornicators, nor adulterers, nor the rest, shall inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you: but ye were washed, but ye were sanctified . He said not, such are some of you , but such were some of you . Sin committed in the state of ignorance is pardoned, but persistent wickedness is condemned.
Cyril of Jerusalem, The Catechetical Lectures of S. Cyril 7
Great are the medicinal virtues ( φάρμακα ) of repentance: let none despair of himself. That man truly deserves to be despaired of, who despairs of himself; that man has no more salvation, nor any hopes.
John Chrysostom, A Commentary on the Acts of the Apostles 24
One may, indeed, hope for pardon who does not love, but he hopes in vain; but no one can despair who loves. Therefore, where there is love, there of necessity will there be faith and hope; and where there is the love of our neighbor, there also of necessity will be the love of God.
Augustine of Hippo, Lectures or Tractates on the Gospel According to St. John 84
This second clause deserves special notice; for a sinner will never return to God except he has the hope of pardon and salvation, as we shall ever dread the presence of God, except the hope of reconciliation be offered to us. Hence the Scripture, whenever it speaks of repentance, at the same time adds faith. They are indeed things wholly distinct, and yet not contrary, and ought never to be separated, as some inconsiderately do. For repentance is a change of the whole life, and as it were a renovation; and faith teaches the guilty to flee to the mercy of God.
John Calvin, Commentary on Jeremiah and Lamentations, Vol. 3 26.14
Lord, let thy mercy support me, thy Spirit guide me, and lead me through the valley of this death safely; that I may pass it patiently, holily, with perfect resignation; and let me rejoice in the lord, in the hopes of pardon, in the expectation of glory, in the sense of thy mercies, in the refreshments of thy Spirit, in a victory over all temptations.
Jeremy Taylor, Holy Living 4.12.6
It is possible that the greatest sinners may be brought to repentance. While there is life there is hope, and the worst are not to be despaired of; and the worst of sinners, if they repent and turn, shall find mercy.
Matthew Henry, Commentary on Luke 15.1
It becomes believers who feel "forsaken," to learn from our Lord's experience not to give way to despair. … Let them still wait on the Lord, and say with Job, "Though he slays me, yet will I trust in him." … "Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you disturbed within me! Hope in God, for I shall yet praise him."
J.C. Ryle, Expository Thoughts on Mark Mark 15:33-38
As God is to judge them "according to their ways" (Pr 1:31), their only hope is to "repent"; and this is a sure hope, for God takes no delight in judging them in wrath, but graciously desires their salvation on repentance.
Robert Jamieson, A.R. Fausset, and David Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible Ezekiel 18
10 passages · 10 writers · 300s to 1900s
Writers warn against hope that is presumptuous, hypocritical, or placed in works, and set it against true hope.
Let no one flatter himself with fond hopes of God’s mercy. … So love thou Him for His mercy, as still to wish that He should be truthful. For mercy cannot strip Him of His attribute of justice: nor justice of that of mercy. Meanwhile during the time that He postpones thy punishment, do not thou postpone it.
Augustine of Hippo, Expositions on the Book of Psalms 45
Accordingly presumption appears to be manifestly opposed to fear, especially servile fear, which looks at the punishment arising from God's justice, the remission of which presumption hopes for; yet by a kind of false likeness it is more opposed to hope, since it denotes an inordinate hope in God. And since things are more directly opposed when they belong to the same genus, than when they belong to different genera, it follows that presumption is more directly opposed to hope than to fear. For they both regard and rely on the same object, hope inordinately, presumption inordinately. Reply to Objection 1: Just as hope is misused in speaking of evils, and properly applied in speaking of good, so is presumption: it is in this way that inordinate fear is called presumption.
Thomas Aquinas, Summa Theologica II-II.Q21.A3
Vain is the hope of salvation through letters of pardon, even if a commissary—nay, the Pope himself—were to pledge his own soul for them.
Martin Luther, Ninety-Five Theses (Disputation on the Power and Efficacy of Indulgences) 51-60
If any individual would depend wholly upon God, and desire to be saved by his grace, he must renounce every vain hope, and employ all his thoughts towards the reception of his strength.
John Calvin, Commentary on the Psalms, Vol. 2 40.6
Hence the miserable condition of the generality of those who are called Christians, who live in sin, and yet hope to be saved by the gospel, is greatly to be bewailed. … Their whole profession of the gospel is but a crying, “Peace, peace,” when sudden destruction lies at the door. … For men to live in covetousness, sensuality, pride, ambition, pleasures, hatred of the power of godliness, and yet to hope for salvation by the gospel, is the most infallible way to hasten and secure their own eternal ruin.
John Owen, Pneumatologia 5.4
Men would not be hypocrites if they did not forget that the God with whom they have to do searches the heart and requires truth there, that he is a Spirit and has his eye on our spirits; and hypocrites would have no hope if they did not forget that God is righteous, and will not be mocked with the torn and the lame. [2.] The hope of hypocrites is a great cheat upon themselves, and, though it may flourish for a while, it will certainly perish at last, and they with it.
Matthew Henry, Commentary on Job 8.2
This is confirmed because on hearing the midnight cry, they find their lamps are gone out; which seems most naturally to represent, that however hypocrites may maintain their hopes while they live, and while their judge is at a distance, yet when they come to be alarmed by the sound of the last trumpet, their hopes will immediately expire and vanish away, and very often fail them in the sensible approaches of death. Where is the hope of the hypocrite, when God takes away his soul? But till the midnight cry the foolish virgins seem to entertain the same hopes with the wise.
Jonathan Edwards, Inquiry Concerning Qualification for Communion 5
Why, for this reason, for barely doing no harm, he is consigned to outer darkness. He is pronounced a wicked, because he was a slothful, an unprofitable servant. So mere harmlessness, on which many build their hope of salvation, was the cause of his damnation!
John Wesley, Notes on the Bible 1.25
A man is “without Christ” when he has no heart-faith in Him as his Saviour. … They hope to go to heaven because they are moral and well-conducted—because they say their prayers and go to Church—because they have been baptized and go to the Lord’s Table. But as to a lively faith in God’s mercy through Christ—a real, intelligent confidence in Christ’s blood and righteousness and intercession—these are things of which they know nothing at all. And of all such persons I can see but one true account. They are “without Christ.”
J.C. Ryle, Holiness 17
'The hope of the Gospel.'—Col. i. 5. 'God never sends mouths but He sends meat to feed them,' says the old proverb. And yet it seems as if that were scarcely true in regard to that strange faculty called Hope. It may well be a question whether on the whole it has given us more pleasure than pain. … It has held out prizes never won.
Alexander Maclaren, Second Corinthians, Galatians, Philippians, Colossians, Thessalonians, and First Timothy 2.2.2
12 passages · 10 writers · 300s to 1800s
Writers list hope with faith and love among the gifts and graces of the Christian life.
Charity is the mother of all virtues, and the apostle’s words about faith, hope and charity are like that threefold cord which is not quickly broken. We believe, we hope, and through our faith and hope we are joined together in the bond of charity.
Jerome, The Letters of St. Jerome 82
For faith indeed and hope, when the good things believed and hoped for are come, cease. And to show this Paul said, “For hope that is seen is not hope; for who hopeth for that which he seeth.” … So that these cease when those appear; but love is then most elevated, and becomes more vehement. … Wherefore also he said, “But now abideth faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love.”
John Chrysostom, Homilies on First Corinthians 35
For “now abideth faith, hope, love.” ( 1 Cor. xiii. 13 .) Then having said, Put on, and array yourselves, he himself provides the armor, whence faith, hope, and love may be produced, and may become strong.
John Chrysostom, Homilies on First Thessalonians 9
He is such that love to Him is a natural due; and so hope in Him is natural, since our present love would be vain did we not hope to love Him perfectly some day. Our love is prepared and rewarded by His. He loves us first, out of His great tenderness; then we are bound to repay Him with love; and we are permitted to cherish exultant hopes in Him.
Bernard of Clairvaux, On Loving God 7
Now the primal union of man with God is by faith, hope and charity: and, consequently, these virtues are presupposed to the gifts, as being their roots. Therefore all the gifts correspond to these three virtues, as being derived therefrom. Reply to Objection 4: Love, hope and joy have good for their object. Now God is the Sovereign Good: wherefore the names of these passions are transferred to the theological virtues which unite man to God.
Thomas Aquinas, Summa Theologica I-II.Q68.A4
The seeking, with faith, hope, and charity, pleaseth our Lord, and the finding pleaseth the soul and fulfilleth it with joy.
Julian of Norwich, Revelations of Divine Love 3.1
Our Faith cometh of the natural Love of our soul, and of the clear light of our Reason, and of the steadfast Mind which we have from "of." God in our first making. And what time that our soul is inspired into our body, in which we are made sensual, so soon mercy and grace begin to work, having of us care and keeping with pity and love: in which working the Holy Ghost formeth, in our Faith, Hope that we shall come again up above to our Substance, into the Virtue of Christ, increased and fulfilled through the Holy Ghost. Thus I understood that the sense-soul is grounded in Nature, in Mercy, and in Grace: which Ground enableth us to receive gifts that lead us to endless life.
Julian of Norwich, Revelations of Divine Love 16.12
He further adds, that ye may abound in hope; for in this way also is hope confirmed and increased in us. The words, through the power of the Holy Spirit, intimate that all things are the gifts of the divine bounty: and the word power is intended emphatically to set forth that wonderful energy, by which the Spirit works in us faith, hope, joy, and peace.
John Calvin, Commentary on Romans 15.4
We have peace, hope, love, and power over sin, the sum of the fifth, sixth, seventh, and eighth chapters. These are the fruits of justifying faith: where these are not, that faith is not.
John Wesley, Notes on the Bible 6.5
And in those three gifts of the mind, Faith, Hope, and Love, are the three gifts into which all Christianity, as a principle in the mind, is to be resolved.
Jonathan Edwards, Notes on the Bible 22
What may be a good order for setting forth a catechetical instruction in religion? For this we may follow the book of the Orthodox Confession, approved by the Eastern Patriarchs, and take as our basis the saying of the Apostle Paul, that the whole energies of a Christian, during this present life, consist in these three: faith, hope, charity. And now abideth faith, hope, charity; these three.
Philaret of Moscow, The Longer Catechism of the Orthodox, Catholic, Eastern Church q. 62–65
I say, “heathen virtues; “for the cardinal virtues, fortitude, justice, prudence, temperance, although of course they cannot be practised, without the grace of God, are yet, while unanimated by the special Christian graces of Faith, Hope, and Charity, only heathen virtues, such as heathen have practised, with the grace of God.
E.B. Pusey, An Eirenicon 1.402
10 passages · 10 writers · 300s to 1800s
Writers describe hope as assured, certain, and firm, or as falling short of certainty.
If but one be saved, like Lot at Sodom, he ought to abide in right judgment, keeping his hope in Christ unshaken, for the Lord will not forsake His holy ones.
Basil of Caesarea, The Letters 257
And then he also commends them, saying, “if we hold fast the confidence and the rejoicing of the hope firm unto the end,” implying that they had even made a beginning; but that there is need of the end, and not simply to stand, but to have their hope firm “in full assurance of faith,” without being shaken by their trials.
John Chrysostom, The Homilies of St. John Chrysostom on the Epistle to the Hebrews 9
Who is to rob me of my place in a Kingdom over which He reigns omnipotent who is my Brother and my Flesh? What possible issue can ever make me desolate, since so bright a hope confers on me so certain an assurance?
Anselm of Canterbury, Meditations and Prayers 2.12
When Christ's Passion was not as yet consummated actually but only in the faith of believers, Baptism proportionately caused the gates to be opened, not in fact but in hope. For the baptized who died then looked forward, with a sure hope, to enter the heavenly kingdom.
Thomas Aquinas, Summa Theologica III.Q69.A7
In whom we have an assured hope. He promises himself as to the future, also, that beneficence of God, which he had often experienced in the past. Nor is it without good reason; for the Lord, by accomplishing in part what he has promised, bids us hope well as to what remains. Nay more, in proportion to the number of favors that we receive from him, does he by so many pledges, or earnests, as it were, confirm his promises.
John Calvin, Commentary on Corinthians, Vol. 2 1.2
The immutability of a good God is a strong ground of consolation. … The fear of change in a friend hinders a full reliance upon him; an assurance of stability encourages hope and confidence. This attribute is the strongest prop for faith in all our addresses; it is not a single perfection, but the glory of all those that belong to his nature; for he is unchangeable in his love (Jer. xxxi. 3), in his truth (Ps. cxvii. 2).
Stephen Charnock, The Existence and Attributes of God 6
‘In hope of eternal life, which God that cannot lie has promised.' Tit 1:2. Eternal life, there is the sweetness of the promise: God which cannot lie, there is the certainty of it. Mercy makes the promise, truth fulfils it.
Thomas Watson, A Body of Divinity 3.10
Thus we may all pray in faith that our confidence in God may not be our confusion. Hope of the glory of God is hope that makes not ashamed.
Matthew Henry, Commentary on Psalms 71.1
Faith often converts the promises into reality, and in the bright anticipations and the certain hopes of heaven sings and rejoices as if it were already in our possession - anticipating only by a few short days, weeks, or years, what will certainly be ours.
Albert Barnes, Notes on the Bible Psalms 36:12
One thing, at all events, we may depend upon—there is an inseparable connection between diligence and assurance. “Give diligence” says Peter, “to make your calling and election sure.” (2 Peter i. 10.) “We desire,” says Paul, “that every one of you do show the same diligence to the full assurance of hope unto the end.” (Heb. vi. 11.) “The soul of the diligent,” says Solomon, “shall be made fat.” (Prov. xiii. 4.) There is much truth in the old maxim of the Puritans: “Faith of adherence comes by hearing, but faith of assurance comes not without doing.”
J.C. Ryle, Holiness 8
10 passages · 10 writers · 300s to 1900s
Writers say hope supports patience, waiting, and endurance in affliction.
If we have hope in God, we shall be in security, and have ample room, and those who bring us into these straits shall perish. … And justly, since they had been cast into it for the glory of God. Let us, as many of us as are afflicted, hold fast these examples.
John Chrysostom, Homilies on Titus 6
On account of that judgment seat the hardships of this present life must be endured. For them that suffer wrong the hope of what is to come is consolation enough, but to us the loving Lord has given further comfort in you, most excellent sir, whose life is bright with piety and faith.
Theodoret of Cyrrhus, The Ecclesiastical History, Dialogues, and Letters of Theodoret 10.79
Moreover, to weep as though we wept not is so to lament outward adversities as still to know how to rejoice in the consolation of eternal hope. And again, to rejoice as though we rejoiced not is so to take heart from things below as still never to cease from fear concerning the things above.
Gregory the Great, The Book of Pastoral Rule, and Selected Epistles, of Gregory the Great 4.4.28
You will overcome if you fix solidly your hope in God, and wait patiently the issue of the affair.
Bernard of Clairvaux, Some Letters of Saint Bernard 12
Some are said to be happy in this life, either on account of the hope of obtaining Happiness in the life to come, according to Rom. 8:24 : "We are saved by hope"; or on account of a certain participation of Happiness, by reason of a kind of enjoyment of the Sovereign Good.
Thomas Aquinas, Summa Theologica I-II.Q5.A3
Indeed, the more spiritual progress a person makes, so much heavier will he frequently find the cross, because as his love increases, the pain of his exile also increases. Yet such a man, though afflicted in many ways, is not without hope of consolation, because he knows that great reward is coming to him for bearing his cross. And when he carries it willingly, every pang of tribulation is changed into hope of solace from God.
Thomas à Kempis, The Imitation of Christ 2.12
The Spirit, then, is the earnest of our inheritance of eternal life, until the redemption, that is, until the day of complete redemption is arrived. So long as we are in this world, our warfare is sustained by hope, and therefore this earnest is necessary; but when the possession itself shall have been obtained, the necessity and use of the earnest will then cease.
John Calvin, Commentary on Galatians and Ephesians Ephesians 1.3
It conduces much to our content, if we pass by those things which happen to our trouble, and consider that which is pleasing and prosperous - that, by the representation of the butter, the worse may be blotted out; and, at the worst, you have enough to keep you alive, and to keep up and to improve your hopes of heaven.
Jeremy Taylor, Holy Living 2.6.2
Note, Those who have a good hope, through grace, in God, and of heaven, are certainly safe, and have reason to be secure, how difficult soever the times are through which they pass in this world. He that walks uprightly may thus walk surely, because, though there are trouble and danger, yet there is hope that all will be well at last. Hope is an anchor of the soul, Heb. vi. 19 . " Thou shalt dig about thee, " that is, "Thou shalt be as safe as an army in its entrenchments."
Matthew Henry, Commentary on Job 11.3
‘It is good that a man should both hope and quietly wait’ for the salvation and for the guidance of his God. And we shall generally find that it is when we are looking too far ahead that we do not get guidance. … Let us take short views both of duty and of hope, and we shall not so often have to complain that we are left without knowing what the Commander’s orders are.
Alexander Maclaren, Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus and Numbers 2.1.15
10 passages · 10 writers · 300s to 1900s
Writers connect hope with purity, diligence, prayer, and obedience.
Tell me, were any king to give command and to say, “If any man does this, let him partake of my table;” say, would ye not do all ye could to be admitted? He hath invited us to heaven, to the table of the great and wonderful King, and do we shrink and hesitate, instead of hastening and running to it? And what then is our hope of salvation? We cannot lay the blame on our weakness; we cannot on our nature. It is indolence and nothing else that renders us unworthy.
John Chrysostom, Homilies on Ephesians 4
Are they that fear, and they that hope, different? Do not the very same who fear God, hope in God? Who hopeth on Him who doth not fear Him?
Augustine of Hippo, Sermons on Selected Lessons of the New Testament 97
For there is a great difference between one who puts out the fire of sin within him by fear of hell or hope of future reward, and one who from the feeling of divine love has a horror of sin itself and of uncleanness, and keeps hold of the virtue of purity simply from the love and longing for purity, and looks for no reward from a promise for the future, but, delighted with the knowledge of good things present, does everything not from regard to punishment but from delight in virtue.
John Cassian, The Conferences of John Cassian. Part II. Containing Conferences XI-XVII 2.8
And since in order to be saved it is man's duty to hope in God, he had to be induced to do so by one of the above ways, affirmatively, so to speak, wherein is implied the prohibition of the opposite.
Thomas Aquinas, Summa Theologica II-II.Q22.A1
If the world flatter and caress, the hope of eternal salvation quickly passes away; for our senses are always fixed on the present state of things.
John Calvin, Commentary on Isaiah, Vol. 3 36.1
Hope and fasting are said to be the two wings of prayer. Fasting is but as the wing of a bird; but hope is like the wing of an angel, soaring up to heaven, and bears our prayers to the throne of grace. Without hope, it is impossible to pray, but hope makes our prayers reasonable, passionate, and religious; for it relies upon God’s promise, or experience, or providence, and story. Prayer is always in proportion to our hope, zealous and affectionate.
Jeremy Taylor, Holy Living 4.3.2
Not only does their Lord command them to do so, but their new nature inclines them so to do; yea, their hope of heaven will dictate and constrain them so to do. … And therefore, as we are sanctified by faith, we must be sanctified by hope. That we may be saved by hope we must be purified by hope.
Matthew Henry, Commentary on First John 3.1
Ingrafted - In believers, by regeneration, ver. 18 and by habit, Heb. v, 14. Which is able to save your souls - The hope of salvation nourishes meekness.
John Wesley, Notes on the Bible 20.1
In short, where there is no sanctification of life, there is no real faith in Christ. … He who has real lively hope in Christ, purifieth himself even as He is pure.
J.C. Ryle, Holiness 3
It is right to stimulate for God’s warfare by setting forth the blessedness of the inheritance. ‘The recompense of the reward’ is not the motive for doing His will, but it is legitimately used as encouragement, in spite of the overstrained objection that virtue for the sake of heaven is spurious virtue. If ‘for the sake of heaven,’ it is spurious; but it is not spurious because it is heartened by the hope of heaven.
Alexander Maclaren, Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus and Numbers 2.3.7
7 passages · 6 writers · 1200s to 1800s
Writers rest hope on the mercy, grace, promise, and word of God, and not on merit.
It is not our actions, but the grace of our Redeemer, that is the principal cause of the hope of salvation: and since confession relies upon the grace of our Redeemer, it gives hope of salvation, not only as a meritorious act, but also as part of a sacrament.
Thomas Aquinas, Summa Theologica Suppl..Q10.A4
In God, we may consider both His justice, in respect of which He punishes those who sin, and His mercy, in respect of which He sets us free: in us the consideration of His justice gives rise to fear, but the consideration of His mercy gives rise to hope, so that, accordingly, God is the object of both hope and fear, but under different aspects.
Thomas Aquinas, Summa Theologica II-II.Q19.A1
Comfort yourselves. It is not from yourselves that you should expect grace; but, on the contrary, it is in expecting nothing from yourselves that you must hope for it.
Blaise Pascal, Pensées 7
We are to look up to the mercy-seat, but to hope for mercy through Christ's intercession. … Christ is at the court appearing for us, Heb 9:94, and he has great power in heaven, which should much encourage us to look up to him, and hope for audience in prayer. We might indeed be afraid to offer our petitions, if we had not Christ to present them.
Thomas Watson, A Body of Divinity 5.4
What ground the psalmist builds this confidence upon: Thy mercy, O Lord! endures for ever. This he had made very much the matter of his praise ( Ps. xiii. 6 ), and therefore he could here with the more assurance make it the matter of his hope. For, if we give God the glory of his mercy, we may take to ourselves the comfort of it. Our hopes that we shall persevere must be founded, not upon our own strength, for that will fail us, but upon the mercy of God, for that will not fail.
Matthew Henry, Commentary on Psalms 138.2
The highest honor of man is to be saved by the merits of the Son of God, and he has reached the most elevated rank in the human condition who has the most certain hope of salvation through him.
Albert Barnes, Notes on the Bible Philippians 3:21
The hope of eternal life will never be in us an inactive principle but will always produce "love." This passage is abused by Romanists, as if the hope of salvation depended upon works. A false argument. It does not follow that our hope is founded on our works because we are strongly stimulated to live well; since nothing is more effectual for this purpose than the sense of God's free grace [Calvin].
Robert Jamieson, A.R. Fausset, and David Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible Colossians 1
11 passages · 10 writers · 100s to 1900s
Writers speak of hope under the old covenant, of Israel and the Gentiles, and of those said to be without hope.
And let us also love the prophets, because they too have proclaimed the Gospel, and placed their hope in Him, and waited for Him; in whom also believing, they were saved, through union to Jesus Christ, being holy men, worthy of love and admiration, having had witness borne to them by Jesus Christ, and being reckoned along with [us] in the Gospel of the common hope.
Ignatius of Antioch, The Epistles of Ignatius 5
Therefore He condemned them on account of these deeds: nor did He any longer send messengers to a stubborn people; but He sent His own Son, to call all nations to the favour of God. Nor, however, did He shut them out, impious and ungrateful as they were, from the hope of salvation: but He sent Him to them before all others, that if they should by chance obey, they might not lose that which they had received; but if they should refuse to receive their God, then, the heirs being removed, the Gentiles would come into possession.
Lactantius, The Divine Institutes 8.39
All heathen at any rate from every region, abjuring their hereditary tradition and the impiety of idols, are now placing their hope in Christ, and enrolling themselves under Him, the like of which you may see with your own eyes.
Athanasius of Alexandria, The Incarnation of the Word 2.37
Yet Christ bestowed something upon them as to their attaining glory: and in consequence He dispelled the suffering which they endured through their glory being delayed: still they had great joy from the very hope thereof, according to Jn. 8:56 : "Abraham your father rejoiced that he might see my day." And therefore he adds: "I fail to see that He ever departed, according to the beatific presence of His Godhead," that is, inasmuch as even before Christ's coming they were happy in hope, although not yet fully happy in fact.
Thomas Aquinas, Summa Theologica III.Q52.A5
Hence, the great promise of the Old Testament, the principal object of the faith, hope, and expectation of believers, was that concerning the coming of the Son of God in the flesh, and the work which he was to perform. Yet was this also, as we shall see in our progress, accompanied with a great intermixture of promises concerning the Holy Spirit, to render his coming and work effectual unto us.
John Owen, Pneumatologia 1.1
All Christians are called to the same hope of eternal life. There is one Christ that they all hope in, and one heaven that they are all hoping for; and therefore they should be of one heart.
Matthew Henry, Commentary on Ephesians 4.2
The Jew had no special advantage for salvation by being a Jew; the Gentile was not excluded from the hope of salvation. The plan of redemption was adapted "to man" as such - without regard to his complexion, country, customs, or laws. The blood of Christ was shed for all, and wherever a human being could be found, salvation might be freely offered him.
Albert Barnes, Notes on the Bible First Timothy 3:16
The plain truth is, that we are too apt to forget that there never was but one way of salvation, one Savior, and one hope for sinners, and that Abraham and all the Old Testaments saints looked to the same Christ that we look to ourselves.
J.C. Ryle, Expository Thoughts on John John 8:48-59
Paul repeatedly speaks of the Messiah as the hope of Israel. The promise of redemption through Christ, he declared to be the great object of the people’s hope.
Charles Hodge, Systematic Theology III.2.6
Even as the rest which have no hope (καθως ο λοιπο ο μη εχοντες ελπιδα). This picture of the hopelessness of the pagan world about the future life is amply illustrated in ancient writings and particularly by inscriptions on tombs (Milligan). Some few pagans clung to this hope, but most had none.
A.T. Robertson, Word Pictures in the New Testament 14.4
In one hope (εν μια ελπιδ). The same hope as a result of their calling for both Jew and Greek as shown in chapter 2.
A.T. Robertson, Word Pictures in the New Testament 11.4
7 passages · 6 writers · 300s to 1800s
Writers describe hope as expectation of what is unseen and not yet possessed, or mention it in a general way.
Say not to me, hopes again! expectations again! faith again! For it is in this way thou wert saved from the beginning, and this dowry was the only one that thou didst bring in to the Bridegroom. Hold it then fast and keep it: for if thou demandest to have everything in this world, thou hast lost that well-doing of thine, through which thou didst become bright, and this is why he proceeds to say, “But hope that is seen is not hope; for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for?”
John Chrysostom, The Homilies of St. John Chrysostom on Paul's Epistle to the Romans 16
It is quite certain that virtue is the only and the highest good; that it alone richly abounds in the fruit of a blessed life; that a blessed life, by means of which eternal life is won, does not depend on external or corporal benefits, but on virtue only. A blessed life is the fruit of the present, and eternal life is the hope of the future.
Ambrose of Milan, On the Duties of the Clergy 3.5
Let us not be elated with any prosperity of this world, but know that our happiness is not until these things shall have passed way. Now, my brethren, let our joy be in hope: let none rejoice as in a present thing, lest he stick fast in the way. Let joy be wholly of hope to come, desire be wholly of eternal life.
Augustine of Hippo, Lectures or Tractates on the Gospel According to St. John 11
Just as hope has two objects, one of which is the future good itself, that one expects to obtain, while the other is someone's help, through whom one expects to obtain what one hopes for, so, too, fear may have two objects, one of which is the very evil which a man shrinks from, while the other is that from which the evil may come.
Thomas Aquinas, Summa Theologica II-II.Q19.A1
Hope implies a certain defect, namely the futurity of happiness, which ceases when happiness is present: whereas fear implies a natural defect in a creature, in so far as it is infinitely distant from God, and this defect will remain even in heaven. Hence fear will not be cast out altogether.
Thomas Aquinas, Summa Theologica II-II.Q19.A11
Our salvation is secure, but we still hope for it, as Paul says in another passage. ( Romans 8:23, 24 .) What is hoped for is not seen, says he.
John Calvin, Commentary on Daniel, Vol. 2 12.3
In Eph 6:17 the helmet is "salvation"; here, "the hope of salvation." In one aspect "salvation" is a present possession (Joh 3:36; 5:24; 1Jo 5:13); in another, it is a matter of "hope" (Ro 8:24, 25).
Robert Jamieson, A.R. Fausset, and David Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible First Thessalonians 5
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