“…you were called in one hope of your calling;” (Eph 4:4-5)
What do we mean when we use the term, hope?” To the question, “what does the term, hope, mean in both today’s vernacular and in the Bible?” The answer Microsoft Copilot gives is:
In today’s everyday English, hope usually means a wish or desire for a good outcome that may or may not happen. In the Bible, hope means confident expectation and trust in God’s promises, grounded in His character and faithfulness—not uncertainty.
We live in uncertain times. For this reason, we need to have a clear understanding of the distinction between the two connotations. I attempt to acknowledge the difference when speaking or writing, yet often fail because both meanings are so prevalent in everyday life.
Less than nine months ago, candidate Donald Trump was wounded by an assassin’s bullet. At the time, we heard repeatedly, “changes needed to be made so that this will never happen again.” A week ago, it happened a third time. Politicians for years have said, “Iran will never have a nuclear bomb.” Depending on circumstances, using the term “hope” regarding life under the sun can seem as foolish as eating dessert first, because life is uncertain.
Paul pointed this out when he wrote:
Therefore remember, that formerly you, the Gentiles in the flesh, . . .were at that time separate from Christ, excluded from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. (Eph 2:11-12)
In the context of this statement in chapter 2, Paul has already referred to unbelieving Jews as “sons of disobedience.” (v. 2:2) It is essential that we who have put our faith in Christ Jesus understand and apply the difference between hope in common English and biblical hope.
If we hoped for an outcome but were disappointed, we must recognize our hope was not in the certainty of God’s promise because He is the blessed controller of all things. Biblical hope requires knowing what God has revealed in His Word and what He has not. Biblical hope is certain to come to pass. This is why Paul wrote:
Therefore having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom also we have obtained our introduction by faith into this grace in which we stand; and we exult in hope of the glory of God. And not only this, but we also exult in our tribulations, knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance; and perseverance, proven character; and proven character, hope; and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us. (Rom 5:1-5)
Biblical hope is not pie in the sky by and by. It requires having a relationship with God through our Lord Jesus Christ and believing in His promises right now.
Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. (Heb 11:1-2)