Greek · G1680

ἐλπίς

Expectation (abstractly or concretely) or confidence

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ἐλπίς G1680
Pronunciation elpís

What does ἐλπίς (elpís) mean in the Bible?

ἐλπίς names hope as promise-grounded confidence in what God will bring to completion, not as wishfulness or a general positive attitude. In the Pastoral Epistles, Christ Jesus Himself is called our hope, eternal life is promised in hope by the God who cannot lie, believers await the blessed hope and appearing of Christ, and justification by grace makes them heirs according to the hope of eternal life.

Reader summary

Full entry for ἐλπίς (G1680) · Open the biblical lexicon

Questions this entry answers

What does ἐλπίς (elpís) mean in the Bible?

ἐλπίς names hope as promise-grounded confidence in what God will bring to completion, not as wishfulness or a general positive attitude. In the Pastoral Epistles, Christ Jesus Himself is called our hope, eternal life is promised in hope by the God who cannot lie, believers await the blessed hope and appearing of Christ, and justification by grace makes them.

How does the BSB render G1680?

The BSB source-word alignment has 53 aligned rows for this entry. Common renderings include hope (38), [the] hope (4), [my] hope (2), - (1), [also] expect (1).

Where does ἐλπίς (elpís) appear in Scripture?

The source-word alignment first shows this entry at Acts 2:26. Its strongest book concentrations include Romans (13), Acts (8), Hebrews (5), 1 Thessalonians (4).

What This Word Actually Means

ἐλπίς names hope as promise-grounded confidence in what God will bring to completion, not as wishfulness or a general positive attitude. In the Pastoral Epistles, Christ Jesus Himself is called our hope, eternal life is promised in hope by the God who cannot lie, believers await the blessed hope and appearing of Christ, and justification by grace makes them heirs according to the hope of eternal life.

This makes hope personal, doctrinal, and future-facing. It is personal because Christ is our hope. It is doctrinal because it rests on God's truthful promise, grace, resurrection, and eternal life. It is future-facing because it waits for what is not yet seen and for the appearing of our great God and Savior. Christian hope therefore strengthens endurance, worship, holiness, and patient ministry because God has promised the end in Christ.

Sources