ἐλπίς

hope, expectation

Definition

ἐλπίς (elpis) primarily means a confident expectation or trust in a future outcome, not merely wishful thinking. In the New Testament, it often refers to the Christian hope of resurrection and eternal life, as seen in Acts 23:6 and Acts 24:15, where Paul speaks of the 'hope and resurrection of the dead.' It also denotes a general expectation, whether positive (Acts 27:20) or negative, and can imply the object of hope itself, such as Christ (1 Timothy 1:1). This hope is consistently grounded in God's faithfulness and promises.

Biblical Usage

The word is used 48 times, predominantly in the Pauline epistles and Acts. It frequently appears in theological contexts discussing the resurrection, the afterlife, and the believer's confident expectation in God's promises (e.g., Acts 23:6; Romans 5:2-5; Hebrews 6:19). In Acts, it is central to Paul's defense, identifying his message with the Jewish hope in the resurrection (Acts 26:6-7). It is also used in pastoral exhortations to encourage steadfastness (Romans 12:12; 1 Thessalonians 4:13).

Etymology

Derived from the Greek verb ἐλπίζω (elpizō, G1679), meaning 'to hope' or 'to expect.' The noun form, ἐλπίς, is ancient, with cognates in other Indo-European languages. Its core meaning of 'expectation' or 'anticipation' remained stable, but in the Septuagint and New Testament, it gained a stronger theological dimension of trust in God's future acts.

Semantic Range

ἐλπίς is a cornerstone of New Testament theology, representing the believer's confident, future-oriented trust in God's promises, especially resurrection and salvation. It is closely linked to faith (πίστις) and love (ἀγάπη) (1 Corinthians 13:13). This hope is not passive but produces endurance and character (Romans 5:4-5). Understanding it as a sure expectation, rather than a vague wish, transforms the reading of passages about Christian endurance and the certainty of God's future victory.

In the Greco-Roman world, 'hope' (elpis) could be seen as fragile or even deceptive. In contrast, the Jewish and Christian context, deeply influenced by the Old Testament, understood hope as a secure and confident expectation based on God's covenant faithfulness and character (Psalm 39:7; Jeremiah 29:11). This redefined hope as a virtue grounded in divine reliability.

προσδοκία (prosdokia, G4329) — more neutral 'expectation' or 'waiting for,' often without the strong confident trust of elpis. πίστις (pistis, G4102) — 'faith' or 'trust'; the present-tense belief that undergirds future hope (elpis). ὑπομονή (hypomonē, G5281) — 'endurance' or 'steadfastness,' which is the active outworking of hope in difficult circumstances.

Word Details

Scripture References