Expect; Expectation
The Nature of Biblical Expectation
Biblical expectation is not passive wishing but an active, faith-filled orientation toward God's promises. It involves both the mind (anticipating what God will do) and the heart (trusting in His character). In the Old Testament, the Hebrew word often translated as "hope" or "expectation" (תִּקְוָה, tiqvah) literally means "cord" or "something stretched out," suggesting tension and forward-leaning anticipation. This expectation is grounded in God's covenant faithfulness rather than human optimism.
Expectation in the Old Testament Narrative
The Old Testament presents a people continually living in expectation. After the Fall (Genesis 3), humanity begins expecting God's redemptive intervention. This expectation becomes focused through God's covenant with Abraham (Genesis 12:1-3), creating anticipation for a nation, a land, and blessing to all peoples. The prophets intensify this expectation, pointing toward a coming Messiah who would establish God's kingdom (Isaiah 9:6-7; Jeremiah 23:5-6). The Psalms frequently express both personal and communal expectation directed toward God (Psalm 62:5; Psalm 130:5-6).
Expectation in the New Testament Fulfillment and Expansion
The New Testament presents Jesus as the fulfillment of Israel's long-held expectations (Luke 2:25-38). However, Jesus also reorients expectation, teaching His followers to anticipate the coming Kingdom of God in its fullness. The Greek vocabulary for expectation reveals nuances: prosdokao suggests looking forward to what will probably occur (Luke 3:15; Acts 3:5); ekdechomai implies waiting with assurance for something promised (Hebrews 10:13; James 5:7); and apokaradokia describes intense, eager expectation with the imagery of craning one's neck to see what's coming (Romans 8:19; Philippians 1:20).
The Content of Christian Expectation
New Testament writers identify specific objects of Christian expectation: the return of Christ (Titus 2:13), the resurrection of the body (Acts 24:15), the final redemption of creation (Romans 8:19-23), and eternal life with God (1 Peter 1:3-5). This expectation is not vague optimism but confident hope based on Christ's resurrection (1 Corinthians 15:20). Paul describes it as putting on "the helmet of the hope of salvation" (1 Thessalonians 5:8), suggesting expectation protects and shapes the believer's mindset.
Expectation as a Way of Life
Biblical expectation fundamentally shapes how believers live in the present. It produces endurance in suffering (Romans 5:3-5), motivates holy living (1 John 3:2-3), fuels evangelism (2 Peter 3:12), and inspires perseverance in doing good (Galatians 6:9). The writer to Hebrews connects expectation directly to faith itself, defining faith as "confidence in what we hope for" (Hebrews 11:1). This living expectation creates a tension between the "already" of God's present work and the "not yet" of His future fulfillment.
When Expectations Are Disappointed
Scripture acknowledges that human expectations can be misguided or disappointed. Proverbs observes that "the expectation of the wicked will perish" (Proverbs 10:28; 11:7), while the righteous have a hope that endures. Jesus challenged His disciples' expectations about the nature of His messianic kingdom (Mark 10:35-45). Paul experienced the disappointment of unmet expectations in ministry (2 Corinthians 1:8-9) yet maintained his ultimate expectation in God. The biblical response involves refining expectations according to God's character and promises rather than abandoning expectation altogether.
Biblical Context
The theme of expectation appears throughout Scripture, beginning with the protoevangelium in Genesis 3:15 and continuing through the expectation of the Messiah in the Prophets. In the Gospels, characters like Simeon and Anna embody faithful expectation (Luke 2:25-38). The New Testament epistles develop expectation as a central component of Christian identity, particularly in Romans 8, Philippians, and Hebrews. Revelation culminates the biblical narrative with the expectation of the new creation. Expectation functions as the narrative tension between promise and fulfillment that drives the biblical story forward.
Theological Significance
Expectation reveals that biblical faith is inherently eschatological—oriented toward God's future fulfillment. It teaches that God is faithful to His promises, even when fulfillment seems delayed. Theologically, expectation connects God's past acts of salvation with His future consummation, making Christian hope historical rather than merely spiritual. It demonstrates that salvation includes not just forgiveness but the anticipation of complete restoration. Expectation also highlights the Trinitarian shape of redemption: we expect what the Father has promised, secured through the Son, and witnessed by the Spirit who is the "firstfruits" and "guarantee" of what is to come (Romans 8:23; 2 Corinthians 1:22; 5:5).
Historical Background
In the ancient Near Eastern context, expectation was often tied to cyclical natural patterns or royal promises. Israel's linear, historical expectation of a coming Messiah was distinctive. During the Second Temple period (between the Testaments), messianic expectation intensified, with various groups expecting different types of deliverers—military, priestly, or prophetic. The New Testament's vocabulary for expectation draws from common Greek usage but fills these terms with specifically Christian content. The early Christian emphasis on expecting Christ's imminent return (parousia) shaped their community life, ethics, and engagement with the Roman world, distinguishing them from both Jewish and pagan contemporaries.