Elpis [HOPE]

Sometimes you don't expect things to stick with you. These things become (in education lingo), enduring understands. Sometimes these are things your teachers intend for you to learn and remember but often, for me at least, they are things that somehow connect between my head and my heart when I least expect. One of these moments was during my Romans class with Tom Allen last semester. We were studying the meaning of elpis, greek for hope. In our culture, we define "hope" as wishful thinking. Wikipedia (not a reliable educational resource but certainly a reliable source for understanding how our society defines terms) says hope is "the emotional state which promotes the belief in a positive outcome related to events and circumstances in one's life". However, the greek word elpis involves confident expectation for the future. The Biblical definition of "hope" is waiting confidently for future glorification with perseverance. No where does this definition leave room for half hearted wishful anticipations. We need to be actively displaying persistent discipline in the face of adversity.

Romans 5:3-5

"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."