Monday, June 9, 2014

Word Studies on "Evidence" and "Substance" and Might I be Judged 542 - 12 - 2

Hebrews 11:1, “Now faith is the substance (G5287) of things hoped for, the evidence (G1650) of things not seen.”

Hebrews 11:2, “For by it the elders obtained a good report.”

I could find just one occurrence of the word evidence in the New Testament, Hebrews 11:1. There are four  occurrence of substance in the New Testament in addition to Hebrews 11:1, Hebrews 10:34, "For ye had compassion of me in my bonds, and took joyfully the spoiling of your goods, knowing in yourselves that ye have in heaven a better and an enduring substance."

With thanks to Wikipedia:

“Evidence, broadly construed, is anything presented in support of an assertion. This support may be strong or weak. The strongest type of evidence is that which provides direct proof of the truth of an assertion. At the other extreme is evidence that is merely consistent with an assertion but does not rule out other, contradictory assertions, as in circumstantial evidence.

In law, rules of evidence govern the types of evidence that are admissible in a legal proceeding. Types of legal evidence include testimony, documentary evidence, and physical evidence. The parts of a legal case which are not in controversy are known, in general, as the facts of the case."

Not so simple is substance with its multiple meanings including these:
  • Chemical substance, a material with a definite chemical composition
  • Matter, anything that has mass and takes up space
  • Substance theory, theory positing that a substance is distinct from its properties
According to Strong’s number G5287, substance is from a compound of G5259 and G2476; a setting under (support), that is, (figuratively) concretely essence, or abstractly assurance (objectively or subjectively): - confidence, confident, person, substance.

G2476 leads us to: A prolonged form of a primary word στάω staō (of the same meaning, and used for it in certain tenses); to stand (transitively or intransitively), used in various applications (literally or figuratively): - abide, appoint, bring, continue, covenant, establish, hold up, lay, present, set (up), stanch, stand (by, forth, still, up). Compare G5087.

G5287 takes us to: From a compound of G5259 and G2476; a setting under (support), that is, (figuratively) concretely essence, or abstractly assurance (objectively or subjectively): - confidence, confident, person, substance.
Strong’s is less verbose in defining evidence.

G1650: From G1651; proof, conviction: - evidence, reproof.
Next to G165, Of uncertain affinity; to confute, admonish: - convict, convince, tell a fault, rebuke, reprove.

So with evidence we have reproof which brings to mind 2 Timothy 3:16, "All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:"

Substance is mentioned many times in the Old Testament including Psalms and Job. This verse caught my attention, Job 30:22, "Thou liftest me up to the wind; thou causest me to ride upon it, and dissolvest my substance." Although Job was under great attack and was suffering greatly was this a type of Rapture?
Perhaps by verse Hebrews 10:34 Paul is implying a far better outcome in heaven if we endured to the end.

I rather expect that any report written of me would bring out my good intentions, however, too often lacking in follow-up.

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