Hope

One of the three main elements of Christian character (1 Cor. 13:13). It is joined to faith and love, and is opposed to seeing or possessing (Rom. 8:24; 1 John 3:2). “Hope is an essential and fundamental element of Christian life, so essential indeed, that, like faith and love, it can itself designate the essence of Christianity (1 Pet. 3:15; Heb. 10:23). In it the whole glory of the Christian vocation is centred (Eph. 1:18; 4:4).” Unbelievers are without this hope (Eph. 2:12; 1 Thess. 4:13). Christ is the actual object of the believer’s hope, because it is in his second coming that the hope of glory will be fulfilled (1 Tim. 1:1; Col. 1:27; Titus 2:13). It is spoken of as “lively”, i.e., a living, hope, a hope not frail and perishable, but having a perennial life (1 Pet. 1:3). In Rom. 5:2 the “hope” spoken of is probably objective, i.e., “the hope set before us,” namely, eternal life (comp. 12:12). In 1 John 3:3 the expression “hope in him” ought rather to be, as in the Revised Version, “hope on him,” i.e., a hope based on God.

Part of speech: noun (n.)

1. A sloping plain between mountain ridges. [Obs.]

2. A small bay; an inlet; a haven. [Scot.] Jamieson.

Part of speech: noun (n.)

1. A desire of some good, accompanied with an expectation of obtaining it, or a belief that it is obtainable; an expectation of something which is thought to be desirable; confidence; pleasing expectancy. The hypocrite's hope shall perish. Job vii. 13. He wished, but not with hope. Milton. New thoughts of God, new hopes of Heaven. Keble.

2. One who, or that which, gives hope, furnishes ground of expectation, or promises desired good. The Lord will be the hope of his people. Joel iii. 16. A young gentleman of great hopes, whose love of learning was highly commendable. Macaulay.

3. That which is hoped for; an object of hope. Lavina is thine elder brother's hope. Shak.

Part of speech: verb (v.)

1. To entertain or indulge hope; to cherish a desire of good, or of something welcome, with expectation of obtaining it or belief that it is obtainable; to expect; -- usually followed by for. "Hope for good success." Jer. Taylor. But I will hope continually. Ps. lxxi. 14.

2. To place confidence; to trust with confident expectation of good; -- usually followed by in. "I hope in thy word." Ps. cxix. 81. Why art thou cast down, O my soul and why art thou disquieted within me Hope thou in God. Ps. xlii. 11.

Part of speech: verb (v.)

1. To desire with expectation or with belief in the possibility or prospect of obtaining; to look forward to as a thing desirable, with the expectation of obtaining it; to cherish hopes of. We hope no other from your majesty. Shak. [Charity] hopeth all things. 1 Cor. xiii. 7.

2. To expect; to fear. [Obs.] "I hope he will be dead." Chaucer.