What is Hope?

What is Hope? If, you look in the dictionary you will find many definitions. As we look in the New Testament, Hope is described with different words in different versions. Yet, it has only one definition: Jesus. I will use different versions to compare how this word “hope” is used and means. To show I have good reason for this I give this example first. International Standard Bible Encyclopedia: But in the Old Testament there is no Hebrew word that has the exact force of "expectation of some good thing," so that in the King James Version "hope" (noun and vb.) stands for some 15 Hebrew words, nearly all of which in other places are given other translation. In the Old Testament “Hope” is based on the coming of the Messiah. In the New Testament Jesus the first time, our Hope now s based on His return.
We will begin in Romans, but we may jump around a bit. Rom 5:2 through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. NIV Rom 5:2 Because of our faith, Christ has brought us into this place of undeserved privilege where we now stand, and we confidently and joyfully look forward to sharing God's glory. NTL That is one of my favorites. That we are not only confident, but Joyful in our Knowledge. Rom 5:5 And this hope will not lead to disappointment. For we know how dearly God loves us, because he has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love. NLT Rom 5:5 We're not ashamed to have this confidence, because God's love has been poured into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us. GWT  Rom 8:23-25 23 However, not only creation groans. We, who have the Spirit as the first of God's gifts, also groan inwardly. We groan as we eagerly wait for our adoption, the freeing of our bodies [from sin]. 24 We were saved with this hope in mind. If we hope for something we already see, it's not really hope. Who hopes for what can be seen? 25 But if we hope for what we don't see, we eagerly wait for it with perseverance. Seen or not the Hope must be known. Not a wish, for “if” one day comes. No, as in Rom 5:5 this “hope” must be our confidence. Here again why, “eagerly wait for it with perseverance,” if you are not completely convinced of what is coming and why? In 2Cor 3:12 and Eph 1:18 are but two more examples, hope is replaced with confidence. Col 1:5 the faith and love that spring from the hope that is stored up for you in heaven and that you have already heard about in the word of truth, the gospel NIV Col 1:5 which come from your confident hope of what God has reserved for you in heaven. You have had this expectation ever since you first heard the truth of the Good News. NTL Even here hope is compared to expectations. And, continues to explain where our hope comes from. Col 1:23 if you continue in your faith, established and firm, not moved from the hope held out in the gospel. This is the gospel that you heard and that has been proclaimed to every creature under heaven, and of which I, Paul, have become a servant NIV  Col 1:23 But you must continue to believe this truth and stand firmly in it. Don't drift away from the assurance you received when you heard the Good News. The Good News has been preached all over the world, and I, Paul, have been appointed as God's servant to proclaim it. NTL  Our hope is our assurance. We must hold to our Knowledge of and in Christ. 

Heb 10:23 Let us hold tightly without wavering to the hope we affirm, for God can be trusted to keep his promise. NLT Heb 10:23 We must continue to hold firmly to our declaration of faith. The one who made the promise is faithful. GWT Indeed, hope is simply faith directed toward the future, and no sharp distinction between faith and hope is attainable. {ISBE}  Eph 4:1-6 1 Therefore I, a prisoner for serving the Lord, beg you to lead a life worthy of your calling, for you have been called by God. 2 Always be humble and gentle. Be patient with each other, making allowance for each other’s faults because of your love. 3 Make every effort to keep yourselves united in the Spirit, binding yourselves together with peace. 4 For there is one Body and one Spirit, just as you have been called to one glorious hope for the future. 5 There is one Lord, one faith, one baptism, 6 and one God and Father, who is over all and in all and living through all. Here in Eph 2:12 In those days you were living apart from Christ. You were excluded from citizenship among the people of Israel, and you did not know the covenant promises God had made to them. You lived in this world without God and without hope. Here we see when we were in the world, and those who still are do not share or have this same hope. And, in Col 1:27 For God wanted them to know that the riches and glory of Christ are for you Gentiles, too. And this is the secret: Christ lives in you. This gives you assurance of sharing His glory. Add to that,

1Peter 1:3 All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. It is by his great mercy that we have been born again, because God raised Jesus Christ from the dead. Now we live with great expectation. You have got to Love “Great Expectations.” Some versions use, “living hope.” One thing we must keep in mind, this Truth is not just for when we die, or He Returns. But, we are able to have this “Living Hope” to build us up in our daily walk. We build on this Confidence, Knowledge, Truth, Assurance, Declaration of Faith, everyday. And, we grow stronger in His Love and Mercy. Then 1John 3:2-3 Dear friends, now we are God's children. What we will be isn't completely clear yet. We do know that when Christ appears we will be like Him because we will see Him as He is. 3 And all who have this eager expectation will keep themselves pure, just as He is pure. That Day when He Returns we will be like Him. That is what Hope means.