Thick Description

Peter Vermigli offers this charming and helpful comment on the definition of faith as “substance” (Greek, hypostasis ) in Hebrews 11:1: The word “is derived from the verb hyphistamai , which signifies ‘to sustain, receive, not to yield to one rushing blindly.’ Hence, a soldier is called hypostatos if he is trusting and does not turn back to the enemy, but goes up against them and resists them. Thus, in believing there is need of strength and patience on account of the great struggle we experience there. We must resist the flesh, we must over come reason, which strives much against faith. We must also resist the condemnation of our own conscience, of sin, and the wrath of God; there are many other things besides by which the assent of faith is prevented and hindered. How well are these compared, this hypostasis or substance and those things that are hoped for. For God promises resurrection, but to the dead; he promises eternal life, but to the decaying; he calls them blessed, yet they abundantly thirst and hunger and are oppressed on all sides; he pronounces men justified, yet are they covered with sins and filth.”

This is not only theologically sound, but also vivid and pastorally helpful. It offers a “thick description” of the character of faith, and places justification by faith in the context of conflict and warfare, precisely where it belongs.