ὑπόστασις

From the study of Hebrews 11:1

Range of meaning

Built from hypo ('under') and stasis ('standing'). In the Greek of the period it had several senses:

• Sediment, foundation, support: what settles at the bottom or holds something up.
• Underlying reality, real being, essence: what something actually is, as opposed to how it looks. Hebrews 1:3 uses it this way: the Son is 'the exact imprint of [God's] hypostasis.'
• Steadfastness, firmness, resolve: in Polybius and others, the nerve to stand your ground.
• Confidence, assurance: arguably in 2 Corinthians 9:4 and 11:17, and in Hebrews 3:14 ('if we hold the beginning of our hypostasis firm to the end').
• Legal or business documents: in the papyri, records of property kept in archives. Moulton & Milligan suggested a 'title deed' sense from these.

Against the English

The KJV's 'substance' comes from the Latin Vulgate's substantia, which copies the Greek word piece by piece (sub = under, stantia = standing). In 1611 'substance' still meant the underlying reality or ground of something. Today it mostly means physical stuff. Modern versions use 'assurance' (BSB, ESV, NASB, WEB), 'confidence' (NIV, YLT) or 'reality' (NLT). Each picks one part of the word's range.

How it drifted

The English word 'substance' narrowed toward 'material.' The Greek word did not. A reader who hears 'faith is the substance' can picture faith as a kind of spiritual raw material. That picture belongs to neither the Greek nor the Latin.

Used elsewhere in the period

Greek Old Testament: hypostasis translates Hebrew words for hope. In Ruth 1:12 Naomi says 'I have hypostasis', meaning hope, for Hebrew tiqvah. In Psalm 38:8 (39:7 in English Bibles), 'my hypostasis is with you', it stands for Hebrew tôḥelet, 'hope.' Ezekiel 19:5 says 'her hypostasis perished.' Philosophy: in Stoic and later writers it meant real existence as opposed to appearance. Church fathers: Chrysostom (Homilies on Hebrews 21) explains that the things we hope for do not exist yet, and faith gives them reality in the soul. Later Christian doctrine used the word for the three 'persons' of the Trinity. That use came centuries after Hebrews and should not be read back into it.

Near-wordplay: the verse just before (10:39) speaks of hypostolē, 'shrinking back.' Some commentators hear a deliberate contrast: we are not people of hypo-stolē (pulling back) but of faith, which is hypo-stasis (standing firm underneath).

From the study of Hebrews 1:3

Range of meaning

Literally 'that which stands underneath'. In ordinary Greek it could mean sediment, a foundation, a supporting structure, substance or essential nature, actual reality as opposed to appearance, a plan or undertaking, and in legal papyri a title-deed or guarantee. From the 'firm foundation' sense also came 'confidence, steadfastness'. Hebrews uses the word three times: here (God's essential being), 3:14 ('our original confidence/firm footing') and 11:1 ('faith is the hypostasis of things hoped for').

Against the English

KJV 'person', BSB, ESV and NASB 'nature', NIV 'being', WEB 'substance', YLT 'subsistence'. 'Being', 'nature' and 'substance' are near the first-century sense. 'Person' is not.

How it drifted

In the 4th century, after much debate (the Council of Alexandria in 362, and the Cappadocian Fathers), Greek theologians made hypostasis a technical term for each of the three 'persons' of the Trinity, set against ousia, 'essence'. Read that way, Hebrews 1:3 would make the Son the imprint of the Father's person. That is a different idea and a later one. The KJV's 'express image of his person' reflects this later usage. The Latin Vulgate has figura substantiae eius, 'the form of his substance', and Tyndale had 'the very image of his substance'. Both are closer to the original.

Used elsewhere in the period

Common in Hellenistic philosophy (Stoic and Aristotelian writers) for real, substantial existence as opposed to appearance. In the Greek Old Testament, Psalm 39:5 (LXX 38:6) reads 'my hypostasis is as nothing before you', meaning 'my very existence'. Wisdom 16:21 uses it of God's 'substance', meaning his sustaining nature shown in the manna. Philo uses it of real existence.

From the study of Hebrews 3:14

Range of meaning

Literally 'a standing under'. Its uses include: (1) foundation or substructure; (2) the underlying reality or substance of a thing, as opposed to appearance; (3) a plan, undertaking or venture; (4) firmness of mind: steadfast resolve, courage, confidence. Papyri also use it for property and documents establishing a claim to property.

Against the English

KJV, WEB and ESV say 'confidence', and BSB and NASB say 'assurance'. Both choose the inner-attitude sense. Modern English 'confidence' is psychological (feeling sure, self-assurance), and 'assurance' is often heard as the doctrinal 'assurance of salvation'. Neither keeps the picture of solid ground under one's feet, or the overlap with 'reality' that the same author uses in 1:3 (the Son is the imprint of God's hypostasis, his very being) and 11:1 (faith is the hypostasis of things hoped for).

How it drifted

Latin translated the word as substantia, and later Christian debates about the Trinity made hypostasis a technical term for a divine 'Person'. Neither use belongs to this verse. Modern English then shrank 'confidence' to a feeling.

Used elsewhere in the period

Polybius (6.55.2) uses hypostasis for the unflinching courage of Horatius holding the bridge, and (4.50.10) for the Rhodians' firm resolve. In the LXX, Ruth 1:12 ('if I said, I have hypostasis' = 'I have hope') and Psalm 38:8 (= 39:7, 'my hypostasis is with you') use it for hope or ground of expectation. Paul uses it in 2 Corinthians 9:4 and 11:17 for 'this confident undertaking/boasting'. The 'title-deed' sense in papyri (Moulton & Milligan) is real but is mainly argued for 11:1, and is contested.