Philosophy of Expecting the Worst vs Biblical Hope
The biblical concept of hope stands in stark contrast to the philosophy of expecting the worst. While the latter is characterized by pessimism and despair, biblical hope is rooted in trust in God's promises and character. Proverbs 10:28 highlights this contrast, stating that "the hope of the righteous is gladness, But the expectation of the wicked perishes" [1].
Biblical hope is not merely a wish or a desire, but a confident expectation of God's goodness and faithfulness. It is one of the three main elements of Christian character, alongside faith and love (1 Cor. 13:13) [2]. According to Easton's Bible Dictionary, hope is "an essential and fundamental element of Christian life" that is centered on Christ, who is the object of the believer's hope [2].
The nature of biblical hope is further clarified by Calvin, who defines it as "the expectation of those things which faith previously believes to have been truly promised by God" [5]. In other words, hope is the confident anticipation of God's fulfillment of his promises. This understanding is echoed by Aquinas, who notes that hope "denotes a certain stretching out of the appetite towards good" and is therefore an aspect of the appetitive power [4].
In contrast to the philosophy of expecting the worst, biblical hope is characterized by confidence, trust, and joy. As Torrey's Topical Textbook notes, hope is described in Scripture as "good", "lively", "sure and steadfast", and "gladdening" [3]. This hope is not based on human optimism or resilience, but on the faithfulness of God, who is the ground of hope (Ps 39:7; 1 Pet 1:21) [3].
The patristic tradition also emphasizes the importance of hope in Christian life. Augustine, for example, distinguishes between faith and hope, noting that while faith assents to what is not seen, hope expects what has not yet been attained [6]. The early Christian writer Hermas also views hope as twofold, comprising both the hope that is expected and the hope that has been received [7].
Sources
- Proverbs “Proverbs 10:28 (NASB) — The hope of the righteous is gladness, But the expectation of the wicked perishes.”
- Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: 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”
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Hope — In God -- Ps 39:7; 1Pe 1:21. In Christ -- 1Co 15:19; 1Ti 1:1. In God's promises -- Ac 26:6,7; Tit 1:2. In the mercy of God -- Ps 33:18. Is the work of the Holy Spirit -- Ro 15:13; Ga 5:5. Obtained through Grace. -- 2Th 2:16. The word. -- Ps 119:81. Patience and comfort of the Scriptures. -- Ro 15:4. The gospel. -- Col 1:5,23. Faith. -- Ro 5:1,2; Ga 5:5. The result of experience -- Ro 5:4. A better hope brought in by Christ -- Heb 7:19. Described as Good. -- 2Th 2:16. Lively. -- 1Pe 1:3. Sure and steadfast. -- Heb 6:19. Gladdening. -- Pr 10:28. Blessed. -- Tit ”
- theology (Catholic (Scholastic)) “Aquinas, Summa Theologica, First Part of the Second Part (Prima Secundae), Of the Irascible Passions, and First, of Hope and Despair, Art. 2: Article: Whether hope is in the apprehensive or in the appetitive power? I answer that, Since hope denotes a certain stretching out of the appetite towards good, it evidently belongs to the appetitive power; since movement towards things belongs properly to the appetite: whereas the action of the cognitive power is accomplished not by the movement of the knower towards things, but rather according as the things known are in the knower. But since the cogn”
- CCEL (Reformed) “John Calvin, Institutes of the Christian Religion, section 57: be false, never deceive, never be in vain, those who have received this assurance must at the same time expect that God will perform his promises, which in their conviction are absolutely true; so that in one word hope is nothing more than the expectation of those things which faith previously believes to have been truly promised by God. Thus, faith believes that God is true; hope expects that in due season he will manifest his truth. Faith believes that he is our Father; hope expects that he will always act the part of a Father to”
- Schaff ANF/NPNF (Patristic) “NPNF1 Vol 3: Augustine — On the Holy Trinity — CHAP. 8.--THE DISTINCTION BETWEEN FAITH AND HOPE, AND THE MUTUAL DEPENDENCE OF FAITH, HOPE, AND LOVE. (part 1): Again, can anything be hoped for which is not an object of faith? It is true that a thing which is not an object of hope may be believed. What true Christian, for example, does not believe in the punishment of the wicked ? And yet such an one does not hope for it. And the man who believes that punishment to be hanging over himself, and who shrinks in horror from the prospect, is more properly said to fear than to hope. And these two stat”
- Schaff ANF/NPNF (Patristic) “ANF Vol 2: Hermas, Tatian, Theophilus, Athenagoras, Clement of Alexandria — CHAP. XXII.--PLATO'S OPINION, THAT THE CHIEF GOOD CONSISTS IN ASSIMILATION TO GOD, AND ITS AGREEMENT WITH SCRIPTURE. (part 3): unto holiness, and the end everlasting life."[2] And viewing the hope as twofold--that which is expected, and that which has been received --he now teaches the end to be the restitution of the hope. "For patience," he says, "worketh experience, and experience hope: and hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Spirit that is given to us."[3] On ac”