Bobcat said-
If I understood you correctly: "A bill of lading" would be the business equivalent of "faith" according to this definition - (Hebrews 11:1 NWT) . . .Faith is the assured expectation of things hoped for, the evident demonstration of realities though not beheld
Yup, the Greek word used in Hebrews 11 is 'hupostasis', which is a legal term used in ancient times which explains why some translations render the phrase as "faith is the title deed", i.e. it conveys a sense of something tangible that can be shown to others to prove one's right to claim future possession (eg heavenly hope). A more-current example is the promissory note, or as I said above, a 'bill of lading'.
From this recent thread discussing faith:
http://www.jehovahs-witness.net/jw/friends/260964/1/Question-regarding-Faith-adamah#.UqnkzY1mmvG
Hebrews 11:1 is arguably the least-understood scripture in the Bible, and the most important TO understand, since it defines FAITH.
Understanding Paul's original intent is complicated by the handling of various translations of the Greek word, 'hypostasis', a legal term in common use at the time, so if you miss it's subtle implied meanings, you're going to miss the boat of the intended meaning.
Here's a compeling analysis and example of hupostasis as "title deed" (which indicates CURRENT possession, unlike a 'bill of lading' which indicates FUTURE possession):
From:
http://hopefaithprayer.com/faith/faith-is-hebrews-111-hupostasis/
Title-deed
Kenneth Wuest has the following to say about hupostasis in Hebrews 11:1 in his Wuest Word Studies
The Title-Deed to Answered Prayer – “FAITH is the substance of things hoped for” ( Heb. 11:1 ). The Greek word translated “substance” had a technical meaning in the business world of the first century. It referred to one’s property or effects. It was used in such expressions as “Out of this estate I declare that my husband owes me,” or, “more land than I actually possess,” the italicized words being the translation of the word. It was also used to refer to “the whole body of documents bearing on the ownership of a person’s property, deposited in the archives, and forming the evidence of ownership.” Moulton and Milligan in their “Vocabulary of the Greek Testament” say of these uses, “These varied uses are at first sight somewhat perplexing, but in all the cases there is the same central idea of something that underlies visible conditions and guarantees a future possession.” Thus, they translate “Faith is the title-deed of things hoped for.”
To substantiate this usage, there is in “Living Yesterdays,” a delightful brochure by H. R. Minn, the story of a woman named Dionysia. She is described as “a woman of set jaw and grim determination.” It seems that she had lost a case in a local court over a piece of land to which she laid claim. Not satisfied with the decision of a lower court, she determined to take her case to a higher court in Alexandria. She sent her slave to that city, with the legal documents safely encased in a stone box. On the way, the slave lost his life in a fire, which destroyed the inn where he had put up for the night. For 2,000 years, the sands of the desert covered the ruins of the inn, the charred bones of the slave, and the stone box.
Archaeologists have recently uncovered these remains. In the box, they found the legal documents. They read the note, which this woman had sent to the judge in Alexandria, “In order that my lord the judge may know that my appeal is just, I attach my hupostasis.” That which was attached to this note, she designated by the Greek word translated “substance” in Heb. 11:1 . The attached document was translated and found to be the title-deed to the piece of land, which she claimed as her own possession, the evidence of her ownership.
What a flood of light is thrown upon this teaching regarding faith. The act of exercising true faith as one prays, or as one leans on the resources of God, is itself the title-deed or evidence of the sure answer to our prayer or the unfailing source of the divine supply. It is God’s guarantee in advance that we already possess the things asked for. They may still be in His hands, awaiting the proper time for their delivery, but they are ours. If the answers to our prayers are not forthcoming at once, let us rest content with the title-deed, which God has given us, namely, a Holy Spirit energized act of faith. We may be absolutely certain that our God will honor this title-deed at the right moment.
When you own property, you are given a ‘title-deed’ to prove your ownership . . . it is yours, and no-one can take it from you. Your ‘faith,’ is a title-deed that God holds on your behalf, His promised land. No-one can take this from you . . . there is no persuasion or pressure that can change your ‘stance.’. . . because of its ‘substance’ . . . He stands under you. You can own something that you do not see, and it is no less yours.
BTW, Paul is making claims beyond what the situation actually is, since I'd say for honest and full disclosure, Hebrews 11:1 should have been written as saying, "faith is the UNASSURED (or UNSECURED) expection of things hoped for...." Paul's definition of faith really boils down to one's beliefs being secured ONLY by one's wishes and hopes: it truly is a circular definition that actually defines "blind faith", since that which cannot be seen is NO evidence at all.
So faith is actually an UNSECURED PROMISE (unlike when you rent, and the landlord demands a SECURITY DEPOSIT from the renter to cover the possibility that the tenant skips town and leaves damages: that's deposit is the SECURITY which backs the promise to perform one's obligation in a performance contract).
There is no 'security deposit' offered if you live a virtuous God-centered life and die, only to become worm food; it's actually an unsecured promise, since you cannot sue Jesus for 'failure to perform and deliver' his obligations under the contract.
Adam
