Bunyan is saying that faith is connected to what is seen and already grasped whereas hope lays hold of that which is yet in the future.
5. Faith looks to Christ, as dead, buried, and ascended; and hope to his second coming (1 Cor 15:1–4). Faith looks to him for justification, hope for glory (Rom 4:1–8).
6. Faith fights for doctrine, hope for a reward (Acts 26:6, 7). Faith for what is in the Bible, hope for what is in heaven (Col 1:3–5).
7. Faith purifies the heart from bad principles (1 John 5:4-5). Hope from bad manners (2 Peter 3:11, 14; Eph 5:8; 1 John 3:3). (Bunyan is connecting faith with right believing and hope with right living).
8. Faith sets hope on work, hope sets patience on work (Acts 28:20; 9:9). Faith says to hope, look for what is promised; hope says to faith, So I do, and will wait for it too.
9. Faith looks through the Word to God in Christ; hope looks through faith beyond the world to glory (Gal 5:5).
Bunyan, J. (2006). Israel’s Hope Encouraged (Vol. 1, p. 578). Bellingham, WA: Logos Bible Software.
This article on faith and hope originally appeared here.
