Topical Encyclopedia
Definition and Overview:Expectation, in a biblical context, refers to the anticipation or hope for something to occur, often grounded in faith and trust in God's promises. It is a forward-looking attitude that is deeply rooted in the belief that God is faithful and His word is true. Expectation is not merely wishful thinking but is based on the assurance of God's character and His revealed will.
Biblical Foundation:The concept of expectation is woven throughout Scripture, often linked with faith and hope. In the Old Testament, expectation is frequently associated with waiting on the Lord.
Psalm 62:5 states, "Rest in God alone, O my soul, for my hope comes from Him." Here, expectation is tied to a confident waiting for God's deliverance and provision.
In the New Testament, expectation is closely related to the hope of salvation and the return of Christ.
Romans 8:19 speaks of creation's eager expectation: "The creation waits in eager expectation for the revelation of the sons of God." This verse highlights the anticipation of future glory and redemption.
Expectation and Faith:Expectation is an integral part of faith.
Hebrews 11:1 defines faith as "the assurance of what we hope for and the certainty of what we do not see." Expectation, therefore, is the active component of faith, where believers trust in God's promises and look forward to their fulfillment.
Expectation in Prayer:The Bible encourages believers to approach God with expectation in prayer. Jesus taught His disciples to pray with faith, as seen in
Mark 11:24 : "Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours." This verse underscores the importance of expecting God to answer prayers according to His will.
Expectation and the Promises of God:The promises of God are a foundation for expectation. Believers are encouraged to hold onto these promises with confidence.
2 Peter 3:13 reminds us, "But in keeping with God’s promise, we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, where righteousness dwells." This expectation is based on the certainty of God's word and His unchanging nature.
Expectation and the Return of Christ:A significant aspect of Christian expectation is the anticipation of Christ's return.
Titus 2:13 describes this as "the blessed hope—the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ." This expectation motivates believers to live holy and godly lives as they await the fulfillment of God's ultimate promise.
Expectation in Suffering:Expectation also plays a crucial role in how believers endure suffering.
Romans 8:18 offers encouragement: "I consider that our present sufferings are not comparable to the glory that will be revealed in us." This perspective allows Christians to endure hardships with the expectation of future glory and vindication.
Conclusion:Expectation, as presented in the Bible, is a dynamic and hopeful anticipation rooted in faith and the promises of God. It is a vital aspect of the Christian life, influencing how believers pray, endure trials, and look forward to the fulfillment of God's redemptive plan.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
1. (
n.) The act or state of expecting or looking forward to an event as about to happen.
2. (n.) That which is expected or looked for.
3. (n.) The prospect of the future; grounds upon which something excellent is expected to happen; prospect of anything good to come, esp. of property or rank.
4. (n.) The value of any chance (as the prospect of prize or property) which depends upon some contingent event. Expectations are computed for or against the occurrence of the event.
5. (n.) The leaving of the disease principally to the efforts of nature to effect a cure.
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia
EXPECT; EXPECTATIONeks-pekt', eks-pek-ta'-shun:
Of the three Greek words, translated in the New Testament by "expect," prosdokao, meaning to look forward toward what will probably occur, whether in hope or dread (Acts 3:5Luke 3:15), is not as intense as ekdechomai (Hebrews 10:13), meaning to wait for that of the realization of which one is assured ("as the husbandman waits for the processes of Nature (James 5:7), and the patriarchs for the Divine promise," Westcott), or as vivid as the noun apokaradokia (Romans 8:19Philippians 1:20, "earnest expectation"), which describes the stretching forth of the head toward an object that is anticipated (see Ellicott onPhilippians 1:20). In the Old Testament "expectation" always means that which is expected, asProverbs 10:28, "The expectation of the wicked shall perish."
H. E. Jacobs
EXPECTATION, MESSIANIC
mes-i-an'-ik.
SeeCHRISTS, FALSE;ESCHATOLOGY OF THE OLD TESTAMENT; JESUS CHRIST; MESSIAH.
Greek
4329. prosdokia --expectation...expectation. Part of Speech: Noun, Feminine Transliteration: prosdokia Phonetic
Spelling: (pros-dok-ee'-ah) Short Definition:
expectation, waiting Definition
...1561. ekdoche -- a receiving from,expectation
... a receiving from,expectation. Part of Speech: Noun, Feminine Transliteration: ekdoche
Phonetic Spelling: (ek-dokh-ay') Short Definition: a waiting for...
1680. elpis --expectation, hope
...expectation, hope. Part of Speech: Noun, Feminine Transliteration: elpis Phonetic
Spelling: (el-pece') Short Definition: hope,expectation Definition: hope...
3861. paradoxos -- contrary to opinion orexpectation
... contrary to opinion orexpectation. Part of Speech: Adjective Transliteration:
paradoxos Phonetic Spelling: (par-ad'-ox-os) Short Definition: unexpected, strange...
603. apokaradokia -- strained expectancy
... Part of Speech: Noun, Feminine Transliteration: apokaradokia Phonetic Spelling:
(ap-ok-ar-ad-ok-ee'-ah) Short Definition: eagerexpectation Definition: eager...
4944. sunodino -- to be in travail together
... From sun and odino; to have (parturition) pangs in company (concert, simultaneously)
with, ie (figuratively) to sympathize (inexpectation of relief from...
3195. mello -- to be about to
... A strengthened form of melo (through the idea ofexpectation); to intend, ie Be
about to be, do, or suffer something (of persons or things, especially events...
4053. perissos -- abundant
... adjective, derived from 4012 , "all-around, excess") -- properly , "more than"
("abundantly"); beyond what is anticipated, exceedingexpectation; "more abundant...
4328. prosdokao -- to await, expect
... from pros and dokeuo (to watch) Definition to await, expect NASB Word Usage expect
(2), expecting (2), look (4), looking (2), state ofexpectation (1), waited...
4057. perissos -- abundantly
... Cognate: 4057 (an adjective, derived from 4012 , "all-around, excess") --
"extraordinarily, exceedingly" (J. Thayer);expectation; further than the upper...
Strong's Hebrew
4007. mabbat --expectation... 4006, 4007. mabbat or mebbat. 4008 .
expectation. Transliteration: mabbat or
mebbat Phonetic Spelling: (mab-bawt') Short Definition: hope.
...expectation.
...8431. tocheleth -- a hope
... Word Origin from yachal Definition a hope NASB Word Usageexpectation (1), hope
(5). Toah. From yachal;expectation -- hope. see HEBREW yachal....
8615. tiqvah -- cord
... tiqvah. 8615a . cord. Transliteration: tiqvah Phonetic Spelling: (tik-vaw') Short
Definition: cord.expectation ted, hope, live, thing that I long for...
7664. seber -- a hope
... Word Origin from sabar Definition a hope NASB Word Usage hope (2). hope. From sabar;
expectation -- hope. see HEBREW sabar. 7663b, 7664. seber. 7665 ....
1891. habal -- to act emptily, become vain
... be become, make vain. A primitive root; to be vain in act, word, orexpectation;
specifically to lead astray -- be (become, make) vain. 1890, 1891....
8615b. tiqvah -- a hope
... a hope. Transliteration: tiqvah Short Definition: hope. Word Origin from qavah
Definition a hope NASB Word Usageexpectation (3), hope (28), longing (1)....
2384. chizzayon -- vision
... vision. From chazah; a revelation,expectation by dream -- vision. see HEBREW
chazah. 2383, 2384. chizzayon. 2385 . Strong's Numbers.
Library
OurExpectation
... OurExpectation. A Sermon (No.2186). Delivered by. CH SPURGEON,. At [4]the Metropolitan
Tabernacle, Newington. "He shall see his seed.""Isaiah 53:10....
April 3. "MyExpectation is from Him" (Ps. Lxii. 5).
... APRIL 3. "Myexpectation is from Him" (Ps. lxii. 5). "Myexpectation is
from Him" (Psalm 62:5). When we believe for a blessing, we...
TheExpectation of the Gentiles.
... Book V. Chapter XI."TheExpectation of the Gentiles. "But that which
a prophet of the Jews foretold, that He was to be waited...
Job's Faith andExpectation
... Sermon XXXIX Job's Faith andExpectation. Job's Faith andExpectation Job 19:25,
26.... IV. Job'sexpectation of seeing Him in his flesh. I. The title....
Faith's Review andExpectation. 1Chr 17:16,17
... I CHRONICLES Hymn 41 Faith's review andexpectation. 1Chr 17:16,17. John Newton
8,6,8,6. Faith's review andexpectation.1Chr 17:16,17. Amazing grace!...
The Redeemer's Return is Necessitated by theExpectation of the...
... Chapter One The Need of the Redeemer's Return X. THE REDEEMER'S RETURN
IS NECESSITATED BY THEEXPECTATION OF THE DEAD IN CHRIST....
But if Our Sense is not Able Till after LongExpectation to...
... Of Prayer. John Calvin Chapter 52 But if our sense is not able till after
longexpectation to perceive what the? But if our sense...
How Far the Baptist Revived theExpectation of a Messiah.
... CHAPTER I. THE CALLING OF THE BAPTIST, AND HIS RELATIONS TO THE JEWS. Section
32. How far the Baptist revived theExpectation of a Messiah....
He Essays to Speak of the Well-Nigh Divine Endowments of Origen in...
... to Speak of the Well-Nigh Divine Endowments of Origen in His Presence, into Whose
Hands He Avows Himself to Have Been Led in a Way Beyond All HisExpectation....
The Excellence and Utility of Faith.
... being present. And hope is theexpectation of the possession of good.
Necessarily, then, isexpectation founded on faith. Now he...
Thesaurus
Expectation (25 Occurrences)... 5. (n.) The leaving of the disease principally to the efforts of nature to effect
a cure. Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia. EXPECT;
EXPECTATION.
...Expect (20 Occurrences)
... will be defeated. 3. (vt) To wait; to stay. 4. (n.)Expectation. Int. Standard
Bible Encyclopedia. EXPECT;EXPECTATION. eks-pekt', eks...
Wait (223 Occurrences)
... 2. (vi) To stay or rest inexpectation; to stop or remain stationary till the arrival
of some person or event; to rest in patience; to stay; not to depart....
Prospect (10 Occurrences)
... state. 6. (v.) That which is hoped for; ground for hope orexpectation;
expectation; probable result; as, the prospect of success. 7...
Promise (112 Occurrences)
... 3. (a.) That which causes hope,expectation, or assurance; especially, that which
affordsexpectation of future distinction; as, a youth of great promise....
Fulfilment (25 Occurrences)
... Philippians 1:20 in fulfilment of my eagerexpectation and hope that I shall never
have reason to feel ashamed, but that by my perfect freedom of speech Christ...
Foreboding (1 Occurrence)
... 1. (p. pr. & vb. n.) of Forebode. 2. (n.) Presage of coming ill;expectation of
misfortune. Multi-Version Concordance Foreboding (1 Occurrence)....
Expectantly (6 Occurrences)
... Luke 3:15 As the people were inexpectation, and all men reasoned in their hearts
concerning John, whether perhaps he was the Christ, (See NIV)....
Eager (43 Occurrences)
... (WEB WEY NAS RSV NIV). Romans 8:19 For the creation waits with eagerexpectation
for the children of God to be revealed. (WEB WEY NAS RSV NIV)....
Expectant (1 Occurrence)
... 1. (a.) Waiting inexpectation; looking for.... 3. (n.) One who waits inexpectation;
one held in dependence by hope of receiving some good....
Resources
What does it mean to wait on the Lord? | GotQuestions.orgWhat does the Bible say about expectations? | GotQuestions.orgWhat does it mean to be a godly father? | GotQuestions.orgExpectation: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.comBible Concordance •
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