Neville Goddard on Hebrews 11:1

Executive Summary

Neville Goddard interprets the scriptural definition of faith—"the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen"—as a principle of creation. For him, faith is not a force that brings a non-existent thing into being. Instead, it is a persistent loyalty to an already existing, though unseen, reality. This unseen world is the true source of all visible things, and holding to its reality, despite contrary evidence from the senses, is the key to making the unseen appear in one's world.

Key Concepts

• Faith is defined as “the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.”
• The visible world is made from things that do not appear; the unseen is the source of the seen.
• Faith is loyalty to this unseen reality.
• Faith does not give reality to the unseen; it is loyalty to the unseen that makes things appear.
• Relying only on the evidence of the senses leads to the fixation and perpetuation of the current state.

Detailed Explanation

According to Neville Goddard's teaching, the definition of faith in Hebrews 11:1 is a foundational statement about the nature of reality. He explains that faith is the deep conviction in, and assurance of, things that are not yet visible to the physical senses. This is not a passive hope, but an active loyalty to an unseen reality.

A crucial distinction is made: faith does not create reality out of nothing. Rather, the unseen reality of your desire already exists. Faith is your loyalty to that reality, and this persistent loyalty is what causes the unseen state to become an objective, visible fact in your world. The entire visible world was created this way, made from things that “do not appear.”

This principle is contrasted with living by the evidence of the senses alone. To accept only what is currently seen and felt as the sole reality is to reject faith. This would mean that present, unwanted conditions—such as sickness or poverty—would be perpetuated forever, as there would be no power to mold the future differently. True faith involves the ability to see the facts of the world and still believe in the reality of the unseen state you have chosen.

Important Quotes

Faith does not give reality to things that are not seen. It is loyalty to reality that makes things appear.

— Faith

Faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.

— Imagination Plus Faith

Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear.

— Seedtime And Harvest

Related Concepts

This interpretation of faith connects to several other core concepts:

• Consciousness: The source material states that consciousness (as "the Lord") rejects the evidence of the senses. This implies that faith is a function of consciousness, which has the power to accept a new reality and mold the future.

• States: The teaching warns against the "fixation and perpetuation of the present state." Faith is the means by which one can move from a current, unwanted state (like being sick or poor) to a desired, unseen state by remaining loyal to its reality.

Common Misunderstandings

A common misunderstanding is that faith magically gives reality to things that do not exist. The teaching clarifies that faith is not about creating something from nothing, but about being loyal to a reality that is already present, though unseen.

Another error is to confuse faith with accepting the evidence of the senses. The source material explicitly contrasts the two, stating that relying on the senses alone would trap a person in their current circumstances forever.

Practical Applications

The practical application of this teaching is to maintain loyalty to your desired outcome, regardless of current circumstances. You must be able to observe the objective facts presented by your senses while simultaneously holding a firm conviction in the reality of the unseen state you have assumed. This loyalty to the unseen is what allows it to become an objective fact in your experience.

Frequently Asked Questions

According to Neville, does faith create something from nothing?

No. Faith is described as loyalty to an already existing, unseen reality. It is this loyalty that causes the unseen thing to appear, not the act of creating it from a void.

What is the opposite of faith in this context?

The opposite of faith is relying solely on the evidence of the senses, which would result in the endless perpetuation of one's current state.

How does this interpretation of faith relate to creation?

It posits that the entire visible world was made from an unseen reality. Faith is the understanding of and loyalty to this creative principle, allowing one to make their own unseen hopes appear.