It was about 30 miles distant from Troas by sea. The island of Lesbos lay
opposite it, about 7 miles distant.
- ASSURANCE The resurrection of Jesus (Acts 17:31) is the “assurance”
(Gr. pistis, generally rendered “faith”) or pledge God has given that his
revelation is true and worthy of acceptance. The “full assurance [Gr.
plerophoria, ‘full bearing’] of faith” (Hebrews 10:22) is a fulness of faith in
God which leaves no room for doubt. The “full assurance of
understanding” (Colossians 2:2) is an entire unwavering conviction of the
truth of the declarations of Scripture, a joyful steadfastness on the part of
any one of conviction that he has grasped the very truth. The “full
assurance of hope” (Hebrews 6:11) is a sure and well-grounded expectation
of eternal glory (2 Timothy 4:7, 8). This assurance of hope is the
assurance of a man’s own particular salvation.
This infallible assurance, which believers may attain unto as to their own
personal salvation, is founded on the truth of the promises (Hebrews
6:18), on the inward evidence of Christian graces, and on the testimony of
the Spirit of adoption (Romans 8:16). That such a certainty may be
attained appears from the testimony of Scripture (Romans 8:16; 1 John
2:3; 3:14), from the command to seek after it (Hebrews 6:11; 2 Peter 1:10),
and from the fact that it has been attained (2 Timothy 1:12; 4:7, 8; 1 John
2:3; 4:16).
This full assurance is not of the essence of saving faith. It is the result of
faith, and posterior to it in the order of nature, and so frequently also in
the order of time. True believers may be destitute of it. Trust itself is
something different from the evidence that we do trust. Believers,
moreover, are exhorted to go on to something beyond what they at present
have when they are exhorted to seek the grace of full assurance (Hebrews
10:22; 2 Peter 1:5-10). The attainment of this grace is a duty, and is to be
diligently sought.
“Genuine assurance naturally leads to a legitimate and abiding peace and
joy, and to love and thankfulness to God; and these from the very laws of
our being to greater buoyancy, strength, and cheerfulness in the practice of
obedience in every department of duty.”
This assurance may in various ways be shaken, diminished, and
intermitted, but the principle out of which it springs can never be lost. (See
FAITH.)