FOR IN HOPE WE HAVE BEEN SAVED: te gar elpidi esothemen (1PAPI): (Ro 5:2; 12:12; 15:4,13; Ps 33:18,22; 146:5; Pr 14:32; Jer 17:7; Zech 9:12; 1Co 13:13; Gal 5:5; Col 1:5,23,27; 1Th 5:8; 2Th 2:16; Titus 2:11, 12, 13; Heb 6:18,19; 1Pet 1:3,21; 1Jn 3:3)

For (gar) introduces an explanation of the preceding.

Denney writes that

This sentence explains why Paul can speak of Christians as waiting for adoption, while they are nevertheless in the enjoyment of sonship. It is because salvation is essentially related to the future. ‘We wait for it: for we were saved in hope.’… Our salvation was qualified from the beginning by reference to a good yet to be... Hope, the apostle argues, is an essential characteristic of our salvation; but hope turned sight is hope no more, for who hopes for what he sees? We do not see all the gospel held out to us, but it is the object of our Christian hope nevertheless; it is as true and sure as the love of God which in Christ Jesus reconciled us to Himself and gave us the Spirit of adoption, and therefore we wait for it in patience. (Nicoll, W Robertson, Editor: Expositors Greek Testament: 5 Volumes. Out of print. Search Google)

Saved (4982)(sozo [word study]) has the basic meaning of rescuing one from great peril. Additional nuances include to protect, keep alive, preserve life, deliver, heal, be made whole.

Sozo - 106x in 99v - Matt 1:21; 8:25; 9:21f; 10:22; 14:30; 16:25; 19:25; 24:13, 22; 27:40, 42, 49; Mark 3:4; 5:23, 28, 34; 6:56; 8:35; 10:26, 52; 13:13, 20; 15:30f; 16:16; Luke 6:9; 7:50; 8:12, 36, 48, 50; 9:24; 13:23; 17:19; 18:26, 42; 19:10; 23:35, 37, 39; John 3:17; 5:34; 10:9; 11:12; 12:27, 47; Acts 2:21, 40, 47; 4:9, 12; 11:14; 14:9; 15:1, 11; 16:30f; 27:20, 31; Rom 5:9f; 8:24; 9:27; 10:9, 13; 11:14, 26; 1 Cor 1:18, 21; 3:15; 5:5; 7:16; 9:22; 10:33; 15:2; 2 Cor 2:15; Eph 2:5, 8; 1 Thess 2:16; 2 Thess 2:10; 1 Tim 1:15; 2:4, 15; 4:16; 2 Tim 1:9; 4:18; Titus 3:5; Heb 5:7; 7:25; Jas 1:21; 2:14; 4:12; 5:15, 20; 1 Pet 3:21; 4:18; Jude 1:5, 23. NAS - bring...safely(1), cured(1), ensure salvation(1), get(1), get well(2), made...well(6), made well(5), preserved(1), recover(1), restore(1), save(36), saved(50), saves(1), saving(1).

Hope (1680)(elpis) is defined as a desire for some future good with the expectation of obtaining it. Hope is confident expectancy.

Hope in Scripture is not the world's definition of "I hope so", with a few rare exceptions (e.g., Acts 27:20)

Elpis - 53x in 48v - Acts 2:26; 16:19; 23:6; 24:15; 26:6f; 27:20; 28:20; Rom 4:18; 5:2, 4f; 8:20, 24; 12:12; 15:4, 13; 1 Cor 9:10; 13:13; 2 Cor 1:7; 3:12; 10:15; Gal 5:5; Eph 1:18; 2:12; 4:4; Phil 1:20; Col 1:5, 23, 27; 1 Thess 1:3; 2:19; 4:13; 5:8; 2 Thess 2:16; 1 Tim 1:1; Titus 1:2; 2:13; 3:7; Heb 3:6; 6:11, 18; 7:19; 10:23; 1 Pet 1:3, 21; 3:15; 1 John 3:3

What hope? “That blessed hope and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ” (Titus 2:13-note). The best is yet to come! The believer does not get frustrated as he sees and experiences suffering and pain in this world. He knows (his hope = a certainty) that the temporary suffering will one day give way to eternal glory.

In other words if you had received ALL of your salvation already, what are you hoping in? You've just received the earnest "money" or down payment of your inheritance (see notes Ephesians 1:13; 1:14). Ro 5:5 (note) teaches us that this hope will not disappoint. The Holy Spirit living in us now assures us of that certainty (Ro 8:15, 16-see notes Ro8:15; 16). From the outset we have looked forward to full and final deliverance from sin, suffering, disease, and death (1Pe 1:5, 13-see notes 1Pe 1:5; 13). If we had already received these blessings, we wouldn't be hoping for them. We only hope for what is in the future. In other words, in this life we cannot expect to experience the reality of our glorification but only the hope of it. But since the believer's hope is based on God's promise, the completion of his salvation is more certain by far than anything he sees with his eyes. Because of this future HOPE in (Titus 2:13-note) Paul says that our present attitude should be one of

LOOKING (with an attitude of expectancy) for the blessed HOPE and the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Christ Jesus

BUT HOPE THAT IS SEEN IS NOT HOPE FOR WHY DOES ONE ALSO HOPE FOR WHAT HE SEES: elpis de blepomene (PPPFSN) ouk estin (3SPAI) elpis o gar blepei (3SPAI) tis elpizei (3SPAI): (2Corinthians 4:18; 5:7; Hebrews 11:1; 1Peter 1:10,11)

Sees (991) (blepo) means perceive with your eyes. Blepo can denote simple voluntary observation and so mean to look at, behold. Many NT uses convey the sense of becoming aware of or taking notice of something, of perceiving or discerning or understanding. 

Paul refers to our hope of salvation as a helmet, symbolizing our divine protection from the blows of doubt that Satan sends to crush our hope (1Th 5:8-note).

From the outset we looked forward to full and final deliverance from sin, suffering, disease, and death. If we had already received these blessings, we wouldn’t be hoping for them. We only hope for what is in the future.

In other words, in this life we cannot expect to experience the reality of our glorification but only the hope of it. But since the believer’s hope is based on God’s promise, the completion of his salvation is more certain by far than anything he sees with his eyes. As we shall see later, the believer’s salvation is so secure that his glorification is spoken of in the past tense (Ro 8:30-note).

When you are “living in the future tense,” it is difficult for the things of the world to ensnare you. In this section, Paul teaches us that when we are tempted to be downcast by our suffering & circumstances, to try the "uplook".

BUT IF WE HOPE FOR WHAT WE DO NOT SEE: ei de o ou blepomen (1PPAI) elpizomen (1PPAI):

We hope (1679) (elpizo from elpis) means to look forward with confidence to that which is good and beneficial. The present tense pictures this attitude as the believer's lifestyle, which is one of hope, where hope (see word study on elpis) is defined in the NT as the absolute assurance that God will do good to us and for us in the future.

Elpizo - 31x in 31v - Matt 12:21; Luke 6:34; 23:8; 24:21; John 5:45; Acts 24:26; 26:7; Rom 8:24f; 15:12, 24; 1 Cor 13:7; 15:19; 16:7; 2 Cor 1:10, 13; 5:11; 8:5; 13:6; Phil 2:19, 23; 1 Tim 3:14; 4:10; 5:5; 6:17; Philemon 1:22; Heb 11:1; 1 Pet 1:13; 3:5; 2 John 1:12; 3 John 1:14. NAS = expect(1), expected(1), fix...hope(2), fixed...hope(2), hope(13), hoped(3), hopes(1), hoping(4), set...hope(2), trust(1).

What is our present hope of future good in context? It is clearly that our mortal bodies will one day be redeemed in the twinkling of an eye (1Cor 15:51,52) and we shall receive our glorified bodies, free from even the presence of SIN.

Paul is saying that since we have a certain hope even though we don't yet see it, that this very certainty should prompt a specific attitude & behavior - such a person can persevere or bear up under whatever their circumstances are because they have a fixed confidence that knows what is coming. One who has this hope is willing to persevere. In Php1:6 Paul says "I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus", (cp note 2 Timothy 1:12) which is the day when glory is revealed to us. Peter says a similar thing in (see note 1 Peter 1:13) Set your sights on this glorious future grace & allow the Holy Spirit to change your perspective on the present suffering you are experiencing. Live in the light of who you are in Christ (note) and in light of who God is going to reveal you to be some day when this "season of suffering" is over.

WITH PERSEVERANCE WE WAIT EAGERLY FOR IT: di hupomones apekdechometha (1PPMI): (Ro 8:23; 2:7; 12:12; Ge 49:18; Ps 27:14; 37:7, 8, 9; 62:1,5,6; 130:5, 6, 7; Isa 25:9; 26:8; La 3:25,26; Lk 8:15; 21:19; Col 1:11; 1Th 1:3; 2Th 3:5; Heb 6:12,15; 10:36; 12:1, 2, 3; Jas 1:3,4; 5:7, 8, 9, 10, 11; Rev 1:9; 13:10; Rev 14:12)

With perseverance - Literally through (the instrumentality) of perseverance.

Paul commends the church in Thessalonica for their perseverance writing that he, Silas and Timothy were...

constantly bearing in mind your work of faith and labor of love and steadfastness (hupomone) of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ in the presence of our God and Father (1Thes 1:3-note) (Note two things - [1] Hope buoys up and encourages perseverance [2] Hope is turn ultimately is not in a doctrine per se but in a Person, our Lord Jesus Christ, cp 1Ti 1:1).

Perseverance (5281)(hupomone [word study] from hupo = under + meno = stay, remain, abide) is literally abiding under. The root idea of hupomone is that of remaining under some discipline, subjecting one’s self to something which demands the acquiescence of the will to something against which one naturally would rebel. It portrays a picture of steadfastly and unflinchingly bearing up under a heavy load and describes that quality of character which does not allow one to surrender to circumstances or succumb under trial. Hupomone is the constancy which belongs to and characterizes hope in dark days. It has in it a  forward look, the ability to focus on what is beyond the current pressures (eg Jesus

Who for the joy set before Him endured [verb form hupomeno] the Cross despising the shame" (Heb 12:2- note).

In short hupomone does not describe a grim resignation or a passive "grin & bear" attitude but a triumphant facing of difficult circumstances knowing that even out of evil God guarantees good. It is courageous gallantry which accepts suffering and hardship and turns them into grace and glory.

Hupomone - 32x in 31v - Luke 8:15; 21:19; Rom 2:7; 5:3f; 8:25; 15:4f; 2 Cor 1:6; 6:4; 12:12; Col 1:11; 1 Thess 1:3; 2 Thess 1:4; 3:5; 1 Tim 6:11; 2 Tim 3:10; Titus 2:2; Heb 10:36; 12:1; Jas 1:3f; 5:11; 2 Pet 1:6; Rev 1:9; 2:2f, 19; 3:10; 13:10; 14:12. NAS = endurance(7), patient enduring(1), perseverance(21), steadfastness(3).

With steadfastness bearing up not simply with resignation but with absolute assurance of vibrant hope -- it is not a passive waiting. (1Th 1:3-note Rev 13:10-note  Rev 14:12-note)

The writer of Hebrews alludes to the importance of Christian perseverance...

For you have need of endurance (hupomone), so that when you have done the will of God, you may receive what was promised. (He 10:36-note)

Morris describes perseverance as

the attitude of the soldier who in the thick of battle is not dismayed but fights on stoutly whatever the difficulties.

We are in a battle but can be confident that the Victory has already been won! No literal earthly soldier could have had such confidence as we can.
 

Hupomone is the ability to endure when circumstances are difficult - not a passive sitting down and bearing things but a triumphant facing of them so that even out of evil there can come good, a bearing up in a way that honors and glorifies our heavenly Father.

This great section on our present possession of the first fruits of the Spirit (like a pledge cp Ep 1:14 [note]) and our future hope (certainty) of the redemption of our decaying mortal bodies in which we currently wage daily war (with the still co-existent enemies Sin and the flesh) is truth that should give us encouragement to bear up under the circumstances (cp "suffering" - Ro 8:17, 18-notes Ro 8:17; 18). We're not home yet. The best is yet to come.

Eagerly wait (553) (apekdechomai [word study] from apó = intensifier [see Vincent below] + ekdechomai [word study] = expect, look for <> from ek  = out + dechomai [word study] = receive kindly, accept deliberately and readily)  means waiting in great anticipation but with patience (compare our English expression "wait it out"). To expect fully. To look (wait) for assiduously (marked by careful unremitting attention) and patiently.

Apekdechomai - 8x in 8v - Rom 8:19, 23, 25; 1Cor 1:7; Gal 5:5; Phil 3:20; Heb 9:28; 1 Pet 3:20. NAS = awaiting eagerly(1), eagerly await(1), eagerly wait(1), wait eagerly(1), waiting(2), waiting eagerly(1), waits eagerly(1).

Stedman writes: