V. 1.— Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. The substance. It gives things hoped for and not seen a substance, or reality, in the mind. This can hardly be called a definition of faith, for it is a simple idea and can only be defined by synonymous terms. The word here rendered substance is repeatedly rendered confidence, 2 Corinthians 9:4; 2 Corinthians 11:17, Hebrews 3:14, and in the margin of this passage, and it would seem preferable to render it confidence; here faith is the confidence of things hoped for, the evidence, or rather conviction of things not seen, a more accurate description of faith cannot be given.