Hebrews 11:1 (ASV)

Passage

Now faith is assurance of [things] hoped for, a conviction of things not seen.

Nearby Context

Hebrews 11:1 Now faith is assurance of [things] hoped for, a conviction of things not seen.

Hebrews 11:2 For therein the elders had witness borne to them.

Hebrews 11:3 By faith we understand that the worlds have been framed by the word of God, so that what is seen hath not been made out of things which appear.

Study Lenses

The verse centers on "faith", "assurance", "things", "hoped", "conviction", and "seen". It is saying that the verse draws attention to "faith" and "assurance", so its meaning should be read from those terms before moving to application.

The next verse adds "For therein the elders had witness borne...", so "faith" and "assurance" should be read forward into that movement. In Hebrews context, the local focus is Christ, faith, and discipleship.

A plain takeaway is to answer the verse's own emphasis on "faith" and "assurance" with trust shaped by these words, not by a vague optimism outside the passage.