Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.
Hebrews 11:1
This verse is the introduction to a long list of examples of people in the Old Testament who were commended for their faith. These examples serve to encourage the readers of Hebrews, who are primarily Jewish converts to Christianity, to persevere in their own faith despite the difficulties they may be facing. The verse is emphasizing that faith is not just a belief in something, but it’s a conviction that what one hope for is real even though it may be unseen, and this conviction leads to action.