Hebrews 11:1 - Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible

RV renders, 'Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the proving of things not seen.' The word represented here by 'assurance' is rendered 'substance' in Hebrews 1:3; RV and 'confidence' in Hebrews 3:14. What is meant is that faith is that which gives assurance or certainty of things still in the future. They exist apart from faith, but it is by faith that they are realised. 'Proving' means testing resulting in conviction.