# Connecting Statement:

The author tells three things about faith in this brief introduction.

# Now

This word is used here to mark a break in the main teaching. Here the author starts to explain the meaning of "faith."

# faith is being sure of the things hoped for

Here "hope" refers to having the confident expectation that God will do what he promised to do. This can be stated in active form. Alternate translation: "when we have faith, we are sure of the things we hope for" or "faith is being sure that we will receive from God the things we confidently wait for"

# certain of things that are not seen

This can be stated in active form. Alternate translation: "that we still have not seen" or "that still have not happened" (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-activepassive]])