These statements are the essential foundation and theme of the rest of the chapter. In business documents from the Greek world, hypostasis can refer to a lease or deed of ownership, the document which guarantees the actual possession of land. Rather, faith is the conviction of truth based on evidence. Likewise, in the life of faith, we find assurance in the demonstrated evidence of God's integrity. It is important to add, however, that neither is faith absolute certitude.
Absolute certitude does away with the necessity for faith by replacing faith with sight.
Stated more directly, faith is a continuous and unfinished dialogue with doubt. After remarking on believers' faith in God's invisible word of creation, the writer of Hebrews begins to highlight the faithful ancestors. Abel, Enoch and Noah are mentioned first.