Final answer:
According to Hebrews 11:1, the 'substance of things hoped for' is described as 'the assurance of things hoped for', which represents a definition of faith within Christian theology.
Step-by-step explanation:
According to Hebrews 11:1, the substance of things hoped for is the assurance of things hoped for. The passage is a famous one within Christian theology and seeks to provide a definition of faith. The term substance in this context is akin to the solid ground or confidence in what believers hope for; it’s something felt innately, though the physical evidence of that hope has not yet been realized.
In philosophical terms, the concept of substance has historical roots in discussions about the underpinning reality of things, as noted with both monism and dualism in Ancient Greek philosophy, and the development of atomism in Indian philosophy. The Ship of Theseus thought experiment is a famous example used in philosophical discussions about persistence and identity. This connects to the verse indirectly, by illustrating complex questions surrounding what is fundamentally real or constant in the presence of change – similar to how faith is perceived as a constant in the midst of unseen realities.