The Bible, from Genesis to Revelation DEMANDS faith. It is the central theme of scripture without question. Hebrews 11:6 says it is impossible to please God without faith.
Faith, what is it ?
Guess what, the one thing God demands - His (claimed) word fails to define. Nowhere does the Bible define faith !
Hebrews 11:1 DOES NOT define faith contrary to popular evangelical opinion. Hebrews 11:1 declares what faith accomplishes - period.
Why doesn't the Bible define faith ? Because that is the single purpose of the Preacher to do using the examples of faith found in scripture. God creates the office of the gift minister/preacher and assigns his reason for being to be the explanation of what faith is.
" faith is the EVIDENCE of things hoped for..." That word "evidence" in the greek is "hypostassis" it means "title deed".
Phatboy, you are so correct when you divide faith from belief.
Belief is part faith, in fact, Dr. Scott defines faith as an action based upon a belief sustained by confidence. "pistis" is the word in the greek and it is a verb and not a noun.
Dr. Scott goes on to define faith to be 90% courage, 9% endurance, and 1% feeling (at best). The only faith God recognizes as genuine, is faith that has as its object His word of promise.
Once again Phatboy, you are so correct to recognize the inadequacy of belief to somehow fulfill the requirements of faith.