πίστις — pistis
Generally of the leaning of the entire human personality upon God or the Messiah in absolute trust and confidence in his power, wisdom, and goodness. The older meaning, intellectual conviction of these truths, is often present: faith.
God promised that one of Eve’s descendants would overcome the curse, a bright hope on that dark day. How disappointing it must have been to realise that Cain, their son, would not be that man. Neither was Abel and it became abundantly clear that each child born in those days was as sinful as their parents.
It must have seemed impossible to hold onto the promise made in the garden as they struggled to survive in a broken world of their own making.
But Adam and Eve and many who followed were sure of what they hoped for and certain of what they had not yet seen. By faith they clung to the promise while God worked away at accomplishing his plan.
