Hey Guys, in Luke 17:3-4 Jesus tells the disciples to forgive someone seven times in the same day if they ask forgiveness, that blows the disciples minds and they said, "Lord increase our faith"! Jesus then goes on to say, which of you, if you have a slave plowing or feeding cattle in the field, when he comes in from the field will tell him to sit down and eat, but rather you will tell him, clean yourself up, put on the proper clothes and serve me while I eat and drink, then when I am finished, you may eat and drink. Do you thank the slave for doing that which was commanded him, I don't think so. You to, when have done all that which was commanded you, say, "we are unworthy slaves and we have only that which was our duty to do". What Jesus is saying is, If I tell you to forgive some seven times or seven hundred times, do what I tell you to do, you are a slave. If I tell you to cast that mountain into the sea, tell it to be cast in the sea, it will happen because it is my Word backing you up. The Word of God will not come back void Isaiah 55:11. The reason people do not go around casting mountains is because God has not commanded them to do so. The disciples said Lord increase our faith, and Jesus said do what I command you to do, and don't expect a thank you, you are a slave. Now, the reason I said it was the best definition was because it was from the Lord Himself. The second best is Hebrews 11:1. The problem we have is not the Bible, the problem we have is that our definitions have changed meaning over time. When I first became a Christian, the only Bible I had was an NASV (New American Standard Version), which I loved. But, ten years into my walk I started reading the King James because I like the old English. If you have the chance to watch the BBC documentary called The King James Bible, please watch it, it is amazing. King James, being the King, made Protestant Reformists and Catholic monks work together to translate the KJV, and they didn't like it, but if the king commands it, you do it or else. It was a God thing, and I will tell you why. As I said before, the Bible is not the problem, it is our definitions have changed. I am going to use the KJV to break down Hebrews 11:1. Now faith is the substance of thing hoped for, the evidence of thins not seen. Ok, let's look at this word substance. Today's definition is, "the stuff that makes up something". We would all agree with that, but look at this word SUBSTANCE. Sub-Stance, two words, "Sub" meaning "Under" and "Stance" meaning "To Stand", literally meaning to stand under. The Greek word for substance is the word "Hupostasis", and it means "to stand under the authority of something". The KJV translated it perfect, it is our definitions that have changed. The word "Hope" is another word that has changed meaning, when we think of hope we think of something that may or may not happen, but, we would like it to happen, we "Hope" it will happen. The original meaning of the word "hope" is a guaranteed thing. Romans 10:17 so then faith cometh by hearing and hearing by the Word of God. From where does faith come? It comes from hearing the Word of God. So then, who's guarantee is it? It is God's guarantee, and His Word will not come back void, it will do what he has commanded. Ok, now let me translate all of this. Faith is standing under the authority of the Word of God, for the things God has guaranteed He will do for those who stand under the authority of His Word. If you will obey God, He will do what He has guaranteed he will do. The reason most of us do not receive those promises of God is because we quit to soon. This is where I first started to understand faith, Peter walking on water. Peter said, "Lord if it is you, command me to come to you on the water", and Jesus said come. Peter only obeyed Christ a little, because he got scared and quit walking, that's why he started sinking, and Jesus said ye of little faith. Why, because he only obeyed a little. Faith comes from the Word of God, Jesus said come, (this was the faith given to Peter) and Peter only came a little. I Pray this helps. The rest of Heb 11:1 I will have to finish up later, have to go to work. I have written a book called "Defining Faith" subtitle..."Because God Only Knows", praying it will go to publishing soon. It is hard to publish a Christian book if your not a Scholar in theology, but that's ok because it is a God thing anyway. It has to be because I'm not that smart. God Bless brother, Pray that helps