Dictionary Definitions
If you will not believe, surely you will not be established. Isaiah 7:9
Believe – What is faith? Ah, it seems like such a simple question until you try to give your definition. Faith is _____________. You’ll probably need a pretty big blank space to fill in. Just remember faith is a verb, so don’t use static concepts, nouns or “beliefs” in your definition. Before you get too frustrated, let’s see if we can get some help from the biblical texts.
The Greek word is pistis. It is usually defined as a relationship with God – or something like that. But immediately we have a problem. You see, John never uses faith as a noun, so it can’t be a “relationship”. Paul and John consider “faith” from a Hebrew context. The actual word “faith” is very rare, but we do find words like hope, fear and trust. That takes us to the Old Testament idea of the Greek pistis. The word occurs in the LXX, but what we find most of the time is nothing like hope, fear or trust. What we find is the Hebrew root ‘mn. It’s the same root that shows up in the word amen. Now this seems really confusing. What does amen have to do with faith?
The most common expression based on the root ‘mn is ‘emet, the Hebrew word for “truth.” Amen, of course, expresses the thought that what I have just heard is vouched as true before God. So, the Old Testament idea of faith is not tied to my “beliefs.” It is tied to establishing myself in the truth. In other words, it is setting my feet on the solid rock of God’s unassailable character. Faith is not my relationship to Him. It is gaining the stability that comes from Him.
Isaiah helps too. This verse includes a wordplay. “If not ta-aminoo (you will believe), surely not te-amenoo (you be established).” The root ‘mn is used in both words – to believe and to establish. In other words, there is a direct connection between believing and securing. The opposite of believing is not doubting. It is tearing down. If I believe (verb), I secure God’s truth as the foundation of my actions. If I do not believe, I tear down God’s truth and am left without a firm foundation.
We often adopt the Greek idea that faith is about certain beliefs. We think faith is about true statements. “I know my Redeemer lives” becomes a statement of faith. The focus of our attention is on the connection between what we claim to know and the relationship that it fosters. We think of faith in connection with correct doctrine. But the Old Testament seems to say something else. The Old Testament says faith is truth in action! If I believe, I set myself on God’s word. I engage His promise and make it my reality. Faith is something I do for me. I move myself from instability to stability. I step onto a sure foundation. It hardly matters what I say or what I claim. It matters where I stand, so help me God.
Topical Index: faith, ‘mn, amen, pistis, ‘emet, truth, foundation, Isaiah 7:9
In the late afternoon of April 18, 1521, in the city of Worms, Germany, Martin Luther, a 37 year old Catholic monk appeared before Charles the Fifth, the Holy Roman Emperor t the imperial assembly. Luther was called to answer certain charges and to make public confession to the ‘errors’ found in the multitude of books he had written. The speech he delivered that day, “Here I Stand” marked the beginning of the Reformation, a critical turning point in Christian history, that decisively altered the spiritual map of the world. (From the cover to Max McLean’s recording of “Here I Stand.”
Definitely an example of faith being a verb, an action word. Thanks Skip.
In the beginning G-d.. And G-d said.. And there was.. G-d speaks , we respond. Faith is our response to what G-d says. G-d says do, we do. G-d says don’t- we don’t. Why? -because we know He is holy, we know He is compassionate, we know He speaks nothing but truth and we know He is worthy of our focused attention. Is it possible for us to know this G-d? Are we capable of knowing Him? How can a sinful man even think of approaching a G-d who (according to His never failing word) is holy? What is our response to the words of YHWH? (there is a verb involved in this..) Abraham believed G-d and his (demonstrated) faith was counted for righteousness.. Obedience to what G-d says is the key. We hear -we obey.. (shema, O Israel.)
Isa 7:14 “Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, a virgin will be with child and bear a son, and she will call His name Immanuel.
Speaking of coming up with blanks, I’ve always wondered why Mary didn’t call the Son of Man Immanuel.
Isaiah is my favorite prophet, but he seems to have gotten this one wrong.
Any thoughts?
Great word my friend!
If we are not on the foundation of truth, emet, then faith is not faith at all, just proclamations/declarations without the substance of a relationship with Abba Yahweh. It is the relationship with Him that produces the faith for obedience. Amein!