Tag-Archive for » emunah «

Grammatical Theology

Sunday, December 09th, 2012 | Author:

Behold, his soul is puffed up; it is not upright within him, but the righteous shall live by his faith.  Habakkuk 2:4  ESV

By his faith – Paul made this verse one of the most important citations in the New Testament when he quoted the prophet Habakkuk as the summary of the letter to the Romans (Romans 1:17).  This statement has become the centerpiece of Christian thinking about grace (and, of course, it is also at the heart of Jewish thinking about grace which is why Paul used it).  But what it actually says isn’t quite so obvious, unless we read the Hebrew text first.

Here’s the problem.  The Hebrew text literally says, “and the righteous by his faith shall live.”  But without intonation and punctuation, we might read this in two different ways.  It could mean that the righteous man will live by faith, that is, he will operate in the world on the basis of trust, or it could mean that as a result of his faith the righteous man will live, that is, he will continue to exist because he acts righteously.  English translations assume one view or the other, so they aren’t much help.  And the Greek text doesn’t help us much either since the LXX translates Habakkuk’s Hebrew as “but the righteous will live by my faithfulness.”  Tim Hegg attempts to clear up this confusion when he says, v’tzadik b’emunato yicheyih [the Hebrew transliterated] in which the bet [the second letter of the Hebrew alphabet] functions to identify the means by which the righteous shall live. . . . Thus Paul understands the construction of the Hebrew text to be teaching that Israel, soon to be defeated by her enemies, has the choice of relying upon herself (proud, puffed up) or trusting in God.  The one who is righteous will trust in God.  Out of this trust the righteous one will live, that is, be preserved.  The text clearly teaches that the one who is righteous lives on the basis of faith. Faith is the means by which the righteous draw near to God and find in Him a safe refuge.”[1]

What does this mean for us?  It means that the second of the two possible meanings is supported by the Hebrew text.  That is to say, the one who trusts in God and acts according to that trust will be preserved – and this is what the Hebraic idea of faith is all about!  Faith is not something that I have in my heart (or head), a sort of spiritual formula that allows me access to God.  Faith is the result of living by God’s instructions regardless of my circumstances.  For example, Daniel exhibited Hebrew faith when he refused to eat the king’s food even in captivity and when he continued to pray each day in spite of the king’s edict.  Daniel was preserved because he acts according to God’s will.  Faith was his trust to live in a particular way regardless of the outcome.

In Western thinking, faith is often defined as a certain set of theological beliefs or as a particular special relationship.  This is static.  It is as if “faith” were some sort of possession that I acquire.  But in Hebrew, faith is the result of what I do, not the prize I put on the shelf.  I have faith only when I am living in a certain way, walking in a certain path.  Yeshua could say to Peter when he began to sink in the water, “What happened to your faith?”  He didn’t mean, “Have you changed your mind?”  He meant, “Why did you stop walking?”

The righteous live because they trust YHWH.  They rely on Him.  They count on Him no matter what.  Oh, by the way, reliability is the proper definition of the Hebrew word emunah, a word that carries the ideas of both “faith” and “truth.”

So, today, how’s your faith?  It’s easy to tell.  Just look at what you’re doing and ask if it reflects relying on God no matter what.

Topical Index: faith, emunah, Habakkuk 2:4, Romans 1:17

 

[1] Tim Hegg, The Letter Writer, pp. 99-100, footnote 207.

Category: Today's Word  | Tags: , , ,  | 3 Comments

The Road Less Traveled

Friday, October 26th, 2012 | Author:

I have no greater joy than this, to hear of my children walking in the truth.  3 John 4  NASB

Walking – This Greek word is peripatounta.  It combines two Greek words to produce the meaning, “to walk about.”  This is a Greek substitution for a Hebrew idiom that encompasses all of our activities.  “To walk in God’s ways” is the Hebrew expression of our entire conduct in the world.  In this verse, John puts the emphasis on “truth.”   Literally, he says, “in the truth are walking.”  John says that truth is the active operation of our present daily moving about.  That means John is thinking like a Jew.  He is not telling us that having correct (true) theology is the essence of spirituality.  He is telling us that living according to reliable authority (Hebrew emunah) is what matters.

Did you notice that John addresses fellow believers as “my children”?  His comment is full of tenderness and pride.  Nothing makes him happier than to see the ones he has nurtured in the faith walk according to the ways of God.

My wife and I used to say that our only goal for our children is see that they are happy.  We really did not care what career they chose, who they decided to marry, where they wanted to live.  We wanted them to have happy lives.  But these days we see that something else is more important.  Happiness is nice, but fulfilling God’s purpose and walking in His ways is much, much better.  Happiness is temporary, as we have both learned over the years.  But purpose under God’s mighty hand is eternal.  To know the truth and to walk in it surpasses all temporary forms of happiness because God’s purposes carry us through any circumstances.  Today we wish to say that same thing that John says:  “We want no greater joy than to hear that our children are walking in truth.”  That will mean they have a place in God’s plan.

Sadly, many children live the kind of lives each of us had before we walked in the truth.  They followed in our footsteps, much to our shame.  Now we all have a new burden – the burden of prayer for those we brought into this world.  There is no greater joy than to hear that your children walk in the truth.  And there is no greater sorrow than to hear that they do not.  It should drive us to our knees, pleading with God to work His purposes in their lives so that they will find what we have found – life in the truth.

Topical Index:  walking, peripatounta, truth, emunah, 3 John 4

 

Category: Today's Word  | Tags: , , , ,  | 2 Comments

Paul’s Summation (5)

Saturday, May 19th, 2012 | Author:

“I tell you that He will bring about justice for them speedily.  However, when the Son of Man comes, will He find faith on the earth?”  Luke 18:8  NASB

Faith – Recently we examined Paul’s citation of Habakkuk 2:4.  We discovered among other things that the Hebrew word for faith, ‘emunah, is a far cry from our usual ideas of creeds, theological statements and doctrines.  What we learned is that ‘emunah really means faithfulness or fidelity.  That ties this word to hesed, the voluntary, mutual commitment to well-being that entails obligations in both directions (remember?).  Once we realize that this verse in Luke should have been translated according to the Hebrew words Yeshua spoke and not the Greek words that were written, we see that Yeshua is asking a very straightforward question.  But it isn’t a question about whether or not He will find people who claim to be Christians.  I am quite sure He would find millions who say that they believe.  That isn’t His question.  His question is whether He will find faithfulness!  Will He find people who consistently and persistently live according to God’s instructions as they follow the Messiah?  Will He find people to carry out the commandments?  Will He find people who do what they say?

Now this becomes a completely understandable and critically important question.  This question implies that it is absolutely insufficient to simply proclaim “Jesus is Lord.”  It is useless to say, “I accept His forgiveness.”  It doesn’t matter if you joined the Church, signed the Statement of Faith or took an evangelism class.  Read the text in its context!  Yeshua is speaking Hebrew to Hebrew-speaking men and women and they knew exactly what ‘emunah meant.  It meant keeping Torah.  There was no other sign of faithfulness to God than this – keeping Torah.  No one in that audience thought anything about church membership, the sinner’s prayer, raising your hand, the Westminster Confession, the Apostles’ Creed or any systematic theology.  They thought Torah!  Period.  Yeshua is simply asking if He will find Torah observers when He returns.  He is asking if people will be living on the basis of the utter reliability and trustworthiness of God’s Word – the Tanakh.  That’s it.  That’s all.

Did you notice that this question follows a statement about speedy justice?  What is the connection?  Do you suppose that when He returns He will make allowances for those who aren’t living according to God’s instructions?  Do you think He will give them a second chance?  Do you imagine He will delay separating the sheep from the goats so that we can all try again?  I don’t think so.  I think the impact of this statement is that when He returns there will be some, not many, who will have lived a life of faithfulness.  They will have demonstrated their fidelity to God by fulfilling their hesed obligations.  They will be welcomed in.  Justice will be done.

But what about the rest?  What about all those who thought it was only about “being saved” or “getting to heaven”?  What happens to them?  Will they be found ‘emunah?

Topical Index:  Luke 18:8, faith, faithfulness, ‘emunah, pistin

 

Category: Today's Word  | Tags: , , , ,  | 20 Comments

Paul’s Summation (4)

Tuesday, May 15th, 2012 | Author:

“Behold, his soul is puffed up, it is not upright within him, but the righteous shall live by his faith.”  Habakkuk 2:4  ESV

Faith – Finally we come to the most crucial term – faith.  Once again we must turn to the Hebrew background.  The Hebrew stem is ‘aman.  It means, “to confirm, support, uphold, establish, be certain.”  The TWOT article makes an important observation. “This very important concept in biblical doctrine gives clear evidence of the biblical meaning of ‘faith’ in contradistinction to the many popular concepts of the term. At the heart of the meaning of the root is the idea of certainty. And this is borne out by the nt definition of faith found in Heb 11:1.  The basic root idea is firmness or certainty.” [1]  Now that we have the basic idea, we must look at the derivative ‘emunah, the word used in Habakkuk.  We should notice right away that this word is translated “faith” because of Paul’s use of the Greek term pistin (faith) in his quotation of Habakkuk in Romans 1:17.  If it were not for Paul, we would have to translate this Hebrew word faithfulness or fidelity, not faith.  That would help us see that ‘emunah is not about some creed or doctrinal statement.  It is about reliable living, living that is based on some constant, unshakeable standard.  In other words, Habakkuk seems to be saying that those who judge correctly, whose lives are a reflection of the divine standard, live on the basis of utter reliance upon that standard.  They behave according to the firm conviction that the measuring rod is true and reliable.  A man of “faith” is a man who is in alignment with God’s words.

You might want to look again at our studies of Leviticus 18:5  and Romans 1:17  or the previous times we studied this verse in Habakkuk.

All of these are consistent.  Faith is not words.  It is deeds.  It is the power of words displayed in action (“Let there be light.  And there was light.”).  The emphasis is always on the behavior.  Yes, behavior is the result of right thought and right attitude, what in Hebrew would be lev (heart), but it never stays there.  A man does not live in his mind.  He lives in the real world of motion.  And that’s where tsaddiq shows up.  It is exhibited in the ‘emunah of consistency, of uniformity to the code, of fidelity to the author of the code.  If that isn’t present, faith isn’t present, no matter what you want to call it.

Topical Index: faith, faithfulness, ‘emunah, ‘aman, Habakkuk 2:4, Romans 1:17


[1] Harris, R. L., Harris, R. L., Archer, G. L., & Waltke, B. K. (1999). Theological Wordbook of the Old Testament (electronic ed.) (51). Chicago: Moody Press.

Category: Today's Word  | Tags: , , , , ,  | 4 Comments

Praise and Worship Music (3)

Monday, August 29th, 2011 | Author:

“The Rock!  His work is perfect, for all His ways are just; A God of faithfulness and without injustice, righteous and upright is He.”  Deuteronomy 32:4  NASB

Faithfulness – Does Moses’ next line describe your God?  Is He a God of faithfulness?  First, we need to know about this Hebrew word, emunah.  We have a lot of background with this word (see February 7, August 15 and 17 for starters).  Right now we need to remember that emunah is about attitude and conduct, not about some abstract idea called “faith.”  In other words, God demonstrates Himself to be faithful because His actions are consistent with His promises.  God does what He says He will do!

Is that your definition of faithful?  Are you a person who does what you say you will do?  Are you a person who keeps your promise?  Perhaps this word emunah is growing in you.  Perhaps you are walking the pathway with God and discovering that you are becoming like Him; someone who is more and more reliable and trustworthy.  What Moshe says about God is exactly the same as what Yeshua asks of us.  Become one who always does what you promise.

It’s important to realize that emunah is not translated by the Greek word alethia (truth) but rather by the word pistis (faith).  This means that the New Testament concept of faith is also about keeping promises!  To have faith in Yeshua is to keep His commandments.  Once we see that emunah stands behind pistis, we understand that the claim of faith without the actions of the commandments is not only mistaken, it is empty.  There is no faith without follow-through, just as there is no promise without performance.  The separation of faith from action is heresy.

God always does what He says He will do!  And what He says He will do never is unjust.  God keeps His promises and His promises are always holy, righteous and upright.  God never fails.  If this sounds a bit like Paul’s dissertation of love (1 Corinthians 13:4-8), we should not be surprised.  Paul, the Jewish rabbi, knew very well that emunah was the bases of agape.

Two important lessons emerge from Moshe’s lyrics.  First, we can count on God’s word.  That’s music to our ears if we are being obedient to Him.  He will not leave us orphans.  He will complete His work in us.  But if we are disobedient, the same faithfulness condemns us.  Those who challenge His emunah in word or deed are in serious jeopardy.  God does what He says He will do.  That includes judgment and, eventually, wrath.  Ignoring the other side of the coin of agape is very dangerous.

Secondly, we see the complete continuity between the God of Moshe and the God of Paul.  Promises without performance are worthless.  No man who puts his hand to the plow of following Yeshua, and fails to till the field, can claim to be rescued.  Faith without works is truly dead.  This requires us to evaluate our own words and deeds.  Where they do not match, we must ask forgiveness and change our ways.  Faith is nothing less than promises fulfilled.

Topical Index:  emunah, pistis, faithfulness, faith, Deuteronomy 32:4

 

Category: Today's Word  | Tags: , , , ,  | 4 Comments

Paul’s Shema (1)

Wednesday, August 17th, 2011 | Author:

So faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ.  Romans 10:17  NASB

Hearing – If you were Paul, the Jewish rabbi Sha’ul, what Hebrew word would you have in mind when you wrote the Greek verb akoe (to hear)?  There can only be one obvious answer – shama.  But as soon as we realize that Sha’ul has shama in mind, we must revise our Westernized interpretation of this verse.  Sha’ul is not saying that all we need to do is listen to words spoken in order to experience faith.  He is saying precisely what the Torah says.  Hearing and obeying are the same action.  The Greek verb akoe might describe merely the reception of audio signals, but the Hebrew verb shama never is satisfied with this vapid explanation.  In Hebrew, to hear is to act upon what is heard.  Until I do what I have heard, I haven’t heard anything at all!  Greek emphasizes the causality of hearing (how it happens).  Hebrew emphasizes the purpose of hearing (what it means for my subsequent behavior).

And now that we’re looking at this verse from a Jewish, rabbinic perspective, what do you suppose “faith” would be in Hebrew?  How about emunah?  Once again we must recognize the Hebraic nuance.  Emunah is not about words.  It’s not about true statements of doctrinal creeds or the Sinner’s Prayer.  Emunah means reliability, trustworthiness, steadfastness.  Faith in Hebrew is about standing on the rock-solid instructions of God.  Faith is the result of obedience, not the precondition of obedience.  First I do it, then I discover that I am able to stand on His word.  I choose to obey, then I experience His working in me.  That’s why Sha’ul can say, emunah (is) of shama (by the way, the verb “to come” is not found in the Greek text.  Neither is the verb “to be”).  Literally, Sha’ul employs a Hebrew grammatical form written in Greek.  Literally, he says ha-emunah shama (“the faith of hearing/obeying”).  In Hebrew, the verb “is” must be supplied.  It is assumed but not written.  This construction is quite common, but its implication is profound.  In Hebrew this construction expresses an equivalence of function.  Emunah is shama.  I can’t have one without the other.  To have faith is to hear/obey.  To hear/obey is to have faith.  No Jewish reader of this letter would have had any objections to this statement.  But for us, this is a big shock.  We think of faith as something distinct from its attributes or its causal precursors.  We think of faith as some kind of spiritual entity that is brought into being by hearing God’s word, as though hearing God’s word is a separate activity from having faith.  Consequently, we do not draw an equivalence between hear/obey and faith.  We think it is possible to have faith and yet not obey.  Sha’ul would throw up his hands and say, “Oy vey!  Where did you come from?”

The shocking element to Sha’ul’s statement is not the equivalence of emunah and shama.  The shocking statement is that shama is tied directly to the rhema of Ha-Mashiach.  But that will have to wait for tomorrow.  We probably have enough to absorb for today.

Topical Index:  faith, hearing, akoe, shama, emunah, Romans 10:17

Category: Today's Word  | Tags: , , , , ,  | 4 Comments