Paul’s Shema (1)
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
Let all things be done decently and in order. – Let’s put the horse before the cart. Abraham believed G-d and his faith was counted for righteousness. The thief on the cross was told by Christ- “today, you will be with me in paradise.” What did he do? He “believed” on the LORD Jesus Christ.
“Faith without works is dead.” Unproductive, sterile, impotent. Look, there’s an apple tree!- How do I know, how do you know, how does he/she know it’s an apple tree?- It produces apples. An orange tree produces oranges.. -a watermelon tree..- oh, -nevermind..
The tree is “known” by it’s fruit. The fruit will be according to the root. – Let’s go rob a bank today- you and I. Will we drop everything and run down to the corner bank with guns waving wildly? No..- first (first things first)- you will have to believe me (I’m so trustworthy!)- We can do this!- (trust me). Then we come up with a plan. We plan our heist- together. Do you (yet) believe we can do this? (together of course!) – Are you in this with me?- Then let’s go!- Let’s do this..- our “faith” (believing we can accomplish this task) combined with your trust in my ability as a professional bank robber- (or politician- same difference) will lead to our actions- we (believing in our abilities and skillsets) go (and action!) toward’s the bank to accomplish the dirty deed.- Attitude leads to action. Belief before behavior. Our doctrine determines our deeds. Faith before works-Works will follow faith- we’re professional bank robbers- remember? That is what we do- rob banks. Now let’s go plan a heist!
G-d spoke to Abraham. (Please-remember na?) go and sacrifice your son. (This is a test..) What did Abraham (first) do? He believed G-d. -He had a history with G-d -and because we know our future by our past- G-d has always been (semper fi) faithful to me. He’s been faithful before- He’ll be faithful again. Abraham (in his heart) knew and trusted Yahweh. Faithful Creator- Enduring Forever Friend- this is who my G-d is. Even tho’ this makes zero sense to me- nevertheless- even though we have been fishing all night (working like nutz!) to catch some fish..-nevertheless- “at Thy word”- (G-d has spoken y’all!) we will “shema” – your words- we will hear and then we will obey- and let down our nets on the other side of the boat. And let us not forget the “rest of the story..”- 153 fish were drawn in to the boat on that day- because of the obedience of the talmudim. They heard- they believed- they obeyed- they were blessed. Someone “believed” on that day! (and were blessed).
Hearing, (believing), Obeying. I will do Torah and then I will understand.- Why? Because obedience works- every time. (Try it- you’ll like it!)
Believe on the LORD Jesus (who is the) Christ and you will be saved!- Much too simple? – I agree with Naman. You mean all I have to do is go dip in the Jordan river seven times and I will be delivered from my leprosy?- That’s nutz!- much too simple for a man like me!- Surely there must be more to it..
“Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Ruach HaKodesh;” (Titus 3.5)
I cannot work my soul to save- that work’s already done
-But I will work like any slave
For the love of G-d the Son.
By grace-through faith-unto good works. -This is the “order” of things. Once we become apple trees-we will grow and produce fruit. Fruit that remains. “Therefore, the promise is based on faith, so that it may be a matter of grace and may be guaranteed for all of Abraham’s descendants-not only for those who were given the law, but also for those who share the faith of Abraham, who is the father of us all.” (Romans 4.16)
What then, is faith? Faith is our (right) response to the word(s) of G-d. What is our (right) response? Obedience. “Shema” O Israel- the LORD our Elohim is One.” Believe on the LORD Jesus Christ and you will be saved.- How do I know this? -the same way as you- “it is written.” Faith comes by hearing- and hearing by the word(s) of G-d. – and the just (those who have been justified-Abraham believed and it was counted unto him for righteousness/right relatedness) shall live by faith. Man shall not live by bread alone but by every word (every word?) that proceeds forth from the mouth of G-d. – Where may we find these words? -Are they written in a book?
Thank you Skip. Your insightful words had and can have a profound impact on my walk with YHWH. (I say “had and can have” purposefully, since just the hearing of them gave me a Greek AHA moment; while the future doing something with the words that changes, not just my theology, but my life is Hebraic) Not only does this verse make sense now, but more importantly and fundamentally do the words of Hebrews 11:1 which give us the prime definition of faith. “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen”
No longer do I struggle with the meaning of what it means for faith to be the substance or essence of a thing; as if faith had some invisible, yet corporeal elements from which one could fabricate material things from heaven’s spiritual amino acids, as it were, or simply requisition material things (such as a car or penthouse) from heaven’s vast storehouses. This was the popular charismatic “faith” movement teaching that I once followed wholeheartedly. But Shaul is simply saying that faith (is) the emunah-reliability, trustworthiness, steadfastness (mine or His or both) which results from my shema (hearing and obeying) and also becomes the proof (evidence) of my having ‘shema-ed’. So I can now read it as: faith is my steadfast hope (and steadfastness) in His reliability (trustworthiness, faithfulness). And my (and/or His) steadfastness is the evidence of my faith.
Hopefully tomorrows teaching will
further refine this thought and nail it home for me so that I can claim and receive that new car…. oh wait…!!!!
Thanks for your word today. Just as I see written here and in my life you seem to have the message I and many others need for the day.
My pastor preached from Romans Sunday night and spoke at length about faith. He approached faith as more of a mental concept and not physical. Your Today’s Word explained it all so simply and to the point. I printed off the message for today and put it in his hand. I am praying that he will be intrigued enough to investigate better translations of God’s word.
Thanks Skip, good word indeed. Most christians falsely believe that it’s not by works but grace only. What error, when James/Yaccov clearly states that we need to show our works, if we say we have faith/trust in ABBA YHWH, Whose Word changes not, nor is contradictary. That we are to be examples, as light in a world of darkness, living righteously, showing the Way back to HIM.
>John< good work, I must say! halleluYAH :-))