WORD STUDY : FAITH (Source: The new Bible dictionary)
FAITH in OT Word “Faith” is found only in two places in Old Testament. The intended meaning of faith in these verses is “faithfulness”
Dt 32:20 “I will hide my face from them,” he said, “and see what their end will be; for they are a perverse generation, children who are unfaithful.
Hab 2:4 “See, the enemy is puffed up; his desires are not upright— but the righteous person will live by his faithfulness. The Faith in OT is faithfulness arising out of right attitude with God and is usually expressed by verbs such as believe, trust, hope, etc. But in NT, Faith is presupposed (to accept something as true or existing and act on that basis, before it has been shown to be true.
OT looks for persons to be saved based on their deeds. Psalmist is not mentioning his trust in his works but his works (integrity) as evidence of his trust in God.
Ps 26:1 Vindicate me, O LORD, for I have led a blameless life; I have trusted in the LORD. Like in NT, the demand in OT is also for the right attitude to God, i.e., Faith. Psalmist is calling for upright life and right attitude towards God and His laws. He is asking people to trust God, i.e., to live by faith.
Ps 37:3, 4 Trust in the LORD and do good; dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture. Take delight in the LORD, and he will give you the desires of your heart. People were urged to trust in His word and on God. Trusting in self and other things are not advised.
Ps 119: 42 I can answer anyone who taunts me, for I trust in your word.
Proverb 3:5 Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding;
Pr 28:26 Those who trust in themselves are fools
Proverb 3:5 Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding;
Pr 28:26 Those who trust in themselves are fools
Ezekiel 33:3 ….but then they trust in their righteousness and do evil,….. they will die for the evil they have done.
Isaiah 42:17 But those who trust in idols,…..will be turned back in utter shame.
Jeremiah 17: 5 This is what the LORD says: “Cursed is the one who trusts in man, who draws strength from mere flesh and whose heart turns away from the LORD.
Isaiah 42:17 But those who trust in idols,…..will be turned back in utter shame.
Jeremiah 17: 5 This is what the LORD says: “Cursed is the one who trusts in man, who draws strength from mere flesh and whose heart turns away from the LORD.
People in OT thought of Lord as the one worthy of trust. My rock, My fortress, My deliverer, My shepherd, My God, My Strength, My high tower, etc., picturesquely expresses the trust people had on the Lord. Abraham….his life was an example of trusting God and His word.
Gen 15: 6 Abram believed the LORD, and he credited it to him as righteousness. This verse is often quoted by NT writers. NT writers developed on the idea of faith expressed in this verse
FAITH in NT
Faith is found in NT vide two words: noun “pistis” and verb “pisteuo” 240 times. The adjective, “pistos” is found 67 times. In NT, Faith is seen against the background as the saving work of God in Christ. Central to the NT thought is God sent His Son to be the saviour of the world. Christ accomplished man’s salvation by dying an atoning death on Calvary’s cross.
Faith is the attitude whereby a person abandons all reliance in his efforts (deeds of piety, ethical goodness, etc.,) and completely trusting Christ for salvation.
Acts16:31 Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved
John 3:16 whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.
John 3:16 whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.
The verb, “pisteuo” is often followed by “that”, indicating faith is concerned with facts (actions, giving evidence. Accepting as true)
John 8:24 …if you do not believe that I am he, you will indeed die in your sins.
James 2:18-20 But someone will say, “You have faith; I have deeds.” Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by my deeds. You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that—and shudder. You foolish person, do you want evidence that faith without deeds is useless?
Sometimes, the verb, “pisteuo” is followed by the preposition “eis.” This literally means believe “into.” This denotes faith takes a man out of himself and puts him into Christ (Being in Christ). It is not just having knowledge, but a believer cleaving to his saviour with all his heart
John 15:4 Remain in me, as I also remain in you. Sometimes, the verb, “pisteuo” is followed by ‘epi,’ meaning ‘upon.’ Faith has a firm basis.
Acts 9:42 …many people believed in the Lord (after raising up Tabitha. People saw what Jesus could do and rested their faith in Him).
Acts 4:24 for us who believe in him who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead. (Sometimes faith rests on God the father)
Faith is fundamental to a Christian believer. Faith to a Christian is believing without demanding any further clarification. The verb, “pisteuo” is instructive. When a man comes to believe, he commits decisively to Christ.
The perfect tense of the verb, “pisteuo” speaks of a present faith that is continuous with the past act of belief. When faith is used as noun, it often comes with the article, the: the faith. “The faith” (noun) refers to whole Christian teaching.
Col 2:7 rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness.
Jude 1: 3 I felt compelled to write and urge you to contend for the faith that was once for all entrusted to God’s holy people.
In Synoptic gospels, Faith is often connected with healing.
Mathew 9: 22 “your faith has healed you.” (Jesus to Synagogue ruler’s daughter)
In Synoptic gospels, the faith in Christ is demanded for the followers in wider sense.
Mark 9:23 Everything is possible for one who believes
Mathew 17:20 if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.
Mark 9:23 Everything is possible for one who believes
Mathew 17:20 if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.
In John gospel, the verb, “pisteuo” is used often (98 times) more than 3 times in synoptic gospels. It is often with preposition ‘eis’ referring, ‘to believe into,’ ‘to believe on.’
John 3: 18 Whoever believes in him is not condemned (Eternal issues are decided here, now…characteristics of Johannine teaching)
John 3: 36 Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God’s wrath remains on them.
In Acts, the faith is used in simple past tense…act of decision. Luke records many occasions wherein people came to put their trust in Christ.
For Paul, faith is the typical Christian attitude.
Christianity is more than a system of good advice. It not only tells men what they ought to do but gives power to do it. The power of Holy Spirit is seen in the lives of Christian. The power is available only to those who believe in Christ.
Romans 1:16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes: Justification by faith is centre of Paul’s message. To Paul faith means the abandonment of all reliance of one’s ability to merit salvation. It is a trustful acceptance of the gift of God in Christ, reliance on Christ and Christ alone.
Rom 5:1 We have been justified through faith
Gal 2:16 know that a person is not justified by the works of the law, but by faith in Jesus Christ.
Gal 2:16 know that a person is not justified by the works of the law, but by faith in Jesus Christ.
In Hebrews, faith is always been the characteristics of the people of God. They walk by faith and not by sight. Faith is necessary to please God.
Heb 11:6 And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.
Heb 11:1 Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.
Heb 11:6 And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.
Heb 11:1 Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.
In James, we find the readers are exhorted to have faith in Christ and to produce fruits in accordance with the faith they possess (Works of faith, like Paul’s fruit of the Spirit led life).
James 2: 14-20 What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save them?
