Definition of Faith Pastor Peter Tan
Heb. 11:1-3 Now faith is the assurance (some bible translate it as substance) of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. For by it the men of old received divine approval. By faith we understand that the world was created by the word of God, so that what is seen was made out of things which do not appear.
Heb. 11:1 is the only definition of faith that the bible gives. the Bible does talk a lot about faith but it’s the only definition that explains what faith is. You cannot develop your faith unless you understand the concept of faith and what it actually covers.
Some of the English translations define faith as the substance. The word substance is actually not a noun in the Greek New Testament. The word substance in the Greek is hupostasis, which is actually a participle. A participle describes a position or a state of being. And here it describes faith not just as a substance. It is describing faith as a state of being. There are certain things that require the exercise of faith in our lives. In fact the New Testament in Greek translate faith as a substantiating or the substantiation the causing of some thing into a substance. Faith is substantiation or the substantiating of things that are hoped for. That describes faith as a movement rather than a substance. And that should be the way we understand faith. But the emphasis in the bible speaks about faith as a condition and a movement and state of being. Being a state of being you can move out of it from time to time. Like running is a state of being. When I say that he is running, I am describing a person in a state of running. I am describing a movement that is taking place. When I use it as a noun I will say the run was marvelous. Its different since I am describing a race which makes the word run into a noun. The word substance describes not just a noun form. Its actually talking about a process. Faith is a process of being that takes place continually. It’s a process of substantiating things that are hoped for into the realm of reality.
Heb.11: 1 for the evidence of things not seen. The word evidence conveys a very dormant personality. The word evidence does not convey the fullness of what the Greek word actually conveys. The word evidence is another Greek word, which is used to refer to a reproof or a correction. The word elanchos is a noun. In its verb form it is elancho. The verb form is a word that is used for rebuke. It carries more that just evidence. It is not just the presentation of an evidence for somebody. I can say, “I can give you evidence.” But if I say, “I give you a rebuttal,” that describes the character of a counterargument. The rebuttal contains evidences and facts to prove you wrong, like in a debate. Team A and team B will debate over certain issues. Team A will present certain points. Team B will present certain points. But as they present their points they will contradict their opponents’ points; they will try to prove their opponents’ points wrong with facts. And they will present a rebuttal. This speaks about strong action than just evidence.
Lets look first at the word evidence as it is used. The word elanchos is used in II Timothy 3:16 All scriptures is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction and for training in righteousness. Reproof is that word elanchos. When you reprove somebody you are using evidences in an argumentative form to bring down, to pull down the wrong theories that people are having and to present the true facts and evidences. So the word elanchos present not only the elements of bringing the facts to a person, but it presents the concept of pulling down those false facts and then bringing in the evidence. That will be a true rebuttal.
Heb. 11:1 is the only definition of faith that the bible gives. the Bible does talk a lot about faith but it’s the only definition that explains what faith is. You cannot develop your faith unless you understand the concept of faith and what it actually covers.
Some of the English translations define faith as the substance. The word substance is actually not a noun in the Greek New Testament. The word substance in the Greek is hupostasis, which is actually a participle. A participle describes a position or a state of being. And here it describes faith not just as a substance. It is describing faith as a state of being. There are certain things that require the exercise of faith in our lives. In fact the New Testament in Greek translate faith as a substantiating or the substantiation the causing of some thing into a substance. Faith is substantiation or the substantiating of things that are hoped for. That describes faith as a movement rather than a substance. And that should be the way we understand faith. But the emphasis in the bible speaks about faith as a condition and a movement and state of being. Being a state of being you can move out of it from time to time. Like running is a state of being. When I say that he is running, I am describing a person in a state of running. I am describing a movement that is taking place. When I use it as a noun I will say the run was marvelous. Its different since I am describing a race which makes the word run into a noun. The word substance describes not just a noun form. Its actually talking about a process. Faith is a process of being that takes place continually. It’s a process of substantiating things that are hoped for into the realm of reality.
Heb.11: 1 for the evidence of things not seen. The word evidence conveys a very dormant personality. The word evidence does not convey the fullness of what the Greek word actually conveys. The word evidence is another Greek word, which is used to refer to a reproof or a correction. The word elanchos is a noun. In its verb form it is elancho. The verb form is a word that is used for rebuke. It carries more that just evidence. It is not just the presentation of an evidence for somebody. I can say, “I can give you evidence.” But if I say, “I give you a rebuttal,” that describes the character of a counterargument. The rebuttal contains evidences and facts to prove you wrong, like in a debate. Team A and team B will debate over certain issues. Team A will present certain points. Team B will present certain points. But as they present their points they will contradict their opponents’ points; they will try to prove their opponents’ points wrong with facts. And they will present a rebuttal. This speaks about strong action than just evidence.
Lets look first at the word evidence as it is used. The word elanchos is used in II Timothy 3:16 All scriptures is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction and for training in righteousness. Reproof is that word elanchos. When you reprove somebody you are using evidences in an argumentative form to bring down, to pull down the wrong theories that people are having and to present the true facts and evidences. So the word elanchos present not only the elements of bringing the facts to a person, but it presents the concept of pulling down those false facts and then bringing in the evidence. That will be a true rebuttal.
© 2024 Created by Raliegh Jones Jr..
Powered by
