Belief vs faith
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believe versus faith?
(1) Are you asking the difference between the meaning of the English words? Or (2) are you trying to discern the difference in the meaning of the Greek words from which the English words are translated?
Question # 1 can make in interesting discussion but has little value as far as better understanding the Biblical meaning.
Question # 2: The beginning point is realizing the Greek word for "believe" is pisteuo. The Greek word for "faith" is pistis. The same root word is used for both. One is a noun and one is a verb. But realizing the root word is the same negates trying to find huge theological differences between the meanings of "believe" and "faith".
(1) Are you asking the difference between the meaning of the English words? Or (2) are you trying to discern the difference in the meaning of the Greek words from which the English words are translated?
Question # 1 can make in interesting discussion but has little value as far as better understanding the Biblical meaning.
Question # 2: The beginning point is realizing the Greek word for "believe" is pisteuo. The Greek word for "faith" is pistis. The same root word is used for both. One is a noun and one is a verb. But realizing the root word is the same negates trying to find huge theological differences between the meanings of "believe" and "faith".
None. One is a verb, the other is a noun.
BELIEVE (Acts 16:31)
Strong's Concordance
Part of Speech: Verb
Transliteration: pisteuó
Phonetic Spelling: (pist-yoo'-o)
Short Definition: I believe, have faith in
Definition: I believe, have faith in, trust in; pass: I am entrusted with.
FAITH (Rom 10:17)
Strong's Concordance
Part of Speech: Noun, Feminine
Transliteration: pistis
Phonetic Spelling: (pis'-tis)
Short Definition: faith, belief, trust
Definition: faith, belief, trust, confidence; fidelity, faithfulness.
BELIEVE (Acts 16:31)
Strong's Concordance
pisteuó: to believe, entrust
Original Word: πιστεύωPart of Speech: Verb
Transliteration: pisteuó
Phonetic Spelling: (pist-yoo'-o)
Short Definition: I believe, have faith in
Definition: I believe, have faith in, trust in; pass: I am entrusted with.
FAITH (Rom 10:17)
Strong's Concordance
pistis: faith, faithfulness
Original Word: πίστις, εως, ἡPart of Speech: Noun, Feminine
Transliteration: pistis
Phonetic Spelling: (pis'-tis)
Short Definition: faith, belief, trust
Definition: faith, belief, trust, confidence; fidelity, faithfulness.
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Sadly, your repeated disregard of the Greek underlying other KJV verses makes your use of it here rather disingenuous. You cannot, with integrity, claim it is irrelevant in one case, and critically relevant in another. I will, however, check out what you claim.
Um, relevance? Abraham and many others were praised for their faith. Either you're ignoring most of Hebrews 11, or your argument is without merit... or both.
Um, relevance? Abraham and many others were praised for their faith. Either you're ignoring most of Hebrews 11, or your argument is without merit... or both.
Galatians 2:16 (KJV) Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.
To John146: You have claimed that this refers to the faith that Jesus had, rather than the faith that we have in Him. Please justify this distinction from Scripture.
Based on the consistency of translation prior to about 1850 as "faith of" and after, as "faith in", I suggest that they actually mean exactly the same thing, and it is the change in how things are phrased in English that is the root of the difference, rather than a substantive difference in the meaning of the text itself. In other words, where the KJV has "faith of Jesus Christ" it means, literally, "faith in Jesus Christ" (rather than in one's own works or in some other entity). The idea that it means "the faith of Christin God the Father" as opposed to "the faith that humans put in Jesus" is not supported, that I can find.
To John146: You have claimed that this refers to the faith that Jesus had, rather than the faith that we have in Him. Please justify this distinction from Scripture.
Based on the consistency of translation prior to about 1850 as "faith of" and after, as "faith in", I suggest that they actually mean exactly the same thing, and it is the change in how things are phrased in English that is the root of the difference, rather than a substantive difference in the meaning of the text itself. In other words, where the KJV has "faith of Jesus Christ" it means, literally, "faith in Jesus Christ" (rather than in one's own works or in some other entity). The idea that it means "the faith of Christin God the Father" as opposed to "the faith that humans put in Jesus" is not supported, that I can find.
Over and over man is commanded to believe. I could have listed about 50 more verses.
Acts 16:31 And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.
Romans 1:16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.
Romans 3:22 Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference:
Romans 4:24 But for us also, to whom it shall be imputed, if we believe on him that raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead;
Romans 10:10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
Galatians 3:22 But the scripture hath concluded all under sin, that the promise by faith of Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe.
1 Timothy 4:10 For therefore we both labour and suffer reproach, because we trust in the living God, who is the Saviour of all men, specially of those that believe.
Acts 16:31 And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.
Romans 1:16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.
Romans 3:22 Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference:
Romans 4:24 But for us also, to whom it shall be imputed, if we believe on him that raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead;
Romans 10:10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
Galatians 3:22 But the scripture hath concluded all under sin, that the promise by faith of Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe.
1 Timothy 4:10 For therefore we both labour and suffer reproach, because we trust in the living God, who is the Saviour of all men, specially of those that believe.
From my experience many do not acknowledge that God has faith. Not understanding how faith works they say; God does not need faith he is omnipotent and knows all things. This has nothing to do with God having or possessing faith
like you mentioned the evidence for the wording referring to faith belonging to, and personal to, Jesus Christ, is backed up by similar grammar used elsewhere in the New Testament.
like you mentioned the evidence for the wording referring to faith belonging to, and personal to, Jesus Christ, is backed up by similar grammar used elsewhere in the New Testament.
It's not our faith in or towards him that saves us we have no faith to offer before we are saved..in only the imagination of a wicked heart as I who could n know it.
One day out of the blue it can excuse us the next moment it accuses us. God is greater than our heart, a personal judgement hall. It is not only backed up by similar grammar used elsewhere in the New Testament. But by the direct usage of it .
The loving commandment (not a theory of men) verse 1 is not to have the faith of (not in) Christ, the Lord of glory, of denoting ownership glory. The answer is given in verse 7. It blasphemes the holy name by which we are called. To blaspheme is to accredit the work of person to another.
One day out of the blue it can excuse us the next moment it accuses us. God is greater than our heart, a personal judgement hall. It is not only backed up by similar grammar used elsewhere in the New Testament. But by the direct usage of it .
The loving commandment (not a theory of men) verse 1 is not to have the faith of (not in) Christ, the Lord of glory, of denoting ownership glory. The answer is given in verse 7. It blasphemes the holy name by which we are called. To blaspheme is to accredit the work of person to another.
James 2:1 King James Version (KJV)My brethren, have not the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, with respect of persons.
The conclusion
James 2:7 King James Version (KJV)Do not they blaspheme that worthy name by the which ye are called?
Stealing the work of authorship like plagiarism.
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God's redemption plan (Romans 8:2) requires the Believer at salvation and during sanctification, that their Faith is placed and maintained exclusively in Christ (believe who He is - John 1:1, 14, 29) and the Cross, i.e., "The Finished Work at Calvary's Cross," i.e., "The Blood of Jesus" (believe what He accomplished at Calvary Cross. Romans 4:5 - Galatians 2:19-21 NKJV- 1 Corinthians 1:18-25 NKJV - Colossians 2:11-15 NKJV, i.e., etc.).
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To believe is a verb, which is and ACTION word, and is always in the present tense or in the now.
To have faith is a noun, which is a person, place, or THING, and it to is in the present tense, as in, having it now.
Mar 11:24 Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye [have already] receive[d] them, and ye shall have them.
To put it in perspective, when one believes they currently have (the faith of) something, such as salvation, and act on that belief, such as confessing Jesus as their personal lord and savior, because they believe the Gospel of Jesus Christ and His work on the cross, they will be converted and translated, from death to live, from the kingdom of darkness to God's kingdom of light.
To have faith is a noun, which is a person, place, or THING, and it to is in the present tense, as in, having it now.
Mar 11:24 Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye [have already] receive[d] them, and ye shall have them.
To put it in perspective, when one believes they currently have (the faith of) something, such as salvation, and act on that belief, such as confessing Jesus as their personal lord and savior, because they believe the Gospel of Jesus Christ and His work on the cross, they will be converted and translated, from death to live, from the kingdom of darkness to God's kingdom of light.
The Greek words for "pistis" and "pisteuo" are two forms of the same word. "Pistis" is the noun form, "pisteuo" is the verb form. If you believe in Christ (Acts 10:43; 13:39; 16:31); have faith in Christ (Acts 26:18; Romans 3:22-28; Ephesians 2:8) then you are not only believing in the historical facts about Christ and the totality of His person, but are trusting in Him as the all sufficient means of your salvation.
The word translated faith is found in the Greek lexicon of the Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance and is defined as follows: #4102; pistis; persuasion, i.e. credence; moral conviction (of religious truth, or the truthfulness of God or a religious teacher), *especially reliance upon Christ for salvation*; abstractly, constancy in such profession; by extension, the system of religious (Gospel) truth itself:--assurance, belief, believe, faith, fidelity.
The word translated believe is from the greek word pisteuō which means "to have faith (in, upon, or with respect to, a person or thing), that is, credit; by implication to entrust (especially one’s spiritual well being to Christ).
The word "believe" can describe mere "mental assent" belief, as in James 2:19, or also include "trust and reliance" in Christ for salvation, as in Acts 16:31. In James 2:19, nobody is questioning the fact that the demons believe "mental assent" that "there is one God," but they do not believe/entrust their spiritual well being to Christ; have faith/reliance upon Christ for salvation.
Their trust and reliance is in Satan, as demonstrated by their rebellion in heaven and continuous evil works. Saving belief/faith is more than just an "intellectual acknowledgment" to the existence and historical facts about Christ. Saving belief/faith trusts exclusively in Jesus Christ as the all sufficient means of our salvation.
The word translated faith is found in the Greek lexicon of the Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance and is defined as follows: #4102; pistis; persuasion, i.e. credence; moral conviction (of religious truth, or the truthfulness of God or a religious teacher), *especially reliance upon Christ for salvation*; abstractly, constancy in such profession; by extension, the system of religious (Gospel) truth itself:--assurance, belief, believe, faith, fidelity.
The word translated believe is from the greek word pisteuō which means "to have faith (in, upon, or with respect to, a person or thing), that is, credit; by implication to entrust (especially one’s spiritual well being to Christ).
The word "believe" can describe mere "mental assent" belief, as in James 2:19, or also include "trust and reliance" in Christ for salvation, as in Acts 16:31. In James 2:19, nobody is questioning the fact that the demons believe "mental assent" that "there is one God," but they do not believe/entrust their spiritual well being to Christ; have faith/reliance upon Christ for salvation.
Their trust and reliance is in Satan, as demonstrated by their rebellion in heaven and continuous evil works. Saving belief/faith is more than just an "intellectual acknowledgment" to the existence and historical facts about Christ. Saving belief/faith trusts exclusively in Jesus Christ as the all sufficient means of our salvation.
Faith is the substance of the thing hoped for, the evidence
of the thing not seen.
of the thing not seen.
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Believe is to hope that something is true without any
known substance in support of the thing believed.
What is absurd, if one wants to use that term, is the argument that a person who believes they are saved by their faith haven't actually heard the audible voice of the LORD, so if faith comes by reading the scriptures then why haven't they read that if we haven't heard the actual voice of the LORD, then we are saved by our hope that men have heard, and they will hear the audible voice of the LORD.
known substance in support of the thing believed.
What is absurd, if one wants to use that term, is the argument that a person who believes they are saved by their faith haven't actually heard the audible voice of the LORD, so if faith comes by reading the scriptures then why haven't they read that if we haven't heard the actual voice of the LORD, then we are saved by our hope that men have heard, and they will hear the audible voice of the LORD.
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