Old Testament Of Faith Research Paper
Have you any idea how often the word "faith" and its related terms "faithful, faithfully, faithfulness and believe" occur in the English Old Testament? I have in mind the King James Version, which is the one commonly used in our churches. A study of your Bible with this question in mind will prove to be most revealing, even startling.
Do you know how often you find the word "faith" in the Old Testament? Exactly twice. In Deuteronomy 32:20the Lord speaks concerning His people: "They are a very froward generation, children in whom is no faith." In Habakkuk 2:4 we find the well known words: "The just shall live by faith." In both cases a word is used in the original that is commonly translated "faithful" or "faithfulness." Accordingly, "children in whom is no faith" could as well have been translated "children in whom is no faithfulness," and …show more content…
In the latter sense the word is used in Esther 2:20: "For Esther did the commandment of Mordecai, like as when she was brought up with him." In Numbers 11:12 it is used in the sense of nursing: "Have I conceived all this people? have I begotten them, that thou shouldest say unto me, Carry them in thy bosom, as a nursing father beareth the sucking child?" Notice, this is the word approaching closest to the New Testament word for "faith."
In another form (Niphal) the word means: to be supported, to be nursed, to be borne; also, to be durable, lasting, permanent; further, to be confirmed, founded; and finally, to be faithful, trustworthy, sure, with respect to God, His Word, His law, His people, etc.
In still another form, the most common in the Old Testament, the word means: to trust, to confide in, to lean, and thus to believe. "Therefore thus saith the Lord God, Behold, I lay in Zion a foundation, a stone, a tried stone, a precious corner stone, a sure foundation: he that believeth shall not make haste."Isaiah
Do you know how often you find the word "faith" in the Old Testament? Exactly twice. In Deuteronomy 32:20the Lord speaks concerning His people: "They are a very froward generation, children in whom is no faith." In Habakkuk 2:4 we find the well known words: "The just shall live by faith." In both cases a word is used in the original that is commonly translated "faithful" or "faithfulness." Accordingly, "children in whom is no faith" could as well have been translated "children in whom is no faithfulness," and …show more content…
In the latter sense the word is used in Esther 2:20: "For Esther did the commandment of Mordecai, like as when she was brought up with him." In Numbers 11:12 it is used in the sense of nursing: "Have I conceived all this people? have I begotten them, that thou shouldest say unto me, Carry them in thy bosom, as a nursing father beareth the sucking child?" Notice, this is the word approaching closest to the New Testament word for "faith."
In another form (Niphal) the word means: to be supported, to be nursed, to be borne; also, to be durable, lasting, permanent; further, to be confirmed, founded; and finally, to be faithful, trustworthy, sure, with respect to God, His Word, His law, His people, etc.
In still another form, the most common in the Old Testament, the word means: to trust, to confide in, to lean, and thus to believe. "Therefore thus saith the Lord God, Behold, I lay in Zion a foundation, a stone, a tried stone, a precious corner stone, a sure foundation: he that believeth shall not make haste."Isaiah