What is Faith?

Tuesday, May 23, 2006

What is Christian Faith?

Perhaps the only attempt to provide a clear definition of Christian faith in the New Testament:

εστιν δε πιστις ελπιζομενων υποστασις πραγματων
But faith is of being hoped the sure basis of things

ελεγχος ου βλεπομενων
demonstration of things not seen.

proof of

evidence of

υποστασις is the counterpart of ελεγχος which refers to objective evidence sufficient to bring conviction in the conscience.

A translation could therefore be:

But faith is the sure basis for things we hope for, the proof of things we cannot see.

This is a totally different idea of faith from the popular conception of faith as "blind faith."

1 Comments:

Blogger Lifewish said...

"faith is... the proof of things we can't see"

So the ability to have faith in something is actually evidence for its existence? or am I misreading this?

5:20 AM  

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