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Faith and the Old Testament


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Author's Bias | Interpretation: conservative


The biblical concept of faith can be seen in its earliest form in the Old Testament where a variety of Hebrew terms provide a rich and complex definition.

Two root verbs form the basis of the concept of faith.

1. 'Ᾱman conveys the sense of "reliability, stability" and "firmness."

The hiphil verb stem of 'āman conveys the meaning "to be certain, sure" or "to be assured. This perspective indicates that "faith" has a basis on a historical event; it is founded on truth certain of a real living God and the absolute reality of His words.

Is faith blind?

The niphal verb stem conveys the meaning "to be true, reliable or faithful" and can be applied to both God and men. This perspective indicates that "faith" acquires a meaning of "to be entrusted with."

2. Bāṭaḥ means "'to trust, rely upon" or "to put confidence in".

"Bāṭaḥ" as a verb, in its qal or hiphil verb form, expresses the sense of well-being and security which results from having something or someone in whom to place confidence. It is the action of believing in something so strongly that a confidence is generated from that trust.


In its various contexts, the Old Testament introduces the idea that "faith" is based on historical and factual events and leads to the conclusion that all truth comes from God, and is truth because it is related to God. The concept of "faith" is a human response to historical fact that entails the subjective nature of trust.


For deeper study:

What is the concept of "faith" in the Old Testament?



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Series: The Doctrine on Salvation
What is Faith?

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Series: The Doctrine on Salvation
A Relationship Between Fact and Faith


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