It is the word “Pistis” (Greek) that is translated “Faith” in the Second Witness of the Bible. James 2:1; 1 Timothy 4:6; Titus 1:1.
This word “Faith”—pistis in the Greek, is
described as “hupostasis” in Heb 11:1. This word translated “substance” in the English
Bible is explained by Greek scholars in the
following way:
“[hupostasis] stands for the whole body
of documents bearing on the ownership of a person’s property, deposited in the archives, and forming the evidence of ownership.
These varied uses are at first sight somewhat perplexed but in all cases there is the central idea of something that underlies visible
conditions and guarantees a future possession. And as this is the essential meaning in Heb. 11:1, we venture to suggest the translation “Faith is the titledeed of things hoped for.”” James Hope Moulton and George Milligan, The Vocabulary of the Greek Testament, p. 660.
3. The implications we can draw from this
quotation are the following:
a. Pistis or Faith is the “titledeed.”
b. Pistis or Faith in Heb 11:1 is the “evidence.”
c. The “titledeed” is the “evidence” of things not seen.
d. Pistis of Faith is therefore a knowledge—evidence.
e. Revealed Truths is knowledge—evidence of unseen spiritual things.
4. In further looking at the word pistis as
it is used in the Greek we must follow the
restricted explanation given in the Bible in
Hebrews 11:1. Scholars may propose different means, some to include “trust” “trustworthy” and “confidence”, however, when their
explanations touches titledeed or a knowledge—evidence, then we know we have the right meaning of pistis in such
statements. Here is proof.
“The usage of pistis in the papyri is usually
legal, and its predominant meaning is “guarantee, security.” Ceslas Spicq,
Theological Lexicon of the New Testament,
p. 111.
“Faith, the proof of invisible realities (Heb 11:1), can be compared to … conviction …
argument, exhibit, means of proof … but can also mean any sort of testimony ... and derives in the first instance from Aristotle’s definition of rhetoric: “Among the modes of persuasion … some are extrinsic to the art of persuasion e.g. testimony, confessions documents ….” Ibid, p. 111.
“This pistis is sometimes a formal obligation, an oath … which is a means of proof.” Ibid,
p.111.
“The document embodying a pledge is itself a pistis.” Ibid, p. 111.
5. Again and again we are given meanings of
pistis that is consistent with the words, proof,
evidence or a knowledge—evidence.
“… or better, the collection of documents stored in the archives as surety and constituting the evidence for a property right …. Thus faith is the true title attesting to one’s ownership of the heavenly property that one hopes for …” Ibid, p. 112.
“… the papyri link pistis [faith] and aletheia [truth] …” Ibid, p. 114.
“A meaning that corresponds to that of
pistis in classical Greek [is] surety, deposit, guarantee …” Ibid, p. 423.
6. In assessing the information given to us about pistis, in line with Hebrews 11:1. We can see these facts.
a. Pistis is used largely for a means of
knowledge—evidence.
b. Pistis relates to things like documents that give a knowledge that is proof of real things though one may not have sensory perception of them.
c. Pistis relates to words of proof as a
guarantee of realities.
d. All this builds up the case that Faith (Pistis is not believing and /or trusting, even though some may think so, it is simply
revealed truths that provides evidence
and that is the guarantee.
7. Now we can understand why the world’s
foremost theologian made these following statements.
“These were always unpropitious periods in the Christian Church, when Christian histories of dogmatics and theology separated gnosis [knowledge] and pistis [faith]. Pistis rightly understood is gnosis; rightly understood the act of faith is also an act of knowledge. Faith means knowledge.” Karl Barth, Dogmatic in Outline, p. 23.
“Faith is knowledge; it is related to God’s
Logos, and is therefore a thoroughly logical matter.” Ibid, p. 25.
8. Another scholar tells us what pistis really means.
“Yet faith is a kind of knowledge …. the writer [of Hebrews] is calling faith (pistis) … a kind of spiritual perception …” Geddes Mac Gregor, Gnosis, p. 82.
“Faith in God, which consists in the
knowledge of God, is a unique kind of
knowledge.” Ibid, p 122.
All this helps us to understand a rare and strange explanation of Faith given by Mrs. White in an article which she wrote. She said.
“What is Faith? “The substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen .” Hebrews 11:1. It is an assent of the understanding of God’s words which binds the heart in willing consecration and service to God, who gave the understanding, who moved the heart, who first drew the mind to view Christ on the cross of Calvary. Faith is rendering to God the intellectual powers, abandonment of the mind and will to God, and making Christ the only door to enter into the kingdom of heaven.” Ellen G. White, Danger of false ideas of justification by faith, Manuscript 36, 1890.
What Mrs. White statement means is the
following points.
a. The Faith Mrs. White describes is the
Faith when it becomes the individual
Faith held in the mind and grasped by the understanding.
b. This Faith is the agreement of the
understanding of God’s words that
commits the person to God, thus there
must be knowledge—evidence in the mind about the truths of Christ.
All this is why Mrs. White can call Faith “an intelligent understanding faith.”
“… when you have an intelligent understanding faith that his death makes it possible for you to cease from sin …” Ellen G. White,
Review and Herald, July 24, 1888.
In a summary of this short study, we can say the following about the word “Pistis”
a. It is knowledge—evidence of spiritual things. (Hebrews 11:1; Proverbs 22:17-21).
b. It is the knowledge of the Spirit of Truth, or spiritual knowledge, the Spirit of Faith. (John 14:16-18; 2 Corinthians 4:13).
c. But it is the individual faith when it is
the conviction—knowledge in the mind converting the opinions about God. (1 John 5:6,10; 1 John 2:27; Romans 12:2).
Fin.
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