The Biblical Definition of Faith is “Dependence”
In order to understand how the Bible defines “faith,” let’s look at the words it used in the original Hebrew language, the original Greek, and also what scripture says about it.
Original Hebrew: “Aman”
In the Old Testament, the word for “faith” is the Hebrew word aman. It’s a verb, which means it’s an action to be taken. It has a few definitions, and the first is:
“To support, uphold, or nourish—like the pillars that hold up a doorway, or like foster parents to an orphan”
I love this definition because it paints such a vivid picture of holding something up—like pillars of a doorway, or foster parents who nurture an orphan. According to this definition, having faith in Jesus means depending on him like an orphan depends on its foster parents. To have “faith” in Jesus is to be held up and supported by Him in the same way that pillars hold up a roof.
The next two definitions are pretty similar, so I’ll group them together:
1. “To be established, carried, or made firm”
2. “Reliable, faithful, trusty”
According to this definition, having faith in Jesus means being established by Him and firmly planted by Him. We can view Him as a trusty, reliable force that carries us and gives us security.
The final definition is:
To stand firm, to trust, or to be certain
Having faith in Jesus means standing firm in Him and drawing a sense of stability, strength, and consistency from Him. We can be certain of Him in the same way that a roof trusts the pillars beneath it for support.
Original Greek: “Pistis”
In the New Testament, the word for “faith” is the Greek word pistis which is defined as:
Active faith, active belief, active trust, active confidence
Notice how all of it is ACTIVE. Faith in Jesus isn’t a passive status that just exists in the background—it’s an action that is actively performed. This definition gives a sense of actively depending on Jesus, trusting Him to hold you up, and consciously believing in His ability.
Hebrews 11: “Assurance & Conviction”
There’s a verse in Hebrews that straight-up defines faith:
“Faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things that can’t be seen.”
—Hebrews 11:1
The first keyword here is “assurance,” so to have faith in Jesus means finding our assurance in him. The Greek word used is hupostasis which can be defined as “underlying support.” That paints the picture of Jesus supporting me from underneath. It can also be defined as “confidence,” so having faith in Jesus means having confidence in Him.
The second keyword in the verse is “conviction,” so to have faith in Jesus means having conviction of who He is. The Greek word is elegchos which can be defined as “a proof” or “test.” Those definitions are kinda hard to understand on their own, so I like to think of it as “certainty.” (If something is proven or tested, then I can have certainty about it.) So to have faith in Jesus means being certain of him.
When I consider both of these definitions together, having “faith” in Jesus means that He supports me from underneath and that I am certain of His capability.
Conclusion: Faith = Dependence
When I consider all these definitions together, I start to see a fuller picture of what faith in Jesus really means.
It seems like having faith in Him is to rely on him and depend on him. I need to depend on Jesus like a boat depends on water to hold it up. I need to base everything I am on Him like a house is based on its foundation. In the same way that a compass needs the Earth’s magnetic field to operate, I should need Jesus in order to function.
I am to “depend” on Christ in the same way that a student’s final grade in his class might “depend” on his final exam score. If his exam score ends up being an “A,” his final grade for the class would be an “A.” If the exam score ends up being an “F,” then his final grade in the class would be an “F.” The student’s final grade is CONTINGENT on his exam score. His final grade can’t even be determined without his exam score, because it hinges so fully on that exam score.
That’s what it should look like to have faith in Jesus.
Related Articles:
How Does Faith Get Me Eternal Life?
Why Is Faith the Thing That Saves?
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