Faith
27 May 2008

Kierkegaard (1813-1855) wrote that pistis in the classical Greek, which is usually translated to ‘faith’, is the conviction that relates to what is probable. Christianity turned this upside down to, to let pistis relate to what is improbable.(1)

I searched through several thesauruses and dictionaries for the meaning for the word faith, which is usually used in English translations for pistis. One definition given for faith is the absolute certainty in the trustworthiness of another. Most of the other definitions relate to belief in or mental acceptance of the truth or actuality of something without proof.

When we look at the definitions for pistis, the Greek dictionary (2) also lists the trustworthiness of another as a definition for pistis. The other definition for pistis in the Greek dictionary is ‘proof’ – that which is completely believable.

Kierkegaard’s point, that we have attached an opposite meaning to the word faith, is a valid one. The concepts and images relating to proof, reliable evidence and trustworthiness associated with pistis has to some extent been replaced by exactly the opposite, so that faith for some conjures up images of blindly or desperately holding on to something for which there is no evidence.

Let us consciously remind ourselves of the believable proof that we have been presented with and seek out testimonies of followers of Christ that provide evidence of our conviction that Jesus is the Lord. We have many first-hand witness accounts of what happened when Jesus died and was resurrected and of the miracles he performed during his ministry.

Read, for example, of the unnatural events that took place at the moment he died in Matthew 27:50-54: the curtain of the temple was torn in two, from top to bottom. There was a powerful earthquake. Graves opened and many bodies were raised from the dead, and after Jesus’ resurrection they went into Jerusalem and appeared to many witnesses. When the centurion and those who were with him, keeping watch over Jesus, saw the earthquake and what took place, they were filled with awe and said, "Truly this was the Son of God!"

The most significant proof that is available for us to witness now is the fruit of the Spirit evident in the lives of his followers.


(1) Kierkegaard Søren 1996. Papers and Journals: A Selection. Penguin Classics London. P 462.
(2) Louw & Nida Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament: Based on Semantic Domains


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