As always is my practice, I state that there will be some individuals who will agree with me on this subject and those who will disagree with me.
I do believe that the comments I make here are worthy of consideration on this subject.
It continues to amaze me that many individuals refuse to understand how the writer of scripture understood the word(s) in question to mean,... but would rather insert their own definition for the word(s) based upon today�s definition and not the definition of 2,000 years ago.
To define a word otherwise would be consider a �private interpretation� which the scriptures forbid.
My position, as well as many other individuals is that no where do the scriptures define the word �believing� or �Faith� as meaning a work, if it did, there would be irresolvable contradictions and of course many individuals will not be through enough to explain these contradictions that they have just created for themselves.
Prov 1:22 22 How long, ye simple ones, will ye love simplicity? and the scorners delight in their scorning, and fools hate knowledge?
Eph 2:8,9 8 For by grace are ye saved through Faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the GIFT of God: 9 NOT of works (behavior), lest any man should boast.
Titus 3:5 5 NOT by works (behavior), of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Spirit;
Then also of course, many individuals will choose to ignore the language that was used 2,000 years ago as the common language of the day (Koine Greek) to check if the same definition stands and still applies for today.
There is nothing about the word faith that indicates working or exhibiting effort to obtain something. Many individuals make faith & obedience equal, they are not.
1) Conviction of the truth of anything, belief; in the NT of a conviction or belief respecting man�s relationship to God and divine things, generally with the included idea of trust and holy fervour born of faith and joined with it
1b) A strong and welcome conviction or belief
1c) Belief with the predominate idea of trust (or confidence)
Eph 2:8,9 8 For by grace are ye saved through Faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the GIFT of God: 9 NOT of works (behavior), lest any man should boast.
Definition; To have faith in, trust in; pass: entrust with, believe (affirm, have confidence); used of persuading oneself (= human believing)
To have faith, trust (in, upon, or with respect to, a person or thing),
The Apostle John stated that �these are written that ye might believe�,
John 20:28,29 28 And Thomas answered and said unto Him, My Lord and my God. 29 Jesus saith unto him, Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast BELIEVED: blessed are they that have NOT seen, and YET have BELIEVED.
John 20:30,31 30 And many other signs truly did Jesus in the presence of His disciples, which are not written in this book: 31 But these are WRITTEN, that ye might BELIEVE that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through His name.
Gal 3:2 2 This only would I learn of you, Received YE the Spirit by the works of the law (behavior), OR by the HEARING of faith?
Whereas the Greek word for �Work� is used as a noun and is referred to as an act of physical labor, effort,
1) �rgon ("work") is a deed (action, effort) that carries out (completes) an inner desire (intension, purpose).
2) Labor, action, deed, task, employment; a deed, physical action; that which is wrought or made, a work.
Titus 3:5 5 NOT by WORKS (efforts), of righteousness which we have done,�.
The English language for one example, has been so corrupted today that word definitions have changed from their intended original meaning, and new words, especially from young people, are constantly being created & made up all the time to where it�s difficult to apply a single absolute definition for a word.
Context in which a word is being used is CRITICAL in determining the way the word is defined.
One example is the word �gay�, just 60 years ago the word gay meant to be joyous, happy, now when someone hears the word gay, they automatically assume they are referring to a sexual preference.
How much more cautious should we be when handling the scriptures?, the old adage comes to my mind,�.. �assumption is the mother of all error�.
For example, what woman when writing a letter addressing it to someone specific, would want that same letter to apply to everyone that reads it?
Yet some individuals will apply this double standard when it comes to interpreting the scriptures.
Get my point?
Then when we take into consideration words that are used as synonyms & antonyms, we can�t just assume their meaning without first clarifying the context in which these words are being used.
The context of the usage of a word is critical in defining the definition & it�s usage, thus generalizations fall short of being practical.
II Tim 2:15 15 STUDY to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, RIGHTLY DIVIDING the word of truth.
Anyone who is interested in studying the scriptures, doesn�t have to be a Greek scholar.
I would advise the serious student in starting out to pick up a Strong Concordance which contains the Greek & Hebrew definition of every word used in the scriptures, they cost about $20.
I believe they would find this a very helpful tool in their understanding the scriptures.
Closing Comments
An example of ignoring a context,
Some individuals will quote only this verse in II Timothy 2:12 claiming it teaches the loss or forfeit of Eternal Life. They fail to look at the context in which this statement is made.
Where in these verse is the subject or even the word Eternal Life or Salvation even mentioned?, it's not. They fail to quote the following verse 13, which provides the context for verse 12.
II Tim 2:12,13 12 If we suffer, we shall also reign with Him: if we deny Him, He also will deny us: 13 If we believe not, yet He abideth faithful: He cannot deny Himself.
Who is abiding faithful here when we are unfaithful?, God correct?
Deny what?, it isn't Salvation or Eternal Life as some individuals twist this verse into saying.
The subject is reigning with Him, that's what the verses state.
Reigning is never used in the scriptures as a reference for receiving Eternal Life or Salvation, it is used as a description of entitlement or reward, (I Cor 3:11-15).
Are we just going to add or assume something that the context doesn't even mention?
These verses don�t state anywhere that Eternal Life or Salvation is the subject of discussion, but reigning is.
It is discussing reigning with Christ and the suffering of the believer.
When does the believer�s suffering have anything to contribute to Eternal Life?
It was what Christ suffered for me,�. not what I suffer for Him that purchased my redemption, many individuals have it backwards.
There is a big difference in what God asks of us and what He provides for us.
I John 4:10 10 Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us, and sent His Son to be the propitiation (substitute) for our sins.
Excellent post. I never can understand how people equate faith as a work when the bible diametrically opposes them constantly.
If someone drives up to me in a car, and asks me to believe that it's really a car, I feel like it's only a "work" if I reject that truth and try to fabricate some explanation about why it's not really a car. Simply observing and believing something is true is so easy that it's actually dangerous, "belief" cannot be a "work". If Jesus tells me that He is my Lord, and I believe what He says based on the truths revealed in His life, how can that be legalism? If someone rejects Him and continues in unbelief, or holds up man made traditions as evidence that He is not God, then I can see how that rejection is "work" or "trusting in their own righteousness", but not simple faith.
I do not believe that definitions of Hebrew and Greek words affects the way a person 'interprets' the Word of GOD,i believe it affects the way we 'TRANSLATE' the Word of GOD Almighty.
When a person reads a 'translation' of the Word of GOD which is not correct ( all English translations are not correct ) THEN the interpretation of the Word of GOD will be affected.
Example: John 15:1-3 almost EVERY English translation has these verses of GOD Word 'TRANSLATED WRONG'.
With the translation being wrong most people are TRYING very hard to not be CUT OFF from the vine.
Had the people had a right translation the people would be able to 'REST' in Yeshua,and His 'FINISHED' work at Calvary.
Let us look into John 15:1-3 and see what the Word of GOD should be translated.
John 15:1 I am the True Vine, and My Father is the Vinedresser.
John 15:2 Every branch in Me not bearing fruit, He takes it away; and each one bearing fruit, He prunes, so that it may bear more fruit.
John 15:3 You are already pruned because of the Word which I have spoken to you.
We need to remember that in the Greek Scriptures there are 'NO CAPITOL' letters and 'NO PUNCTUATION',These were ADDED into the English translations,trying to make people to understand the translations better.
John 15:1 I am the True Vine,My Father is the landworker
John15:2 each branch IN ME not CARRYING fruit He( God Almighty ) TAKES IT, ( Or rather 'LIFTS IT' ) ( The word 'AWAY' has been added in order to justify the word 'PRUNE' in this verse of Scripture ).
In the Greek Scriptures the words 'takes away' are the word AIRO which means to lift up.
air�: to raise, take up, lift
Original Word: αἴρω
Part of Speech: Verb
Transliteration: air�
Phonetic Spelling: (ah'-ee-ro)
Short Definition: I raise, lift up
Definition: I raise, lift up, take away, remove.
Only when the Greek word 'auto' is added would the word 'away' be used;If the word AUTOS is not used then the text changes, which changes the translation of the Word of GOD,which changes the 'INTERPRETATION' of the Word of GOD .
Another word wrongly translated is the word kathair�: to cleanse
Original Word: καθαίρω
Part of Speech: Verb
Transliteration: kathair�
Phonetic Spelling: (kath-ah'-ee-ro)
Short Definition: I cleanse, purify, prune
Definition: I cleanse, purify, prune.
HELPS Word-studies
Cognate: 2508 katha�rō � make clean by purging (removing undesirable elements); hence, "pruned (purged)"; eliminating what is fruitless by purifying (making unmixed). See 2513 (katharos).
When we 'clean or cleanse' something we do not remove anything but what makes the object dirty,When someone 'PRUNES' a tree branch or a flower, part of the plant has to be REMOVED before the plant regrows what had been removed,and then some.
When a mother cleans her babies dirty backside,she does not 'CUT OFF' the babies bum,she simply removes the waste,and cleans the babies backside.
GOD Almighty does the same thing with His people, He 'REMOVES' that which makes the person dirty,such as the Blood of Yeshua does with our sin.
1John 1:9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous that He may forgive us the sins, and may cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
When we confess our sins,does GOD Almighty cut off something from me in order to make something to grow within me,no He cleans me up.
There are MANY such verses within the Word of GOD which have been WRONGLY translated, leave people wondering if they will be CUT OFF from the presence of GOD because they have sinned.
The believers in America have been deceived into believing the English translations are correct,and the so called pastors continue deceiving the people by using the English translations.
IF you want the real Word of GOD,then get an Interlinear,a Bible dictionary,concordance and study with other believers which are wanting the true Word of GOD.
