A Working Definition.
Christian faith is not mere agreement that God exists. Scripture presents faith as confident trust in God’s character, actions, and promises, embraced now before all is visible. Hebrews 11:1 frames it as “assurance of things hoped for” and “conviction of things not seen”—not a blind leap, but a settled confidence grounded in God’s reliability.
The Hebrew Core: Emunah as Steadfast Fidelity.
In the Hebrew Bible, the idea behind faith begins with the root ’aman: to support, to make firm, to steady. From this comes emunah: steadfastness, fidelity, reliability. Exodus 17:12 uses it concretely when Moses’ hands are “steady” until sunset. Closely related is ’emet—truth as that which is stable and dependable. In this worldview, truth and faithfulness belong together. To call God “true” is to confess His unwavering fidelity; to have “faith” is to rest your weight on His proven steadiness.
Abraham and the Pattern of Trust.
Genesis 15:6 is the fountainhead: Abraham “believed” the Lord, and it was counted to him as righteousness. In Hebrew, the verb is from ’aman: Abraham regarded God’s promise as firm and entrusted himself to it. This is not abstract assent to ideas; it is relational reliance on the Faithful One. The prophets carry this forward. Habakkuk 2:4 declares that the righteous live by their emunah—their steadfast loyalty to God amid upheaval—mirroring God’s own faithfulness.
From Hebrew to Greek: Why Pistis Matters.
When the Scriptures were translated into Greek, emunah became pistis. Far from shrinking the concept, first-century pistis was a robust relational word used for trust, fidelity, and covenant loyalty—between rulers and citizens, generals and soldiers, husbands, and wives. In other words, pistis meant not just belief about someone, but faithfulness to someone. This is why the New Testament’s language of faith naturally carries the tones of allegiance, loyalty, and obedient trust.
A Crucial Translation Turn: Habakkuk 2:4 in the LXX.
The Greek Septuagint renders Habakkuk 2:4 in a way that accents God’s own faithfulness: “the righteous shall live by my faith[fulness].” The Hebrew stresses human steadfastness: the Greek emphasizes divine fidelity. The New Testament receives both lines: life comes from God’s covenant faithfulness and is embraced by our responsive trust. Paul will cite Habakkuk to proclaim that God’s righteousness is revealed “from faith to faith,” centering salvation on divine grace received through faith.
Hebrews 11:1 Without the Fog.
Hebrews uses two weighty terms. Hypostasis speaks of real substance or foundation; elenchos names proof or evidence. Faith treats God’s as-yet-unseen promises as present reality because His character and track record are the evidence. Faith is therefore not anti-evidence; it is sight by a truer light—the light of God’s Word and works—before final verification arrives.
Jesus and Faith: Small Seed, Great Object.
Jesus teaches that faith the size of a mustard seed can move mountains. The emphasis falls not on the volume of our believing but on the trustworthiness of its object. Even small, real trust in the living God proves mighty because He is. In the Fourth Gospel, the accent intensifies: John avoids the noun “faith” and relentlessly uses the verb “believe,” portraying faith as an active, ongoing abiding in Christ—receiving, depending, obeying.
Paul and the Gift That Isn’t a Work.
Paul’s “justification by faith” is not an alternate system of human achievement. Faith is the antithesis of works-righteousness precisely because it is receptive trust in God’s saving action in Christ. By grace you are saved through faith—God’s initiative, not our performance. Faith looks outward to the crucified and risen Lord, receiving the righteousness God gives.
“Faith in Christ” or “Faithfulness of Christ”?
Paul’s phrase pistis Christou can mean “faith in Christ” or “faithfulness of Christ.” Theologically, both truths shine in the New Testament. Our salvation rests on Christ’s perfect covenant faithfulness—His obedient life unto death—and it is received by our faith in Him. Many translations choose one side for readability; the canon affirms the whole: Christ’s fidelity secures it; our trust receives it.
James and Paul: Root and Fruit, Not Rivals.
James insists that “faith without works is dead.” He is not contradicting Paul; he is exposing counterfeits. Paul denies that works can earn justification; James denies that a lifeless profession is saving. The root that justifies necessarily yields fruit. Where Christ truly dwells by faith, a new way of life appears—repentance, love, generosity, endurance, obedience. Works are not the price of salvation; they are its proof.
Guardrails Against Counterfeits.
Two distortions recur. One treats faith as a force that obligates God—believe hard enough and God must act. The other reduces faith to vague positivity that avoids repentance and obedience. Scripture rejects both. True faith submits to God’s wisdom, trusts His timing, and walks in His ways. Its centre is Christ Himself—not outcomes we prefer, experiences we crave, or reputations we build.
What Faith Receives.
Through faith we receive reconciliation with God, forgiveness of sins, adoption into His family, the indwelling Spirit, access with confidence, strength to endure, the ongoing renewal of our lives, and the promise of resurrection. These are not accessories; they are the relational riches of belonging to Christ. “This is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith,” because it unites us to the Overcomer.
Growing a Steady Faith.
Because faith is relational, it deepens as we know God. He grows our trust by His means of grace: hearing and meditating on Scripture, prayerful dependence, life with Christ’s people, and practiced obedience. Trials become laboratories where God proves faithful and teaches us to lean on Him. Walking by faith does not deny pain; it refuses to enthrone it.
A Simple Summary.
Christian faith is steadfast, active trust in the faithful God—grounded in His character, confirmed by His deeds, focused on Jesus Christ, empowered by the Spirit, and expressed in loyal obedience. It begins with God’s gracious initiative, receives salvation as a gift, and bears the fruit of a transformed life. It is not a leap into the dark but a step onto the solid ground God has already laid.
An Invitation.
If faith is confidence in God’s promises, the fitting response is to take Him at His word today: turn from self-reliance, receive the grace of Jesus, and walk in the obedience that faith produces. We do not deny what is seen; we deny it the final word. God’s faithfulness is the foundation—and He is worthy of our trust.
If you’ve read this far—whether you’re curious, cautious, or already convinced—take Hebrews 11:1 personally: faith is “assurance” and “conviction” because its object is faithful. If you don’t yet believe, start where you are: ask Jesus to make Himself known, open the Scriptures, and take one honest step of trust today—He meets people in motion. And if you do believe, lift your eyes again from what is seen to what is promised; keep walking by faith, not by sight, and let love be the fruit. The God who cannot lie will not fail you.
📚 Further Reading.
- Morgan, Teresa. Roman Faith and Christian Faith: Pistis and Fides in the Early Roman Empire and Early Churches. Cambridge University Press, 2015.
- Doggett, Frank. Faith and Loyalty: The Politics of Pístis in the Early Christian and Roman Contexts. Oxford University Press, 2018.
- Schreiner, Thomas R. Faith Alone: The Doctrine of Justification. Crossway, 2015.
- Kerr, Anthony N. The Temple of Christ: The Temple Theme in the Gospel of John. Bloomsbury T&T Clark, 2008 — see especially the chapter on belief/trust in John’s Gospel.
- Wright, N. T. Paul and the Faithfulness of God. Fortress Press, 2013 — especially volumes 1 & 2 for detailed discussion of pistis Christou and faith in Pauline theology.
- These titles are offered for further exploration. They represent a mix of academic and accessible resources — no download files required; you can locate them via libraries, bookshops, or preview sites.
