The concept of faith in ancient Jewish or Hebrew tradition is deeply rooted in the idea of trust and loyalty, particularly in the context of a relationship with God. The Hebrew word often translated as "faith" is emunah (אֱמוּנָה), which comes from a root word meaning "support" or "firmness." This gives us a clue about how the ancient Hebrews understood faith—not as mere belief or intellectual assent, but as something more active and relational.
Emunah implies a steadfastness and reliability, both on the part of God and the individual. To have emunah is to trust in God’s promises and to remain loyal to Him, even in the face of uncertainty or adversity. It’s less about believing in specific doctrines and more about a lived commitment to the covenant with God, expressed through actions, obedience, and a way of life that reflects that trust.
Now, when you look at the Christian concept of faith, especially as it developed in the New Testament, there are similarities but also significant differences. The Greek word pistis (πίστις) is used in the New Testament to describe faith, and while it does carry the idea of trust, it also takes on a more pronounced meaning of belief, particularly belief in Jesus as the Christ.
In Christianity, faith becomes closely tied to believing in the truths of the gospel—that Jesus is the Son of God, that He died and rose again, and that salvation is through Him. While there’s still an element of trust and relational loyalty (you might think of how Christians are called to trust in God’s grace and love), there’s also a strong emphasis on faith as belief in these specific doctrines.
So, while both the ancient Jewish and Christian concepts of faith share the idea of trust and loyalty, the focus shifts in Christianity to include a more explicit emphasis on belief in particular tenets of faith. This doesn’t mean that Jewish faith lacks belief, or that Christian faith lacks trust, but rather that the two traditions place different emphases on what it means to have faith.
In essence, ancient Jewish faith is about steadfast trust and living in a way that honors that trust, while Christian faith builds on that foundation but adds a particular focus on belief in the person and work of Jesus. Both are deeply relational and communal, but the ways they are expressed and understood have evolved over time.
Articles to assist in the discussion of faith: https://www.biblescholars.org/2013/05/mishnah-and-the-words-of-jesus.html#more
https://www.jewishencyclopedia.com/articles/5982-faith
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