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BY FAITH EVEN SARAH HERSELF RECEIVED ABILITY TO CONCEIVE: Pistei kai
aute Sarra steira dunamin eis katabolen spermatos elaben (3SAAI):
(Genesis 17:17-19;
18:11-14;
21:1,2;
Luke 1:36;
1 Peter 3:5,6)
Faith
(4102)
(pistis)
is synonymous with trust or belief and is the conviction of the truth of
anything, but in Scripture usually speaks of belief respecting man's
relationship to God and divine things, generally with the included idea of
trust and holy fervor born of faith and joined with it.
It is notable that only the book of
Romans surpasses the book of Hebrews (click
to study the uses of pistis in Hebrews)
in the number of uses of
pistis
(Romans = 35, Hebrews = 31, out of 243 NT
uses)
Click
for links to all 243 uses of pistis (NAS) which is translated: faith, 238; faithfulness, 3; pledge, 1;
proof, 1.
As pistis relates to God, it is the conviction
that God exists and is the Creator and Ruler of all things well as the
Provider and Bestower of eternal salvation through Christ. As faith relates
to Christ it represents a strong and welcome conviction or belief that Jesus
is the Messiah, through Whom we obtain eternal salvation and entrance into
the Kingdom of Heaven. Stated another way, eternal salvation comes only
through belief in Jesus Christ and no other way.
Wayne Grudem defines faith that
saves one's soul...
Saving faith is trust in Jesus
Christ as a living person for forgiveness of sins and for eternal life with
God. This definition emphasizes that saving faith is not just a belief in
facts but personal trust in Jesus to save me... The definition emphasizes
personal trust in Christ, not just belief in facts about Christ. Because
saving faith in Scripture involves this personal trust, the word “trust” is
a better word to use in contemporary culture than the word “faith” or
“belief.” The reason is that we can “believe” something to be true with no
personal commitment or dependence involved in it. (Grudem,
W. A. Systematic Theology: An Introduction to Biblical Doctrine Zondervan)
(Bolding added)
See related studies on the
specific phrases (1) "the
faith" and (2) the "obedience
of faith". See also study on
pistos
Biblical faith is not synonymous with mental assent or
acquiescence which by itself is a superficial faith at best and not genuine
(saving) faith.
True faith that saves one's soul includes at
least three main elements
(1) firm persuasion
or firm conviction,
(2)
a surrender to that
truth and
(3) a conduct
emanating from that surrender. In sum, faith shows itself genuine by a
changed life. (Click
here for
W E Vine's similar definition of faith)
Conceive
(2602) (katabole
from kataballo = to throw down from kata = down + ballo
= throw, cast) is literally a casting down or laying down. The original idea
was the laying down of the foundation of a house.
Katabole is translated “to conceive,” which in reality means Abraham’s
discharge or seed. It is used in the pass. because the seed was
received by Sarah. Her conception was not only due to the natural
process, but also to faith that the placement of Abraham’s seed in her
would, in spite of her advanced age, result in the birth of a child
according to the promise given to Abraham.
Katabole was a technical term for putting seed into the ground, it is
also used of the role of the male in impregnating the female and there is
one such use in
Hebrews 11:11,
referring to the casting in or sowing of seed, conveying the idea of
begetting.
TDNT adds that katabole meant...
“laying down” is used for, e.g., the casting of seed, human begetting, the
sowing of war, and the establishment of government.
Ten of the 11 NT uses of katabole (there are no uses in the
LXX) are in the phrase "foundation of the
world". Here are the uses in Hebrews...
Hebrews 4:3 (note)
For we who have believed enter that rest, just as He has said, "As I swore
in My wrath, They shall not enter My rest," although His works were finished
from the foundation of the world.
Hebrews 9:26 (note)
Otherwise, He would have needed to suffer often since the foundation of the
world; but now once at the consummation of the ages He has been manifested
to put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself.
Hebrews 11:11 (note)
By faith even Sarah herself received ability to conceive, even beyond the
proper time of life, since she considered Him faithful who had promised;
EVEN BEYOND THE PROPER TIME OF LIFE: kai para kairon elikias:
Proper time
(2540)(kairos)
means a point of time
or period of time, time, period, frequently with the implication of
being especially fit for something and without emphasis on precise
chronology. It means a moment or period as especially appropriate the
right, proper, favorable time (at the right time).
Kairos
can refer to a fixed and definite time, the time when things are
brought to crisis, the decisive epoch waited for or a strategic point
in time. Kairos speaks of a limited period of time, with the
added notion of suitableness ("the suitable time", "the right moment",
"the convenient time"). Kairos refers to a distinct, fixed time
period, rather than occasional moments.
Kairos
is not so much a
succession of minutes (Greek
chronos
5550), but a
period of opportunity.
In other words, kairos defines the best time to do something,
the moment when circumstances are most suitable, the psychologically
"ripe" moment.
At 90 (Genesis 17:17),
Sarah was long past
the proper time or season for child-bearing and in fact had never been able to conceive. God enabled
her, however, because of her faith in His promise
Then the LORD took note of Sarah as
He had said, and the LORD did for Sarah as He had promised. So
Sarah conceived and bore a son to Abraham in his old age, at the
appointed time of which God had spoken to him. And Abraham called the
name of his son who was born to him, whom Sarah bore to him, Isaac. (Genesis 21:1-3).
SINCE SHE CONSIDERED HIM FAITHFUL
WHO HAD PROMISED: epei piston egesato (3SAMI) ton epaggeilamenon (AMPMSA):
(10:23;
Romans 4:20,21)
Faithful (4103)
(pistos
from peítho = to
persuade - induce one by words to believe, have confidence) is
something or someone who is worthy of faith or keeps promises and is
applied to God, humans, His Word, etc
Vincent gives a nice
summary (expanded in the discussion that follows) of the meaning of
pistos, faithful, writing that it is used
"(1), of one who shows Himself
faithful in the discharge of a duty or the administration of a trust (Mt
24:45). Hence, trustworthy (2Ti
2:2). Of things that can be relied upon (2Ti
2:11). (2), Confiding; trusting; a believer (Gal
3:9;
Acts 16:1; 2Cor 6:15; 1Ti 5:16)"
(Word Studies in the New Testament)
Webster says that
Faithful
means firm in adherence to whatever one owes allegiance and implies
unswerving adherence to a person or thing or to the oath or promise by
which a tie was contracted.
Pistos is used in two
senses in the NT
1) An active meaning =
trusting or believing -
This is the less frequent usage. This sense speaks of a sinner
exercising faith in the Lord Jesus. In the first NT use in this sense,
Jesus "said to Thomas,
“Reach here your finger, and see My
hands; and reach here your hand, and put it into My side; and be not
unbelieving, but believing." (Jn
20:27)
Paul instructs Timothy to
let those who have believers
(pistos) as their masters not be disrespectful to them because
they are brethren, but let them serve them all the more, because those
who partake of the benefit are believers (pistos) and
beloved. Teach and preach these principles." (1Ti
6:2)
When pistos is used in
this active sense to refer to the faith which a lost sinner must place
in the Lord Jesus in order to be saved, it includes the following
ideas -- the act of considering the Lord Jesus worthy of trust as to
His character and motives, the act of placing confidence in His
ability to do just what He says He will do, the act of entrusting the
salvation of his soul into the hands of the Lord Jesus, the act of
committing the work of saving his soul to the care of the Lord. This
means a definite taking of one’s self out of one’s own keeping and
entrusting one’s self into the keeping of the Lord Jesus. Thus Paul
says
"So then
those who are of faith are blessed with Abraham, the
believer
(pistos)." (Gal
3:9)
Using a striking contrast, Paul
asks
"what harmony has Christ with
Belial, or what has a believer in common with an unbeliever?" (2Cor
6:15)
Luke
records that Paul
"came also to Derbe and to Lystra.
And behold, a certain disciple was there, named Timothy, the son of a
Jewish woman who was a believer, but his father was a Greek." (Acts
16:1)
Note also that with regard to
believers, they are spoken of sometimes in the Active sense (as
"believers") and sometimes in the Passive (as "faithful").
The New Testament concept of
faith includes three main elements, mutually connected and
requisite, though according to circumstances sometimes one and
sometimes another may be more prominent
(1) a fully convinced
acknowledgement of the revelation of grace; (2) a self-surrendering
fellowship (adhesion); and (3) a fully assured and unswerving trust
(and with this at the same time hope) in the God of salvation or in
Christ. (Modified from Cremer)
2) A passive meaning =
trustworthy or faithful - which is the use here in Hebrews 11 -
Here the basic idea is that of
trustworthiness. In this sense pistos describes God, Christ,
servants, His Word as faithful, reliable, worthy of belief or trust,
, , dependable.
Marvin Vincent adds that pistos
used of God describes Him as
"True to his own nature and
promises; keeping faith with Himself and with man."
Paul writes that even
"if we are faithless, He remains
faithful;
for He cannot deny Himself." (see note
2 Timothy 2:13)
Pistos in this passive
sense is used of one who shows Himself faithful in the discharge of a
duty or the administration of a trust
"Who
then is the faithful
and sensible slave whom his master put in charge of his household to
give them their food at the proper time?"
Mt 24:45.
Hence, pistos describes
the one who is trustworthy
"And
the things which you have heard from me in the presence of many
witnesses, these entrust to
faithful
men, who will be able to teach others also." see note
2 Timothy 2:2).
Of the Word of God (which is the
sense pistos is used in Titus 1:9) that can be relied upon
"It is a
trustworthy
statement: if any man aspires to the office of overseer, it is a fine
work he desires to do."
1Ti 3:1
"It is a
trustworthy
statement: For if we died with Him, we shall also live with Him." -
see note
2 Timothy 2:11
In this passive sense of
trustworthy or faithful, pistos is applied to God as
fulfilling His own promises (see notes
Hebrews 10:23;
Hebrews 11:11),
as fulfilling the purpose for which He called men (see note
1Thessalonians 5:24;
1Cor 1:9), as responding with
guardianship to the trust reposed in Him by men (1Cor
10:13;
see note
1 Peter 4:19).
Christ is faithful (2Thes
3:3;
see notes
Hebrews 3:2;
Hebrews 2:17
Revelation 19:11) Christ as
the faithful witness (see notes
Revelation 1:5;
Revelation 3:14). God’s and
Christ's faithfulness in these verses speak not only of His essential
being (faithful is Who He is), but also of His faithfulness toward us,
as shown for example in the famous verse
If we confess our sins, He is
faithful
and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all
unrighteousness. (1
Jn 1:9)
In the papyri, we find the
following illustrations of the use of pistos -- "Whom no one
would trust even if they were willing to work" = confidence in the
person’s character and motives. "I have trusted no one to take it to
her" = confidence in the ability of another to perform a certain task.
Moses in turn records the
following of God writing
"Know therefore that the LORD your
God, He is God, the
faithful (Lxx = pistos)
God, Who keeps His covenant and His lovingkindness to a thousandth
generation with those who love Him and keep His commandments." (Dt
7:9)
Notice the seal of assurance
stamped upon God's covenant. It is backed up by His faithful
character.
Sarah
looked away from herself and her barrenness and her age and banked on
her Faithful God for the fulfillment of his promise that she would
have a child and be the mother of many nations. This didn't come easy
for Sarah. In fact, when she heard God make the promise to Abraham,
she laughed to herself and did NOT believe (Ge18:12). But then God
rebuked her for the laughter of unbelief, and said, "Is anything too
hard for the Lord?" (Ge 18:14,15). And the next thing we hear from
Sarah is a word of exultation to God when Isaac is born. She says, God
has made laughter for me; every one who hears will laugh over me...
Who would have said to Abraham that Sarah would suckle children? Yet I
have borne him a son in his old age. She gives God the glory for the
child, and so we may assume, with the writer to the Hebrews, that
God's rebuke, and the reminder that nothing is too hard for the Lord,
restored Sarah's faith and caused her to hope in God. |
