What Is Faith in the Bible?
Quick Summary
Faith in the Bible is not merely belief or mental agreement. It is trust, allegiance, and relational commitment to God—rooted in who God is and what God has done. From Abraham to Jesus to the early church, faith is a posture of the heart and life.
Introduction: More Than Belief
In everyday language, we use "faith" as a synonym for belief—like believing in gravity or trusting a friend. But in the Bible, faith is far more than just agreeing with an idea. It’s trusting in a person, depending on promises, and living with a kind of courage rooted in hope.
The Greek word pistis (faith) and its Hebrew counterpart emunah both point beyond intellectual belief. They speak of loyalty, reliability, trustworthiness, and covenant fidelity. When someone in the Bible has faith, they aren't simply saying, “I think that’s true.” They’re saying, “I’m staking my life on this.”
Faith in the Old Testament
Faith begins early in the biblical story. Genesis 15:6 records:
“And he believed the Lord; and the Lord reckoned it to him as righteousness.”
— Genesis 15:6 (NRSV)
Abraham becomes the prototype of faith—not because he understood everything or got it all right, but because he trusted God’s promise and acted on it. That pattern continues throughout Israel’s story: trust leading to action, belief that shows up in behavior.
The prophets continually call the people back to faithfulness (emunah)—not just in their minds but in their relationships, ethics, and worship. Faith is linked with covenant loyalty. It’s expressed in dependence, in prayer, in obedience.
Faith in the New Testament
Faith takes center stage in the New Testament, especially in the life and ministry of Jesus and in the writings of Paul.
Jesus and Faith
Jesus frequently commended people for their faith:
The woman who touched his cloak (Matthew 9:22)
The centurion with a sick servant (Luke 7:9)
The friends who lowered a man through the roof (Luke 5:20)
In each case, faith wasn’t abstract—it was bold. It was visible. It trusted Jesus enough to act.
“Your faith has made you well.”
— Mark 5:34 (NRSV)
Paul and Faith
For Paul, faith is the doorway to grace, the means by which we receive what God has done in Christ:
“Therefore, since we are justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.”
— Romans 5:1 (NRSV)
He doesn’t speak of faith as something we muster up to impress God. Instead, faith is our response to grace—it is trusting, leaning on, and uniting ourselves to Christ.
Paul’s repeated use of pistis includes connotations of fidelity and allegiance. Faith is not only something we have but something we live by. As Galatians 2:20 puts it:
“The life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.”
Hebrews 11: The Faith Hall of Fame
The most comprehensive passage on faith is Hebrews 11. The chapter begins:
“Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.”
— Hebrews 11:1 (NRSV)
It then walks through the story of Israel, pointing to people like Abel, Enoch, Noah, Abraham, Sarah, Moses, Rahab—and many more—who lived and acted by faith. They didn’t always see the result in their lifetimes, but their trust in God shaped their decisions.
Faith, in this chapter, is patient. It moves forward even when the outcome is unclear. It hopes in God’s promises beyond what the eyes can see.
Theological Reflections on Faith
Augustine
Augustine once wrote, “Faith is to believe what you do not see; the reward of this faith is to see what you believe.”
Luther
Martin Luther emphasized that we are saved by grace through faith. But for him, faith was not a cold assent. It was “a living, daring confidence in God’s grace.”
Karl Barth
Barth described faith as “the act of knowledge and acknowledgment,” always rooted in God’s self-revelation.
N.T. Wright
Wright emphasizes that pistis in Paul’s letters should often be understood as allegiance—faithfulness to the Messiah, not just belief about the Messiah.
These theological voices all point in the same direction: faith is an active, relational trust.
A Table Summary of Faith Across Scripture
| Scripture | Faith Highlight |
|---|---|
| Genesis 15:6 | Abraham’s belief counted as righteousness |
| Exodus 14:31 | Israel believed in the Lord after crossing the Red Sea |
| Matthew 9:22 | Woman healed through her faith in Jesus |
| Romans 5:1 | Justified by faith, we have peace with God |
| Galatians 2:20 | Life lived by faith in the Son of God |
| Hebrews 11 | Stories of people who lived by faith |
Meaning for Today
Faith is not a one-time decision or a mental checkbox. It’s a daily trust. It’s believing when life is unclear, showing up when hope is faint, praying when answers seem far off. Faith is the soil in which courage grows.
It means you can walk forward even if you can’t see the path. It means you trust that God is good—even when you’re still waiting for the evidence. And it means you’re not alone. Others have walked this way before.
“Let us run with perseverance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus the pioneer and perfecter of our faith.”
— Hebrews 12:1–2 (NRSV)
FAQ
Is faith the same as belief?
Not exactly. Faith includes belief, but it also involves trust, loyalty, and action. It’s not just thinking something is true—it’s living like it matters.
Can faith grow or weaken?
Yes. The disciples often said, “Increase our faith!” (Luke 17:5). Faith can be nurtured through Scripture, prayer, community, and obedience.
Is faith a gift or a choice?
Many traditions see faith as both—a gift from God and a response we make. Paul writes, “It is the gift of God…” (Ephesians 2:8), and yet we are called to believe and follow.
Do I need perfect faith?
No. Jesus said that even faith the size of a mustard seed is powerful (Matthew 17:20). Faith is not about quantity—it’s about where it’s placed.
