Dispensational problems are not to the fore in this series. We address

ourselves rather to those elementary problems of doctrine and practice that

present themselves to those who have started the pilgrim pathway. It will

not be possible to avoid controversial topics entirely, otherwise hardly a

single teaching of Scripture would be left to us.  In order to avoid

misunderstanding, let us say that "A" does not represent any particular

individual, but we trust that should the case be applicable to any reader at

any time, such applicability will be accepted as indicating a "word in

A.--I do not wish you to think that I question the truth of Scripture or the power of God,

but I am somewhat mystified by the many kinds of "faith" that are spoken of in

theological writings. I read of "historic faith", and "saving faith" and other descriptions

of faith, but I do not seem to have a clear and simple conception as to what faith really is.

B.--In the first place I think you will find that Scripture stresses the thought of what we

are to believe, rather than discusses how we believe, although it does speak of that too.

Without attempting to justify or explain the following statement, I have come to the

conclusion that the language of revelation and of doctrine is not primarily N.T Greek,

but O.T Hebrew, and that it is dangerous to build up a theory upon the etymology of

Greek words without continually checking it by the Hebrew equivalent. We may look

into this matter upon some future occasion.

A.--I do not pretend to understand your meaning, do you propose answering my question

from the O.T.?

B.--While it would be manifestly absurd to ignore the teaching of the N.T. upon such a

subject as faith, yet the primary significance of the term may be discovered in the Hebrew

word that is employed in the O.T. Will you tell me where the word "believe" first occurs

in the O.T.?

A.--(Using a concordance).--I find the first occurrence to be Gen. 15: 6:--

B.--What is the Hebrew word there translated "believe"?