Faith and Faithfulness (Part 4)

This is the fourth in a series of studies on the topic of faith and faithfulness. (If you are coming to this page from a search engine, I recommend this link for a table of contents of the topics covered in this series.)

In this post, I will continue looking at Old Testament texts that use the Greek word pistis in the Septuagint.   This is the same word that is translated as faith in the New Testament.  Some have asserted that pistis means belief, that "believe and faith really convey the same meaning."  One author even going as far as saying that those "weak in grace" attempt to include an "agenda of works, such as commitment, repentance, perseverance" in their interpretation of the word.  Is pistis used in the Septuagint to mean believe or belief? 

The first text is Psalms 33:4.  In this text, pistis is being used in reference to the works of "the LORD."  Does pistis understood as belief make any sense in this context?   I don't think so— I haven't found any translations taking that perspective.

Ps 33:4 KJV – For the word of the LORD is right; and all his works are done in truth.

Ps 33:4 NASB – For the word of the LORD is upright, And all His work is done in faithfulness.

Ps 33:4 BBE – For the word of the Lord is upright, and all his works are certain.

Ps 33:4 Douay-Rheims – For the word of the Lord is right, and all his works are done with faithfulness.

Ps 33:4 GOD's Word – The word of the LORD is correct, and everything he does is trustworthy.

Ps 33:4 NIV – For the word of the Lord is right and true; he is faithful in all he does.

Ps 33:4 ESV – For the word of the Lord is upright, and all his work is done in faithfulness.

Ps 33:4 HCSB – For the word of the LORD is right, and all His work is trustworthy.

Ps 33:4 CEV – The LORD is truthful; he can be trusted.

Ps 33:4 NETS – because upright is the word of the Lord, and all his works are in faithfulness.

Ps 33:4 Reina Valera (Spanish) – Porque recta es la palabra de Jehová, Y toda su obra es hecha con fidelidad.

Ps 33:4 Septuagint (Greek) – οτι ευθης ο λογος του κυριου και παντα τα εργα αυτου εν πιστει

Ps 33:4 Septuagint (Transliterated) – oti euthēs o logos tou kuriou kai panta ta erga autou en pistei

Ps 33:4 Hebrew – כי־ישר דבר־יהוה וכל־מעשהו באמונה׃

The next text is from Proverbs 3:3.  As with the previous text, it is talking about an active doer— who could act with honest or faithfulness, or not— rather then a passive observer who might believe or not. 

Prov 3:3 KJV – Let not mercy and truth forsake thee: bind them about thy neck; write them upon the table of thine heart:

Prov 3:3 NIV – Let love and faithfulness never leave you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart.

Prov 3:3 ESV – Let not steadfast love and faithfulness forsake you; bind them around your neck; write them on the tablet of your heart.

Prov 3:3 NETS – Let acts of charity and loyalty not fail you; rather fasten them on your neck and you will find favor.

There are several more texts from Proverbs where the Septuagint uses the word pistis.  I am going to go through them more quickly.

Prov 12:17 NET – The faithful witness tells what is right, but a false witness speaks deceit.

Prov 12:22 NASB – Lying lips are an abomination to the LORD, But those who deal faithfully are His delight.

Prov 14:22 GOD's Word – Don't those who stray plan what is evil, while those who are merciful and faithful plan what is good?

Prov 15:27 NETS (Septuagint translation) – A receiver of bribes destroys himself, but he who hates the receiving of bribes is saved.  27a  By acts of mercy and by faithfulness sins are purged, but by the fear of the Lord everyone turns away from evil.  28  The hearts of the righteous ponder faithfulness, but the mouth of the impious answers evil things.

The Septuagint uses the word pistis in Jeremiah several times.  I will print each verse completely using the KJV, but will put just part of interesting alternative translations after the KJV, separated by a slash (/).

Jer 5:1 KJV – Run ye to and fro through the streets of Jerusalem, and see now, and know, and seek in the broad places thereof, if ye can find a man, if there be any that executeth judgment, that seeketh the truth; and I will pardon it. / NETS – seeks faithfulness / BBE – who keeps faith / YLT – seeking stedfastness / NIV – who deals honestly and seeks the truth / HCSB – who seeks to be faithful

Jer 5:3 KJV – O LORD, are not thine eyes upon the truth? thou hast stricken them, but they have not grieved; thou hast consumed them, but they have refused to receive correction: they have made their faces harder than a rock; they have refused to return. / NETS – are they not on faithfulness / NET – I know you look for faithfulness / NLT – you are searching for honesty

Jer 7:28 KJV – But thou shalt say unto them, This is a nation that obeyeth not the voice of the LORD their God, nor receiveth correction: truth is perished, and is cut off from their mouth. / NETS – faithfulness has failed / BBE – good faith is dead / CEV – you no longer even pretend to be faithful to me / NET – Faithfulness is nowhere to be found in it

Jer 9:3 KJV – And they bend their tongues like their bow for lies: but they are not valiant for the truth upon the earth; for they proceed from evil to evil, and they know not me, saith the LORD. / NETS – a band of faithless they are / GOD's Word – Lies and dishonesty rule the land

Jer 15:18 KJV – Why is my pain perpetual, and my wound incurable, which refuseth to be healed? wilt thou be altogether unto me as a liar, and as waters that fail? / NETS – not having credence / NET – that cannot be relied on / NASB – water that is unreliable / Douay-Rheims – waters that cannot be trusted

Jer 28:9 KJV – The prophet which prophesieth of peace, when the word of the prophet shall come to pass, then shall  the prophet be known, that the LORD hath truly sent him. / NETS – the Lord had sent in faithfulness

Jer 32:41 KJV – Yea, I will rejoice over them to do them good, and I will plant them in this land assuredly with my whole heart and with my whole soul. / NETS – I will plant them in this land in faithfulness / NASB – will faithfully plant them / BBE – planting them in this land in good faith / NET – I will faithfully and wholeheartedly plant them firmly in the land / ESV – I will plant them in this land in faithfulness / HCSB – I will plant them faithfully in this land

Jer 33:6 KJV – Behold, I will bring it health and cure, and I will cure them, and will reveal unto them the abundance of peace and truth. / NETS – peace and trust / GOD's Word – peace and security / NET – peace and security

As you can see, pistis has been used in the Septuagint Old Testament to express a range of concepts, but generally it is being used to describe an active faithfulness.  For most of these texts we would be  unable to substitute believe or belief into the text and retain coherence and comprehensibility.