Think Wink.

Today I read a very interesting article on the meaning of he’emin in Genesis 15:6, which in the ESV says,

And he believed [he’emin; LXX: ἐπίστευσεν] the Lord, and he counted it to him as righteousness.

The article is by Dr. Meredith G. Kline entitled Abram’s Amen and is found in The Westminster Theological Journal (31 [1968/69] 1-11) (Yeah, I know that is an old journal and article, but bear with me). There he argues that the verb ‘aman, in the Hiphil stem is delocutive, meaning the delocutive term “is intended to denote the phenomenon of a spoken formula or stock phrase that has been verbalized” (Abram’s Amen 2). While I will not present the biblical argument here I will briefly summarize the article. First line of reasoning for this understanding of this term as delocutive is the covenantal context of he’emin in Genesis 15. The term “counted it” (hasab; ἐλογίσθη) further reinforces this view. The delocutive use of he’emin is used by Israel to affirm the divine origin of miraculous signs and wonders (cf. Exodus 4:31). He’emin is also used in connection with both verbs of “saying” (cf. Job 39:24-25; Psalm 116:10) and as response to imperative verbs (Deuteronomy 9:23; Psalm 106:24; Psalm 119:66). Dr. Kline summarizes his argument like this on pages 6-7,

It would appear, therefore, that a delocutive use of he’emin in Genesis 15:6 would not be an isolated phenomonon but part of a fairly widely attested usage that points to a delocutive origin of the hiph’il of ‘aman

Thus Genesis 15:6 isn’t explicitly saying “Abram’s inner attitude was one of faith but that Abram voiced his ‘Amen’ (‘amen) in audible response to the Word of God” (Abram’s Amen 2-3).

Now here is what amazes me personally, the pist- word-group in the Greek that translates into “faith,” or “belief” or “believe” or “trust” or “trustworthy” or “faithful” etc., is the word the LXX uses to translate all the cited references in the Old Covenant. Thus this idea in he’emin would be present in the Hebrew mind of the translators when they picked the pist- word-group to translate he’emin. The idea would transfer over from Hebrew to Greek to some degree. Dr. Kline notes that this delocutive idea is not overtly present in the NT citations of Genesis 15:6 in places like Romans 4 and Galatians 3:6. But this “confessional nature of justifying faith” (Abram’s Amen 10) is found in the New Covenant in places like Romans 10:8-10 and James 2:23-24. In fact Dr. Kline suggests that this delocutive “Amen” is what is meant by Paul in 2 Corinthians 1:20 NET,

For every one of God’s promises are “Yes” in him; therefore also through him the “Amen” is spoken, to the glory we give to God.

This really helps me understand why James says that we are justified by works. Consider James 2:18-24,

18 But someone will say, “You have faith and I have works.” Show me your faith apart from your works, and I will show you my faith by my works. 19 You believe that God is one; you do well. Even the demons believe—and shudder! 20 Do you want to be shown, you foolish person, that faith apart from works is useless? 21 Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered up his son Isaac on the altar? 22 You see that faith was active along with his works, and faith was completed by his works; 23 and the Scripture was fulfilled that says, “Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness”—and he was called a friend of God. 24 You see that a person is justified by works and not by faith alone.

Faith and works are connected here, but not in a way that contradicts Paul’s teaching of justification by faith apart from works of the Law (Romans 3:28, cf. Philippians 3:9). James is saying that he will demonstrate his faith by his works. That faith is shown by works. “Faith was completed by [Abraham’s] works.” For James, Abram’s faith must be confessed and lived out. It cannot be merely intellectual ascent to truth. Nor can one separate faith from works. They are part and parcel with one another. Thus Abraham’s justifying faith is completed by his willingness to offer Isaac up on the altar. This is what separates Abram from the demons, Abram’s faith is more than just mere belief but confessed in word and deed. (But note also James does not rewrite the story to prove his point. First Abram is said to “believe Yahweh” and then he, trusting Yahweh, was willing to offer up the very son whom Yahweh promised to make into a great nation, fulfilling his promise to Abram.)

Indeed Paul in Romans 10 connects belief and confession together. Paul over and over commands us to die to sin and become obedient to righteousness and Christ. Paul can say in Philippians 2:12 to work out one’s salvation and still not contradict faith alone. Faith is confessed, acknowledge, justified by works. Paul can say in Titus 3:8 that on the basis of justification apart from works of righteousness but by God’s grace through faith, Titus and his church can be intent on doing good works.

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