The word “faith” is frequently used in the New Testament, but, perhaps surprisingly, only appears a handful of times in the Old Testament.  Mostly “faith” is used to describe belief, but sometimes the term “the faith” is used to describe the Christian faith.

The word “faith” in the New Testament is translated from the Greek pistis.  According to both Strong’s Concordance and Thayer’s Greek Definitions, it means, conviction, belief, faith, fidelity.

Hebrews chapter 11, also known as the faith chapter, gives a wide range of examples of men and women who exhibited faith.  At the start of the chapter faith is defined as “the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen”.

Heb 11:1  Now faith [pistis] is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.

The author goes on to give an example.

Heb 11:3  By faith [pistis] we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that the things which are seen were not made of things which are visible.

No human being witnessed the creation of the world; it was unseen by human eyes.  By believing God and His word (which is done by faith) we understand that God created the world, even though we did not personally witness it.  In verse 6 we read:

Heb 11:6  But without faith [pistis] it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe [pisteuo] that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.

This verse makes it clear that faith is believing God.  The Greek word translated “believe”, pisteuo, comes from pistis and means “to have faith in, to trust”.  Thus, faith is not just a matter of believing that God exists, but believing what God says, of trusting God.  The book of James explains this in more detail by explaining that the faith God is looking for is coupled with works.

Jas 2:14  What does it profit, my brethren, if someone says he has faith [pistis] but does not have works? Can faith [pistis] save him?

What are works?  James gives an example.

Jas 2:15  If a brother or sister is naked and destitute of daily food,
Jas 2:16  and one of you says to them, “Depart in peace, be warmed and filled,” but you do not give them the things which are needed for the body, what does it profit?

This example shows that loving others by helping them is a work.

Jas 2:17  Thus also faith [pistis] by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.
Jas 2:18  But someone will say, “You have faith [pistis], and I have works.” Show me your faith [pistis] without your works, and I will show you my faith [pistis] by my works.
Jas 2:19  You believe [pisteou] that there is one God. You do well. Even the demons believe [pisteou] —and tremble!
Jas 2:20  But do you want to know, O foolish man, that faith [pistis] without works is dead?

The demons believe there is one God.  As mentioned earlier, the Greek word translated “believe”, pisteuo, comes from pistis.  So the demons have “faith” that there is one God.  But it doesn’t do them any good because they have no works.  Their “faith” is dead.  James now gives another example of works.

Jas 2:21  Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered Isaac his son on the altar?
Jas 2:22  Do you see that faith [pistis] was working together with his works, and by works faith [pistis] was made perfect?
Jas 2:23  And the Scripture was fulfilled which says, “ABRAHAM BELIEVED GOD, AND IT WAS ACCOUNTED TO HIM FOR RIGHTEOUSNESS.” And he was called the friend of God.

This example of works is obedience to God.  Abraham obeyed God in offering his son Isaac on the altar.

Jas 2:24  You see then that a man is justified by works, and not by faith only.

James then gives another example of works.

Jas 2:25  Likewise, was not Rahab the harlot also justified by works when she received the messengers and sent them out another way?
Jas 2:26  For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.

From these examples it is clear works are actions which show love to God (obedience) and love to others (helping them).  So the faith which God is looking for must be accompanied by love for God and love for others, otherwise it is what the Bible calls “dead faith”.

For information on how to increase faith see “How can you increase your faith?”.

Conclusion

Faith is a belief and trust in God that is accompanied by love for God and others.