Then faith is from hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
Truth to Learn
Faith comes as a result of hearing the Gospel message which originated from the utterance of God.
Behind the Words
The word translated “Then” is the Greek word ara, which is used here as an inferential particle meaning “therefore” or “consequently.” It directly ties this verse to what immediately preceded it.
“Hearing” is translated from the Greek word akoē, which we looked at in the previous verse and we noted that Paul is making a kind of play on this word. This is a noun form of the verb akouō, meaning “to hear” and from which we get our English word “acoustics.” The noun form of this word can have several nuances of meaning. It can refer to the sense of hearing, the instrument of hearing (the ear), or that which is or may be heard (the message or report). If we assume that Paul is referring to the report, or message, in both of these verses, we see that they could be translated as:
For Isaiah says, “LORD, who has believed our message?” Therefore, faith comes from the message and the message through the word of God.
The other word we want to look at is the Greek word rhēma, which is translated “Word” in this verse. It means, “that which is spoken, particularly that which is uttered by a living voice.”
Meaning Explained
On the surface this verse seems disjointed from the previous one, but that is not the case at all. Though the word ara technically ties these two verses together, it still doesn’t feel like they are very well connected does it? That is, until you recognize how skillfully Paul has used various forms of the word akouō. Though many people throughout history have not listened attentively to the message of salvation, it is from this message that faith is acquired, the message that originated from Almighty God. We have been given this precious, powerful message to carry throughout the world. Also remember, that when we carry and proclaim this message, God sees us as particularly beautiful, like a flower in full bloom.
Faith cannot exist unless there is a message, or report, to be heard and believed. It cannot come any other way than by such a proclamation. This demonstrates the importance of the message, and the fact that people are converted by listening to and believing the truth of this gospel message. And ultimately, the source of this message is the very utterance of God Himself.
Application
The next time you are witnessing to someone and declaring the message of salvation through faith in the blood of Christ, remember that you are sharing gloriously good news that originated from God Himself. You may feel awkward and others may call you a fool, but you are particularly beautiful in God’s sight when you proclaim it, whether you are proclaiming it to a prospective child of God or to a fool.
So, how awesome is that? Be a blooming flower and spread the Word!
In God's service, for His glory,
Copyright © 2018 Will Krause. All rights reserved
