Mar 11:22 Have faith in God.
Mar 11:22 Have faith in God.
Alternative: Keep confidence in God.
Hidden meaning: The Greek word for "have" implies a general concept of ownership. It means not only "having" something, but keeping it close and protecting it.
Also, the Greek word for "faith" didn't have the religious implications in Christ's time that our word has today. It was much closer to our general idea of having confidence or trust as we might have in a person rather that the general idea of religious belief. The connection to religions wasn't that strong at the time because the Greek gods were traditionally not very trustworthy. Religion (thrêskeia, a word Christ never uses) was more a matter of honoring customs (nomizo) than trusting in the power of deities.
In Christ's time, the idea that we could trust in God on a personal basis, was revolutionary.
Thematically Related Verse(s): Mark 10:27 where Christ points out that our naturally human limits are freed by the unlimited capabilities of God.
Vocabulary:
"Have" is from echô (echo), which means "to have," "to hold," "to possess," "to keep," "to have charge of," "to maintain," "to hold fast," "to bear," "to keep close," "to keep safe," and "to have means to do."
"Faith" is from pistis (pistis), which means "confidence," "assurance," "trustworthiness," "credit," "a trust," and "that which give confidence."
