Why is nothing in Webster's definition of faith similar to Hebrews 11:1?

Question

http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/faith

Main Entry: 1faith

Pronunciation: \ˈfāth\

Function: noun

Inflected Form(s): plural faiths \ˈfāths, sometimes ˈfāthz\

Etymology: Middle English feith, from Anglo-French feid, fei, from Latin fides; akin to Latin fidere to trust — more at bide

Date: 13th century

1 a: allegiance to duty or a person : loyalty b (1): fidelity to one's promises (2): sincerity of intentions

2 a (1): belief and trust in and loyalty to God (2): belief in the traditional doctrines of a religion b (1): firm belief in something for which there is no proof (2): complete trust

3: something that is believed especially with strong conviction; especially : a system of religious beliefs <the Protestant faith>

synonyms see belief

— on faith : without question <took everything he said on faith>

Hebrews 11:1 Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.

Answer 1

Hebrews 11:1  King James Version

&quot;Now faith is the substance of things hoped for,

the evidence of things not seen.&quot;

What is wrong with &quot;belief and trust in and loyalty to God?&quot;

What about &quot;firm belief in something for which there is no proof?&quot;

You can&#039;t see faith and you can&#039;t see God, but faith is believing God is there.

Answer 2

The definition over time has changed on some words, but not all of them, Hope is another,  the definition of modern hope has nothing to do with the gospel.

Answer 3

i use American-English Unabridged Dictionary.

It is great

Answer 4

Websters has changes over the years.Get the one he actually wrote.He used scripture in his definitions.

Answer 5

Umm.... the similarities ARE there. firm belief in something for which there is no proof... IS being certain of what we do not see.

EDIT: You also need to be wary of which version of the bible you&#039;re reading. When people translate it into &quot;modern english&quot; to make it easier for us to understand, they sometimes wind up twisting the meaning slightly as well.

King James version reads:  &quot;Now Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.&quot;

If I read the version you posted, having never read the bible before, I would think the second half, &quot;certain of what we do not see&quot;, meant faith meant I was sure those things were NOT there. Reading the king james version, Faith is the evidence of things not seen.... I read that completely differently. I read that as meaning &quot;faith is believing things I can&#039;t see are really there.&quot;

Answer 6

&quot;Firm belief in something for which there is no proof&quot; is saying the same as Hebrews 11:1.  The Hebrews definition is a good one, imo.  Kierkegaard said that without doubt there is no faith.  That which can be proven does not require faith, after all.  

Answer 7

Because Hebrews is God&#039;s Word and the dictionary is not.  

Faith IS being sure of what we hope for.  

Nobody wants to die.  Everybody wants to live forever.  So we hope for some way around death.  If we have faith, then we can be sure of Eternal Life even though we can&#039;t see any evidence of it.  

That way we&#039;ll be happy until we die.  After that, we won&#039;t even care.  .  

Answer 8

Belief has attained the level of faith when it motivates life and shapes the mode of living. The acceptance of a teaching as true is not faith; that is mere belief. Neither is certainty nor conviction faith. A state of mind attains to faith levels only when it actually dominates the mode of living. Faith is a living attribute of genuine personal religious experience. One believes truth, admires beauty, and reverences goodness, but does not worship them; such an attitude of saving faith is centered on God alone, who is all of these personified and infinitely more.

Belief is always limiting and binding; faith is expanding and releasing. Belief fixates, faith liberates. But living religious faith is more than the association of noble beliefs; it is more than an exalted system of philosophy; it is a living experience concerned with spiritual meanings, divine ideals, and supreme values; it is God-knowing and man-serving. Beliefs may become group possessions, but faith must be personal. Theologic beliefs can be suggested to a group, but faith can rise up only in the heart of the individual religionist.

Answer 9

Try looking at it based on the greek word used in the verse:

Greek for G4102 πίστις Transliteration

pistis

Pronunciation

pē&#039;-stēs (Key)

Part of Speech

feminine noun

Root Word (Etymology)

from G3982

TDNT Reference

6:174,849

Vines

View Entry

Outline of Biblical Usage 1) conviction of the truth of anything, belief; in the NT of a conviction or belief respecting man&#039;s relationship to God and divine things, generally with the included idea of trust and holy fervour born of faith and joined with it

a) relating to God

1) the conviction that God exists and is the creator and ruler of all things, the provider and bestower of eternal salvation through Christ

b) relating to Christ

1) a strong and welcome conviction or belief that Jesus is the Messiah, through whom we obtain eternal salvation in the kingdom of God

c) the religious beliefs of Christians

d) belief with the predominate idea of trust (or confidence) whether in God or in Christ, springing from faith in the same

2) fidelity, faithfulness

a) the character of one who can be relied on