|
|
 Home  Xml
Feed  Submit Articles  Editor Login  Contact us |
 |
 |
|
|
In many translations of the Bible, Mark 11:22 has been inaccurately translated. This had led to a significant misinterpretation of what the verse is teaching us which has implications on our lives and faith. “And Jesus answering saith unto them, ‘Have faith in God.’” (Mark 11:22) The word “in” is not actually in the Greek. It literally reads “Have faith God.” (Εχετε πιστιν θεου). However, the genitive case of the word “God” (Greek theos) allows one to add the word “of”, so it should actually read “Have the faith of God” or “Have God’s faith.” A big difference. Peter Healing the Lame Man Recall when Peter healed the lame man at the Beautiful Gate in Acts 3:16. This is the faith that said healed the man. Peter said: “By faith in the name of Jesus, this man whom you see and know was made strong. It is Jesus’ name and the faith that comes through Him (Greek he pistis he di' autou) that have given this complete healing to him, as you can all see.” - Acts 3:16 Peter is clear here that the faith that healed this lame man came to Peter “through” Jesus and “through” His Name or presence. Peter received the faith of God from Jesus' Name and presence, as the Holy Spirit overshadowed Peter and the lame man. So, what’s the difference? Having God’s faith means that when I need heart faith which casts mountains into the sea (Mk. 11:22-24), I ask God for this faith since faith is a manifestation of the Holy Spirit (1 Cor. 12:9) Who is in me. I simply say, “God, please release Your faith in my heart.” I speak to my heart, “Faith arise, faith arise, faith arise!” And I look and see God expressing Himself and His faith into my heart and out through my being. It becomes God in action out through me, and not me in action. It is not me straining to accomplish believing. It is me asking and receiving, listening to what God is saying – the essence of the faith of Abraham (see Romans 4:16-17 and Genesis 12:1, 4; 22:2-3) – and commanding it forth as Jesus says in Mark 11:22-24. These are two completely different postures. I am not striving to believe; I am asking and receiving. These are two completely different pictures in my mind. They bring two completely different results. Striving is religion. Asking and receiving is Christianity. Come, let us ask and receive (Jn. 16:24). Scanning down the list of translations here (http://bible.cc/mark/11-22.htm) you will note that a number of the translations and commentaries do state that it is God’s faith that we are to have, rather than our faith in God.
About the Author:
|
|
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
A Common Misinterpretation of Mark 1122
