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Self-reliance and confidence

In Hebrew, Greek, Latin, and English, faith and the words corresponding thereto have these two defini- tions, trustfulness and trustworthiness. One kind of faith trusts one's welfare to others. Another kind of faith understands divine Love and how to work out one's "own salvation, with fear and trem- bling." "Lord, I believe; help thou mine unbelief!" expresses the helplessness of a blind faith; whereas the injunction, "Believe . . . and thou shalt be saved!" demands self-reliant trustworthiness, which includes spir- itual understanding and confides all to God.

The Hebrew verb to believe means also to be firm or

to be constant. This certainly applies to Truth and Love understood and practised. Firmness in error will never save from sin, disease, and death.