Dictionary of Theological Terms

9. Faith

Faith – an attitude of trust and loyalty. When we have faith in a fact, it means that we believe that the fact is true. When we have faith in a person, it means that we trust the person. It is a relationship term, not just agreeing with them about facts. When we completely trust a person, we do what they say – we obey. First-century Greeks also used the word for the loyalty that poor people were expected to give to their patrons, or benefactors.