The NWT often uses the expression "exercise", when it comes to the expression of faith.
"A notable use of that is in John 3:16 - For God loved the world so much that he gave his only-begotten Son, in order that everyone exercising faith in him might not be destroyed but have everlasting life."
I started to be intrigued by the expression "exercise faith". It is true that James wrote that "faith without works is dead", meaning that faith must be more than just an inner feeling or an oral statement; It must be evidenced by works. Nevertheless, it is the faith itself, not the works of faith, that saves the person.
Other pasages where the NWT uses "exercise faith":
Mark 5:36- “Have no fear, only exercise faith.”
John 12:36: " While YOU have the light, exercise faith in the light, in order to become sons of light."
John 14:1: Do not let YOUR hearts be troubled. Exercise faith in God, exercise faith also in me."
2 Corinthians 4:13 - " we too exercise faith and therefore we speak"
I then turned to other bible translations to see if they used similar expressions. I consulted no less than 20 other translations and the term used is "believe" or "trust" (John 3:16);"just believe" or "just have faith" (Mark 5:36); "believe" or "put your trust on" (John 12:36); "Believe" or "trust" (John 14:1); "believe" or "have faith" (2 Corinthians 4:13). NEVER "exercise" is even suggested to accompany "faith" in 20 different other translations.
Incidentally, the term used in greek is "pisteuomen", that has the basic meaning of "believe" and "put trust on" (Strong's # 4100)
Why do the translators of the New Word Translation felt that it was necessary to force the text to include the notion of "exercising faith"- as if underlining a supremacy of works over pure faith, when the original text doesn't grant such liberty? Does this agree with the spirit of what Jesus taught?
John 6:40- "For this is the will of my Father, that everyone who beholds the Son and believes in him will have eternal life" (American Standard Version)
Why does it matter this difference between believe / have faith and 'exercise faith' ?
"Because, simply put, to "exercise faith" is to put faith in the conditional sense. It's like saying: You may believe, yes, but unless you have works [exercise] to prove it, you won't be saved."
Are works necessary, or faith alone is necessary? Jesus taught, in the parable of the sheep and the he-goats, that salvation is dependant on the positive actions done on behalf of the "brethren of Christ" and positive action in terms of doing God's will. (Matthew 25:31-46; Matthew 7:21)
James argued powerfully that good works stem from faith: "What good is, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him? ... now, some may argue,' Some people have faith, some have good deeds'. But I say 'How can you show me your faith if you don't have good deeds? I will show you my faith by my good deeds"... Faith without deeds is useless. You see that a person is considered righteous by works and not by faith alone... Faith without deeds is dead" - James 2:14-26
So what is the right balance?
Is there justification to use the expression "exercise" faith, when the notion of "exercise" isn't in the text, although is supported by the words of Jesus and of the apostles?
Eden
