The Word of Faith Theology and the Book of Hebrews: Do They Agree or Contradict?

One respondent to my article, "Does the Sovereign God Need Human Permission to Act on the Earth?" believes the book of Hebrews in the New Testament, a book that was written to the Jewish Christians to persevere in Christ in the face of persecution, provides Biblical grounds for the Word of Faith theology? This article intends to ask and respond to the question: Does the Word of Faith Theology agree or contradict the book of Hebrews read contextually or exegetically?

I have taught and preached through the book of Hebrews, and there is no sentence in that book supporting the Word of Faith theology. The only way to use the Book of Hebrews to support the Word of Faith theology is to pour one's preconceived metaphysical thoughts and positive psychology into the book or read the verses out of context. One cannot read the book of Hebrews exegetically and concludes that Christianity has that much to do with wealth and health. The only people the prosperity gospel works for are those who preach that gospel and their audience with access to public funds: politicians and bureaucrats. I challenge them to take that message to our rural areas or the slum areas of our cities and see how it works.

The most important question in the art and science of Biblical interpretation is: what is the authorial intention of the book or letter? Authorial intention refers to the purpose or intended meaning of the author in a text. In the case of the Bible, understanding the authorial intention is crucial for the proper interpretation of the text. This involves considering factors such as the historical context, literary genre, audience, and author's literary style, among others. Understanding the authorial intention helps readers determine the text's intended message, which is crucial for understanding the meaning and significance of the Biblical text.

So what does faith mean in Hebrews 11:1 within the context of chapter 11 and the book? Faith, as defined contextually, means that through faith, believers can have confidence and assurance in the things God promised, even amid trials and persecutions. This conviction gives them the strength and resilience to endure and overcome challenges, knowing that God is faithful and will fulfill his promises in due time. Additionally, the focus on "things not seen" emphasizes that the ultimate goal of faith is not temporary relief from trials but the realization of eternal blessings in heaven. This perspective can help believers to see their trials in a different light, as opportunities to grow in faith and trust in God rather than as unbearable burdens. In conclusion, the exegetical explanation of Hebrews 11:1 highlights the importance of faith in giving believers the confidence, resilience, and perspective to face challenges and difficulties with hope and trust in God.

The Word-of-Faith Movement has misappropriated Hebrews 11, which lists examples of individuals who lived by faith in the Old Testament. The proponents often quote this chapter to support that a Christian can use faith to obtain material blessings and physical healing. However, this interpretation is a misreading of the text, as Hebrews 11 does not present faith as a means of getting material prosperity or physical health, but as faith to endure amid trials and persecutions.

The prosperity gospel or Word-of- Faith theology is a type of Christian theology that emphasizes the belief that faith and positive thinking can lead to material wealth and physical health. One can understand the psychology behind the prosperity gospel as a combination of several factors, including the human desire for comfort and security. Humans naturally want to feel safe and secure, and the idea of attaining wealth and health through faith can appeal to those seeking stability and comfort in their lives. The prosperity gospel often emphasizes the power of positive thinking and the importance of speaking positive affirmations to manifest one's desires. This can resonate with people who believe they can shape their reality through their thoughts and words.

People often want easy solutions to complex problems, and the prosperity gospel presents a simple formula for attaining wealth and health: have faith, speak positive affirmations, and receive blessings. Many prosperity gospel preachers are charismatic orators who can create a sense of excitement and energy around their message. This can make the prosperity gospel message appealing to those seeking a sense of community and belonging. Overall, the psychology of the prosperity gospel can be understood as a combination of these and other factors that appeal to human desires and beliefs. However, this type of theology focuses on materialism and individualism and presents an incomplete and distorted understanding of faith and its role in the believer's life.

The use of Hebrews 11 as the bedrock of their theology distorts the Scriptures. Faith in Hebrews 11 is presented as a response to God's promises, a means of persevering in the face of adversity, and a demonstration of the character and nature of God. The examples in this chapter are not intended to promote the idea that faith can be used to achieve personal prosperity but rather to encourage the readers to remain steadfast in their faith, even in the face of difficulties and persecution.

Some have criticized the interpretation of Hebrews 11 in the Word-of-Faith Movement as a selective reading of the text that fails to take into account the overall message of the Bible and the historical context in which it was written. This selective interpretation can also lead to a misunderstanding of the nature of faith and its role in the believer's life. In Hebrews 11, for example, the author speaks of the faith of various individuals in the Old Testament and the positive results that came from their faith. The book of Hebrews also stresses the importance of persevering in faith, even in adversity. The Word-of-Faith movement has undermined the overall message of the Bible, and the use of the book of Hebrews to support these teachings may involve selective interpretations of the text.

D.A. Carson, a New Testament scholar, and theologian who has written extensively on the book of Hebrews, maintains that the primary purpose of the book of Hebrews is to encourage Jewish Christians to persevere in their faith in Jesus Christ, despite the difficult circumstances they were facing. Carson argues that the author of Hebrews addressed a community of Jewish Christians facing persecution and temptations to return to their former way of life, following the Mosaic Law. The author sought to demonstrate the superiority of Jesus Christ and the New Covenant over the Old Covenant to encourage these believers to remain steadfast in their faith in Christ.

St. Augustine of Hippo, a prominent early Christian bishop, and theologian who lived in the 4th and 5th centuries, wrote extensively on the book of Hebrews, and his views on the book's purpose have been highly influential in the Western Church. According to Augustine, the primary purpose of the book of Hebrews was to prove the superiority of Christ and the Christian faith over the Mosaic Law and the Jewish religion. He believed that the author of Hebrews was writing to Jewish Christians who faced adversity and temptation with returning to their former way of life, following the Mosaic Law, in the face of persecution.

The question is: Does the book of Hebrews contradict the Word-of-Faith theology or support it? The book of Hebrews contradicts the teachings of Word-of-Faith theology. The teachings of the Word-of-Faith movement and the book of Hebrews are contradictory in several ways. The Word-of-Faith movement strongly emphasizes the power of positive speaking and the use of faith to obtain material blessings and physical healing. However, the book of Hebrews does not present faith as a means to obtain material benefits but rather as a means to persevere in the face of adversity and to hold fast to the hope that is set before us (Hebrews 10:23). The Word-of-Faith movement often portrays faith as a force that one can manipulate to achieve one's desires. The book of Hebrews, on the other hand, presents faith as a trusting relationship with God and a response to God's promise (Hebrews 11:1).

The Word-of-Faith movement portrays Christ as a means to an end rather than the end itself. The book of Hebrews, however, emphasizes the superiority of Christ over all things and presents him as the ultimate goal and reward of our faith (Hebrews 11:1-7). The Word-of-Faith movement often teaches that a Christian can use faith to overcome any obstacle. Still, the book of Hebrews stresses the importance of persevering in faith, even in the face of difficulty and persecution (Hebrews 10:32-36).

It's important to note that the teachings of the Word-of-Faith movement are at odds with the overall message of the Bible and that its interpretations of specific biblical passages, including Hebrews, may involve selective and misleading readings of the text. Some verses in the book of Hebrews contradict the Word-of-Faith movement's teachings. Hebrews 13:5-6 admonishes, "Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have because God has said, 'Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.' So we confidently say, 'The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can mere mortals do to me?'" This verse emphasizes the importance of contentment and reliance on God rather than material wealth. As I have said earlier, the proper exegesis of the book of Hebrews runs at variance with the Word-Faith-Theology.

Hebrews 11:6 says, "And without faith, it is impossible to please God because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him." This verse emphasizes that faith is not a tool for obtaining material blessings but a response to God's existence and a seeking after him. Hebrews 10:34 says," For you had compassion on those in prison, and you joyfully accepted the plundering of your property because you knew that you had better and lasting possessions."

This verse suggests that faith does not guarantee material blessings but rather a focus on spiritual treasures that are superior and lasting. Also, Hebrews 12:1-2 declares: "Therefore, since such a great cloud of witnesses surrounds us, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer, and perfecter of faith." This verse stresses the importance of persevering in faith, even in the face of difficulty, and focusing on Jesus rather than material blessings.

These verses, along with other passages in the book of Hebrews, present a different understanding of faith and its role in the believer's life than what the Word-of-Faith movement teaches. It is essential to approach the study of the Bible with a commitment to its overall message and to avoid selective readings of individual verses that support our preconceived beliefs. It behooves those who teach the Bible to study it diligently to show themselves approved. The Bible emphasizes the importance of responsibility for what is taught. James 3:1 states, "Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers, and sisters because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly." This passage suggests that those who teach the word of God should be held to a higher standard and must be accountable for the accuracy and impact of what they share.