SPECIAL TOPIC: AMEN

SPECIAL TOPIC: AMEN

OLD TESTAMENT
1. The term "Amen" (BDB 52-54, KB 129) is from a Hebrew word for
  1. "truth"
  2. "truthfulness"
  3. "faith" or "faithfulness"
  4. "trust"
    SPECIAL TOPIC: Believe, Trust, Faith and Faithfulness in the OT
2. Its etymology denoted a person's stable physical stance. The opposite would be one who is unstable, slipping (cf. Psalm 35:6; 40:2; 73:18; Jeremiah 23:12) or stumbling (cf. Ps. 73:2). From this literal usage developed (i.e., in a response to commands, blessings, curses, doxologies, prayers) the metaphorical extension of faithful, trustworthy, loyal, and dependable (cf. Hab. 2:4).
3. Special usages
  1. a pillar, 2 Kgs. 18:16 (1 Tim. 3:15)
  2. assurance, Exod. 17:12
  3. steadiness, Exod. 17:12
  4. stability, Isa. 33:6
  5. true, 1 Kgs. 10:6; 17:24; 22:16; Pro. 12:22
  6. firm, 2 Chr. 20:20; Isa. 7:9
  7. reliable (Torah), Ps. 119:43,142,151,160
  8. a command would be fulfilled, 1 Kgs. 1:36
4. In the OT two other Hebrew terms are used for active faith.
  1. bathach (BDB 105), trust
  2. yra (BDB 431), fear, respect, worship (cf. Gen. 22:12)
5. From the sense of trust or trustworthiness developed a liturgical usage which was used to affirm a true or trustworthy statement of another (i.e., "so be it," cf. Num. 5:22; Deut. 27:15-26; 1 Kgs. 1:36; 1 Chr. 16:36; Neh. 5:13; 8:6; Ps. 41:13; 72:19; 89:52; 106:48; Jer. 11:5; 28:6).
6. The theological key to this term is not mankind's faithfulness, but YHWH's (cf. Exod. 34:6; Deut. 32:4; Ps. 108:4; 115:1; 117:2; 138:2). Fallen humanity's only hope is the merciful, faithful, covenant loyalty of YHWH and His promises. Those who know YHWH are to be like Him (cf. Hab. 2:4). The Bible is a history and a record of God restoring His image (cf. Gen. 1:26-27) in mankind. Salvation restores mankind's ability to have intimate fellowship with God. This is why we were created.
NEW TESTAMENT
1. The use of the word "amen" as a concluding liturgical affirmation of a statement's trustworthiness is common in the NT (cf. 1 Cor. 14:16; Rev. 1:7; 5:14; 7:12; 19:4).
2. The use of the term as a close to a prayer is common in the NT (cf. Rom. 1:25; 9:5; 11:36; 15:33; 16:27; 1 Cor. 16:24; Gal. 1:5; 6:18; Eph. 3:21; Phil. 4:20; 2 Thess. 3:18; 1 Tim. 1:17; 6:16; 2 Tim. 4:18; Heb. 13:21; 1 Pet. 4:11; 5:11; 2 Pet. 3:18; Jude v. 25; Rev. 1:6; 7:12 [twice]; 22:20,21).
3. Jesus is the only one who used the term (doubled in John 25 times, i.e., John 1:51; 3:3,5,11; etc.) to introduce significant statements (cf. Luke 4:24; 12:37; 18:17,29; 21:32; 23:43).
  Although it must be noted that there are examples of a doubling of "amen," as at the end of statements in the OT (i.e., Num. 5:22; Neh. 8:6; Ps. 41:13; 72:19; 89:52). It was imagery to emphasize a true statement. See note at I. E.
4. It is used as a title for Jesus in Rev. 3:14 (also note 2 Cor. 1:20, possibly a title of YHWH from Isa. 65:16).
5. The concept of faithfulness or faith, trustworthiness, or trust is expressed in the Greek term pistos or pistis, which is translated into English as "trust," "faith," "believe" (see SPECIAL TOPIC: FAITH, BELIEVE, OR TRUST).