The principle of understanding

Summary: through faith we understand. This is a universal principle (e.g. if you don't believe 1+1=2, you will never understand mathematics).

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Through faith we understand.

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This is a universal principle. Two examples:

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Mathematics

I believe that 1+1=2, not 3. Etcetera. Yea, doubtless. This faith allows me to increase my understanding of math. But if I would not be persuaded that 1+1=2, I would never understand math. 

Such lack of understanding could move a person to:

1. decide that math must be nonsense; and
2. use this judgment to justify his rejection of math.

This would be a foolish thing to do. At least to the person that knows that 1+1=2 is true. But the person doing so wouldn't realize this. So, don't let this person be you.

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"Through faith we understand"

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The King James bible

The same way that I believe 1+1=2, not 3, I believe the King James bible to be the word of our Creator. And by reading the King James bible the way that this bible commands me to read it, I learn to understand it. 

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Related definitions

From the King James bible:

FAITH (noun). Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. According to my earnest expectation and my hope. Yea doubtless.

From Webster's 1828 dictionary:

EV'IDENCE, (noun) That which elucidates and enables the mind to see truth; proof arising from our own perceptions by the senses, or from the testimony of others, or from inductions of reason. Our senses furnish evidence of the existence of matter, of solidity, of color, of heat and cold, of a difference in the qualities of bodies, of figure , etc. The declarations of a witness furnish evidence of facts to a court and jury; and reasoning, or the deductions of the mind from facts or arguments, furnish evidence of truth or falsehood.

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Persuaded by what evidence?

For a person to become persuaded about the truth of something, it is required that his standard of evidence is met. Each person is personally responsible for his own standard of evidence: the amount and quality of things he requires to be persuaded. If you want, you can raise the bar, or lower it. This will determine whether you recognize something to be true. 

Therefore, it is important to distinguish between:

1. the objective evidence material (reality);
2. the subjective standard of evidence (your perception), by which you value the evidence material; and
3. the subjective standard of evidence of any other person, which may differ from yours.

In the assessment of the truth of something, you should clarify your standard of evidence by which you make your judgment. For example, if your standard would differ from mine (higher or lower), then we must first address this difference. Otherwise, there is is no meaningful exchange possible.

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Read more about the standard of evidence and how it determines your worldview.

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