I'm translating the book of Hebrews for my 3rd year Greek class, and I started chapter 11-- the "hall of faith"-- today. Verse 6 blew me out of the water.
And without faith it is impossible to please God, for it is necessary for the one who comes to God to believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder to the ones who seek Him. ~Hebrews 11:6, my translation
The ESV translates the last phrase, "and that He rewards those who seek Him." The meaning is the same, but a more literal translation brings out this staggering wonder: "rewarder" is a noun. A noun! God doesn't just reward; He IS a rewarder. He is defined as one who rewards. In the same way that 1 John's statement that "God is love" rings more powerfully than the simple "God loves," a literal translation of Hebrews 11:6 highlights the amazing truth that God is characterized by rewarding.
Those of us who are seeking God are not just seeking somebody who happens to reward people; we are caught up in the hedonistic pursuit of the Great Rewarder.
Wow.
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