Literal Interpretation of Moving Mountains in Faith
The concept of "moving mountains" in faith is rooted in biblical language, particularly in Jesus' teaching in Matthew 17:20, where he says, "If you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there,' and it will move" [3]. This statement is often interpreted as a metaphor for overcoming obstacles and fulfilling God's purposes.
In the biblical context, mountains are frequently used as symbols of significant challenges or unshakeable entities. The Psalms describe God as one who "shakes the earth" and "makes the mountains tremble" (Psalm 114:4,6; Habakkuk 3:6) [1, 2]. The imagery of mountains being moved or shaken is also associated with divine judgment and the establishment of righteousness (Isaiah 40:4; 49:11; 54:10) [3].
The early Christian tradition understood Jesus' statement about moving mountains as a call to have faith that can accomplish great things. Origen, a patristic writer, interprets this passage as emphasizing the power of faith to overcome obstacles that seem insurmountable [6]. Similarly, Augustine sees the mountains as representing the greater souls that receive peace and illumination from Wisdom, which then enables them to transmit faith to others [7].
Reformed theologians like John Calvin and Charles Hodge have also grappled with the meaning of "moving mountains" in faith. Calvin understands faith as an ability to comprehend the breadth and depth of God's love, which surpasses human understanding (Ephesians 3:18-19) [5]. Hodge, on the other hand, focuses on the role of faith in the life of the believer, emphasizing its connection to the power of God unto salvation [8].
The literal interpretation of moving mountains is not a dominant theme in Christian theology. Instead, the phrase is often seen as a figurative expression of the power of faith. John Gill, a Baptist/Reformed commentator, notes that the biblical language about mountains being moved or shaken is often used to describe God's judgment and the establishment of his kingdom [4, 9].
In Jewish tradition, the concept of moving mountains is also present, although with different connotations. The Midrash Rabbah interprets the idea of transporting stones or splitting wood as metaphors for the pursuit of Torah study and the challenges that come with it [10].
The biblical and theological traditions converge in understanding "moving mountains" in faith as a metaphor for the transformative power of faith and the overcoming of significant obstacles. This concept remains a powerful symbol in Christian thought, encouraging believers to trust in God's power and provision.
Sources
- Habakkuk “He stood, and shook the earth. He looked, and made the nations tremble. The ancient mountains were crumbled. The age-old hills collapsed. His ways are eternal. -- Habakkuk 3:6”
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Mountains — The elevated parts of the earth -- Ge 7:19,20. God Formed. -- Am 4:13. Set fast. -- Ps 65:6. Gives strength to. -- Ps 95:4. Weighs, in a balance. -- Isa 40:12. Waters, from his chambers. -- Ps 104:13. Parches, with draught. -- Hag 1:11. Causes, to smoke. -- Ps 104:32; 144:5. Sets the foundations of, on fire. -- De 32:22. Makes waste. -- Isa 42:15. Causes, to tremble. -- Na 1:5; Hab 3:10. Causes, to skip. -- Ps 114:4,6. Causes, to melt. -- Jdj 5:5; Ps 97:5; Isa 64:1,3. Removes. -- Job 9:5. Overturns. -- Job 9:5; 28:9. Scatters. -- Hab 3:6. Made to glorify ”
- Matthew (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Matthew 17:20: 17:20 Here, the expression don’t have enough faith is virtually synonymous with no faith. • faith even as small as a mustard seed: This could mean that if the disciples had even very little faith they would be able to accomplish great things (21:21; cp. 1 Cor 13:2). It could also mean that if they would allow their faith to grow (see Matt 13:31-32), they could act with courageous belief. • Moving mountains is an adage for overcoming obstacles and fulfilling God’s purposes (Isa 40:4; 49:11; 54:10; 1 Cor 13:2).”
- Job (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Job 9:4: Which removeth the mountains,.... This and what follow are instances of the power of God, and are full proofs of his being mighty in strength; and may be understood, either literally, not only of what God is able to do if he will, but of what he has done; and history (y) furnishes us with instances of mountains being removed from one place to another; and Scheuchzer (z) makes mention of a village in Helvetia, called Plurium, which, in 1618, was covered with the sudden fall of a mountain, and swallowed up in the earth, with 1800 inhabitants, and not the least trace of it t”
- CCEL (Reformed) “John Calvin, Institutes of the Christian Religion, section 57: in order to reach it. Nor even when it has reached it does it comprehend what it feels, but persuaded of what it comprehends not, it understands more from mere certainty of persuasion than it could discern of any human matter by its own capacity. Hence it is elegantly described by Paul as ability “to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; and to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge,” ( Eph. 3:18, 19 ). His object was to intimate, that what our mind embraces by faith is every w”
- Schaff ANF/NPNF (Patristic) “ANF Vol 9: Gospel of Peter, Diatessaron, Origen's Commentaries — 7. THE POWER OF FAITH.: But when the Saviour said, "O faithfulness and perverse generation,"(3) He signifies that wickedness, which is contrary to nature, stealthily enters in from perversity, and makes us perverted. But of the whole race of men on earth, I think, being oppressed by reason of their wickedness and His tarrying with them, the Saviour said, "How long shall I be with you?" We have already, then, spoken in part of the words, "If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain,"(4) etc.; but n”
- Schaff ANF/NPNF (Patristic) “NPNF1 Vol 7: Augustine — Homilies on John — CHARTER I. I--5. (part 2): mountains receive peace, that the hills may be able to receive righteousness. What is the righteousness which the hills receive? Faith, for" the just doth live by faith."[3] The smaller souls, however, would not receive faith unless the greater souls, which are called mountains, were illuminated by Wisdom herself, that they may be able to transmit to the little ones what the little ones can receive; and the hills live by faith, because the mountains receive peace. By the mountains themselves it was said to the Church, "Peac”
- CCEL (Reformed (Old Princeton)) “Charles Hodge, Systematic Theology, Vol. 3, section 95: 311-315. abundant evidence is advanced from the writings of Mr. Brooks, Dr. McNeile, and the Rev. Mr. Bickersteth, to show that those gentlemen teach that the Scriptures “are to be superseded” in the millennium. Other means, probably, as they 865 say, other revelations are to be made for the salvation of men. Any theory which thus disparages the gospel of the grace of God must be false. Christ’s commission to his Church was to preach the Gospel to every creature under heaven; Paul says, the Gospel is the power of God unto salvation; that,”
- Psalms (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Psalms 65:6: Which by his strength setteth fast the mountains,.... In the first creation and formation of them, when they were settled on their basis so firmly that they are rarely removed, and when they are it is something extraordinary. Some understand this of the Lord's preparing the mountains with the rain of his strength, for the bringing forth of herbs and grass for the service of man and beast, and of his adorning them with trees; and the Targum is, "who preparest food for the wild goats of the mountains;'' others interpret them of kingdoms and communities, comparable t”
- Midrash Rabbah (Jewish (Rabbinic)) “Midrash Rabbah, Kohelet Rabbah 10:9:1: “One who transports stones will be saddened by them; and one who splits wood will benefit from it” (Ecclesiastes 10:9). “One who transports stones will be saddened by them” – one who transports himself from his studies will ultimately be sorry. He will seek a matter but will not find it. 48 He will seek to recall some detail of his Torah study but will not remember it. “And one who splits wood will benefit [ yisakhen ] from it.” As long as he toils in it, he will benefit from it, just as you say: “She will be an attendant [ sokhenet ] for him” (I Kings 1:”