Mary and Elizabeth as Models of Faith in Scripture
Mary, the mother of Jesus, and Elizabeth, the mother of John the Baptist, are presented in the Gospel of Luke as significant figures whose faith serves as a model for believers [1]. Both women are related, with Elizabeth being a kinswoman of Mary [2, 4]. Elizabeth was of the priestly family, a descendant of Aaron, and she and her husband Zacharias were described as "righteous before God" [3, 4].
Elizabeth's faith is highlighted when Mary visits her. Upon hearing Mary's greeting, the baby (John) leaped in Elizabeth's womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit [1]. This event demonstrates Elizabeth's spiritual discernment and immediate recognition of the divine work occurring through Mary. Her exclamation, "Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb!" (Luke 1:42), affirms Mary's unique role and the miraculous nature of her pregnancy.
Mary's faith is evident in her response to the angel Gabriel's announcement that she would conceive a son by the Holy Spirit, despite being a virgin. Her humble acceptance, "Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word" (Luke 1:38), is often cited as a profound example of submission and trust in God's plan. The Catechism of the Catholic Church emphasizes Mary's "fiat" (Latin for "let it be done") as an act of perfect obedience and faith [8].
Protestant traditions, such as the Reformed tradition, also view Mary's response as exemplary faith. John Calvin, for instance, frequently discusses the nature of faith as a "working reality" and not merely an "otiose assent," which aligns with Mary's active acceptance of God's will [6]. The Augsburg Confession (Lutheran) similarly stresses that salvation is "through faith" as a gift of God, not of works [7].
Both women's narratives underscore the theme of holiness and righteousness. Elizabeth and Zacharias "were both righteous before God" [3], and Mary's life is presented as one of purity and devotion. The concept of holiness, as commanded and exemplified in scripture, is a characteristic of saints and is necessary for worship [5]. Their stories collectively illustrate a faith that is both receptive to divine revelation and active in obedience, providing a foundational example for Christian discipleship.
Sources
- Luke “When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. -- Luke 1:41”
- Smith's Bible Dictionary “Smith's Bible Dictionary: Mary The Virgin — the mother of our Lord. There is no person perhaps in sacred or profane history around whom so many legends have been grouped a the Virgin Mary; and there are few whose authentic history is more concise. She was, like Joseph, of the tribe of Judah and of the lineage of David. (Psalms 132:11; Luke 1:32; Romans 1:3) She had a sister, named, like herself, (John 19:25) and she was connected by marriage, (Luke 1:36) with Elizabeth, who was of the tribe of Levi and of the lineage of Aaron. This is all that we know of her antecedents. She was betrothed to J”
- Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Elisabeth — God her oath, the mother of John the Baptist (Luke 1:5). She was a descendant of Aaron. She and her husband Zacharias (q.v.) "were both righteous before God" (Luke 1:5, 13). Mary's visit to Elisabeth is described in 1:39-63.”
- Smith's Bible Dictionary “Smith's Bible Dictionary: Elisabeth — (the oath of God), the wife of Zacharias and mother of John the Baptist. She was herself of the priestly family, and a relation, (Luke 1:36) of the mother of our Lord.”
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Holiness — Commanded -- Le 11:45; 20:7; Eph 5:8; Col 3:12; Ro 12:1. Christ Desires for his people. -- Joh 17:17. Effects, in his people. -- Eph 5:25-27. An example of. -- Heb 7:26; 1Pe 2:21,22. The character of God, the standard of -- Le 19:2; 1Pe 1:15,16; Eph 5:1. The character of Christ, the standard of -- Ro 8:29; 1Jo 2:6; Php 2:5. The gospel the way of -- Isa 35:8. Necessary to God's worship -- Ps 24:3,4. None shall see God without -- Eph 5:5; Heb 12:14. Saints Elected to. -- Ro 8:29; Eph 1:4. Called to. -- 1Th 4:7; 2Ti 1:9. New created in. -- Eph 4:24. Possess. ”
- 1 Thessalonians (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on 1 Thessalonians 1:3: work of faith--the working reality of your faith; its alacrity in receiving the truth, and in evincing itself by its fruits. Not an otiose assent; but a realizing, working faith; not "in word only," but in one continuous chain of "work" (singular, not plural, works), Th1 1:5-10; Jam 2:22. So "the work of faith" in Th2 1:11 implies its perfect development (compare Jam 1:4). The other governing substantives similarly mark respectively the characteristic manifestation of the grace which follows each in the genitive. Faith, love, and hope, are the ”
- Augsburg Confession (Lutheran) “Augsburg Confession (Lutheran, 1530), 11 This doctrine concerning faith is everywhere treated by Paul,: 11 This doctrine concerning faith is everywhere treated by Paul, Eph. 2:8: By grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of your selves; it is the gift of God, not of works, etc.”
- Catechism of the Catholic Church (Catholic) “Catechism of the Catholic Church, 3. the anagogical sense (Greek: anagoge, "leading"). We can view (part 2): 2 Kings, 1 and 2 Chronicles, Ezra and Nehemiah, Tobit, Judith, Esther, 1 and 2 Maccabees, Job, Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, the Song of Songs, the Wisdom of Solomon, Sirach (Ecclesiasticus), Isaiah, Jeremiah, Lamentations, Baruch, Ezekiel, Daniel, Hosea, Joel, Amos, Obadiah, Jonah, Micah, Nahum, Habakkuk, Zephaniah, Haggai, Zachariah and Malachi. The New Testament: the Gospels according to Matthew, Mark, Luke and John, the Acts of the Apostles, the Letters of St. Paul to the Romans, ”