In God we Trust

Got it! This site "creationpie.com" uses cookies. You consent to this by clicking on "Got it!" or by continuing to use this website. Note: This appears on each machine/browser from which this site is accessed.

Psalms 16:1 Preserve me, O God: for in thee do I put my trust. [kjv]

στηλογραφια τω δαυιδ φυλαξον με κυριε οτι επι σοι ηλπισα [lxx]

The United States motto "In God we Trust" is related to the phrase "God with us" and has in interesting history.

The Greek word translated "trust" in the LXX (Septuagint) in Psalms 16:1 is the ancient Greek word "ελπίζω" ≈ "expectation, hope" as in a well-founded persuasion, belief or faith.

Psalms 16:1

All

KJV: Preserve me, O God: for in thee do I put my trust.

Hebrew: מכתם לדוד שמרני אל כי חסיתי בך׃

Greek: στηλογραφια τω δαυιδ φυλαξον με κυριε οτι επι σοι ηλπισα

Latin: pecuniam suam non dedit ad usuram et munera adversum innoxium non accepit qui facit haec non movebitur in aeternum

Luther: Ein gülden Kleinod Davids. Bewahre mich, Gott; denn ich traue auf dich.

Russian: Услышь, Господи, правду [мою], внемли воплю моему, прими мольбу из уст нелживых.

When was "In God we Trust" added to United States currency?

The motto itself dates at least back to an 1863 letter by Salmon P. Chase during the American Civil War.

The motto first appeared an a two-cent piece in 1864.
The motto "In God we Trust" was adopted in 1956 during the Cold War under the Eisenhower administration to replace the unofficial motto of "E pluribus unum", which had been created and adopted in 1782 (Wikipedia).

A Christian nation might want "God with us" as a motto. Or could it be expressed as "In God we trust"?

How did the Christian roots of Luther and the Reformation disappear over time in Germany?

What happens when the Christian roots of a nation are taken over by the evil forces of this world? That is, evil forces as in the words of the Luther hymn "A Mighty Fortress is our God"?

More: Song: Mighty Fortress is our God

A common Christmas verse from Matthew is the following. The "God with us" has been used by many empires as a military slogan.

Matthew 1:23 Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us. [kjv]

ιδου η παρθενος εν γαστρι εξει και τεξεται υιον και καλεσουσιν το ονομα αυτου εμμανουηλ ο εστιν μεθερμηνευομενον μεθ ημων ο θεος [gnt]

… Emmanuhel … Nobiscum Deus [v]

… Emanuel … Gott mit uns. [lu]

… Еммануил… с нами Бог. [rus]

The Luther German from the 1500's uses the German phrase "Gott mit uns" ≈ "God with us", a phrase that often used by Germany in war. Powers such as Germany, Russia, Roman Empire(s), and others, have used this phrase as a "battle cry".

More: Matthew 1:23 Gott mit uns