Person and Words

The Chinese character 信 comprises the character for “person” (人) and the character for “words” (言).

It can represent “words” from a “person”, such as a message, and – by extension – the medium used to carry those words, like a letter; or the person who brings those words, like a messenger; or communication in general.

It can also represent a “person” who stands by their “word” and is therefore trustworthy or faithful. That may extend to reputation and thence to prestige. Equally, it may refer to the trust or faith that people place in others. This includes the trust that a financial institution places in a customer to repay a loan, hence credit. And it may refer to those that place their trust in another: believers or disciples.

As a Christian, I note that all of these connotations are in some way related to the “Word” incarnated as a “person.”