F

• FABLE applied in the New Testament to the traditions and speculations,
  “cunningly devised fables”, of the Jews on religious questions (1 Timothy
  1:4; 4:7; 2 Timothy 4:4; Titus 1:14; 2 Peter 1:16). In such passages the
  word means anything false and unreal. But the word is used as almost
  equivalent to parable. Thus we have (1) the fable of Jotham, in which the
  trees are spoken of as choosing a king (Judges 9:8-15); and (2) that of the
  cedars of Lebanon and the thistle as Jehoash’s answer to Amaziah (2
  Kings 14:9).


• FACE means simply presence, as when it is recorded that Adam and Eve
  hid themselves from the “face [R.V., ‘presence’] of the Lord God”
  (Genesis 3:8; comp. Exodus 33:14, 15, where the same Hebrew word is
  rendered “presence”). The “light of God’s countenance” is his favour
  (Psalm 44:3; Daniel 9:17). “Face” signifies also anger, justice, severity
  (Genesis 16:6, 8; Exodus 2:15; Psalm 68:1; Revelation 6:16). To “provoke
  God to his face” (Isaiah 65:3) is to sin against him openly.

The Jews prayed with their faces toward the temple and Jerusalem (1
Kings 8:38, 44, 48; Daniel 6:10). To “see God’s face” is to have access to
him and to enjoy his favour (Psalm 17:15; 27:8). This is the privilege of
holy angels (Matthew 18:10; Luke 1:19). The “face of Jesus Christ” (2
Corinthians 4:6) is the office and person of Christ, the revealer of the glory
of God (John 1:14, 18).

• FAIR HAVENS a harbour in the south of Crete, some 5 miles to the east
  of which was the town of Lasea (Acts 27:8). Here the ship of Alexandria
  in which Paul and his companions sailed was detained a considerable time
  waiting for a favourable wind. Contrary to Paul’s advice, the master of the
  ship determined to prosecute the voyage, as the harbour was deemed
  incommodious for wintering in (9-12). The result was that, after a stormy
  voyage, the vessel was finally wrecked on the coast of Malta (27:40-44).


• FAIRS (Hebrews ‘izabhonim), found seven times in Ezekiel 27, and
  nowhere else. The Authorized Version renders the word thus in all these
  instances, except in verse 33, where “wares” is used. The Revised Version