Alma uses the dichotomy between being humble and being compelled to be humble to begin his explanation of faith. Those who are humble are able to accept God’s word “without stubbornness of heart.” Those who are required to be humble may be among those who ask for a sign, or other proof before they will believe.
In verse 18, Alma begins to define faith. The first element in understanding faith is understanding what it is not. It is not knowing a thing of surety: “for if a man knoweth a thing he hath no cause to believe, for he knoweth it.” This puts faith and knowledge on two different and opposed positions. Nevertheless, there is a relationship between faith and knowledge, and that will be part of Alma’s continued explanation.
One of the differences is that humankind is “more cursed [if we know] the will of God and [do] it not.” While Alma suggests that there is a greater punishment if we know and do not do, as opposed to believing and not doing, that will not put faith in the lesser position that it might appear to be. Faith is not knowledge. Although there are important similarities, there are also important differences, as Alma will elaborate in this discourse.