Reconciling the "Faith Of Jesus Christ"

With "Faith In Jesus Christ"

By Arthur J Licursi

I've often noted and tried to share the important matter of "the faith OF God... faith OF Jesus Christ," etc., to differentiate it from the phrase "faith in Jesus Christ" as used for it in most modern Bible translations. Sensing that I've fallen short in communicating the meaning of "the faith of Christ," I'd like to make another effort to explain this with additional understanding I have gained from the writings of Cornelius Stam.

If you look into the many modern versions of the Bible (NKJV, NASB, NIV ESV, etc.) and compare them to the Kings James Authorized Version (not the NKJV)  and the Greek-English Interlinear you will see that there is a significant conflict in this matter of properly translating "the faith of...."

The modern translations consistently depart from the Greek translated "of" and replace it with their word "in," - i.e.,  "faith in the Son of God." This destroys the true meaning of the several verses where they have done this.

In their error, these translators in essence put the burden upon the believer to initiate his "faith in" Christ out of the believer's own resource, which cannot work. This then gives place to the ignorant claim that accuses weak or immature believers by saying, "well, you don't have enough faith."

The fact is that we can only believe in and trust in Christ because He first and He alone is THE FAITHFUL ONE and To Be Believed In. In point of fact, our faith is of the faithful one Himself,  Jesus Christ, in that He has been and is faithful. What believers need is to know the truth of Paul's pure "gospel of the grace of God" (Act 20:24) and all that the Lord has done for us, to see that He is reliable and can be believed.

Note in Rom. 3:22 (below) the Apostle Paul does NOT here refer to faith IN Christ, but rather "the faith OF Christ."

 "…the righteousness of God… by [the] faith of Jesus Christ, unto all and upon all them that believe" (Rom. 3:22).

In many modern versions "by faith of Jesus Christ" is erroneously changed to "through faith in Jesus Christ," and the question arises whether the earlier translators  of KJV) were mistaken, or whether both renderings are admissible. The Greek reads "DIA (by) PISTEOS (faith) IESOU (of Jesus) CHRISTOU (Christ)," literally - through (by means of, by) faith OF Jesus Christ - the names having the genitive ending. In grammar, genitive (abbreviated gen; also called the possessive case or second case) is the grammatical case that marks a noun as modifying another noun. It often marks a noun (Christ)as being the possessor of another noun (faith). For more than two hundred years it has been debated among Biblical scholars whether the genitive in English rightly conveys the meaning of the Greek. I believe it in fact does.

I believe Paul is referring Christ's worthiness to be believed, referring to His fidelity, His reliability, His trustworthiness.

The word "faith" in the Greek is "pistis" and is sometimes translated as "fidelity." Fidelity means trustworthiness. The faith, faithfulness, and trustworthiness of Christ is the root of our faith in Him. Thus, our faith is initiated by and based upon His absolute faithfulness and trustworthiness.

Therefore, faith is a reciprocal matter; it is two-sided. We, on one side believe... in the Other. The Other, that is Christ, is of a trustworthy and faithful character. One side refers to what we as a person do, we have faith... in the Other because of Who He is and What He has done for us.

So, in the several passages below, Paul does NOT refer to our faith in Christ, this it is evident on the surface in each case. In Romans 3:22 (below) Paul declares that the righteousness of God to us is made available "by the faith of Christ." Its by Christ alone that "the righteousness of God" is conferred "upon all them that believe." Our believing is the expression of our faith in Him.

Seven times in Paul's epistles he refers to "the faith OF Jesus... OF Christ... OF the Son." Each time his purpose is to emphasize our Lord's worthiness of our complete confidence for and in various aspects of the blessings that are made available to us "of (from) the Lord."

Romans 3:22 Even the righteousness OF God which is... by faith OF Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference:

Galatians 2:16 Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith Of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified... by the faith Of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.

Galatians 2:20 I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live... by the faith OF the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.

Galatians 3:22 But the scripture hath concluded all under sin, that the promise... by faith OF Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe.

Ephesians 3:12 In whom we have boldness and access with confidence... by the faith of him.

Philippians 3:9 And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is... through the faith OF Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith:

In Gal. 3:22 (above) Paul states that "the Scripture hath concluded all under sin, that the promise, by faith OF Jesus Christ, might be given to 'them that believe." Here again, we believe because He is worthy of our confidence.

Now consider Philippians 3:9.

"And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith OF Christ, the righteousness which is OF God by faith: (Philippians 3:9)

In Phil. 3:9 (above) Paul expresses his appreciation for a righteousness that is not of his own, "but that which is through the faith OF Christ" — Paul then adds; "the righteousness which is OF God by (our) faith." Here then is man's reciprocal faith. He has faith in Christ because Christ is completely faithful, completely worthy to be believed in. Christ paid the full penalty for our sins and is now in heaven while dispensing His very life to us and all the merits of Calvary — riches of grace, mercy and forgiveness.

So "the faith of Christ" always precedes our faith in Christ. What good would it do us to believe in Him for salvation if He were not wholly to be relied upon for this? But He can be trusted "to save… to the uttermost [all] who come unto God by Him" (Heb. 7:25). This is why Paul could say to the terrified jailor at Philippi :

"Believe (trust in, cling to and rely upon) on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved" (Acts 16:31)... because He is faithful and to be relied upon.