"THE FAITH PASSAGES"

Sometimes it is easy to misinterpret whether the Bible is talking about the body of faith or our faith in it.

Definitions of faith (Entry for noun). 1 a : allegiance to duty or a person : LOYALTY; e.g., lost faith in the company's president; b (1) : fidelity to one's promises; b (2) : sincerity of intentions; e.g., acted in good faith. 2 a (1) : belief and trust in and loyalty to God; (2) : belief in the traditional doctrines of a religion; b (1) : firm belief in something for which there is no proof; e.g., clinging to the faith that her missing son would one day return; (2) : complete trust.   3 : something that is believed especially with strong conviction; especially, a system of religious beliefs. -- Merriam-Webster Dictionary online.

Definitions of the Greek word translated "faith" (noun): Thayer’s Dictionary: “1) conviction of the truth of anything; belief : (i.e.) relating 1a) to God; or 1b) to Christ; or 1c) the religious beliefs of Christians. 1d) belief with idea of trust. 2) fidelity, faithfulness.”

Many voices speak of faith and its power and/or preach that the necessary thing for salvation is only having faith. That would be Webster's definition #2. But what if the faith in a particular passage in the Bible is talking about, not one's act of believing (#2), although that would surely be a personal application of it, but what one is categorically to believe. That is, a definite content of "faith" to be believed, "the faith", the third definition #3 in the dictionary above; i.e., "the body - content - of one's belief system."

In retrospect when studying the 1950s debates on the subject of faith and salvation, I observed that both sides usually did not distinguish between #2 and #3 (English) meaning of "faith". Quoting a Scripture passage with absence of context did not always guarantee distinguishing for us which "faith" was used in the text. I propose that it would be helpful in determining whether "faith" meant #2 or #3 in a specific quote by simply seeing if the word "the" (definite article) was used with the word "faith." For example, in Jude 1:3b "it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints." Which "faith" is referenced? #2 or #3? In this instance both the context and definite article the helps. The specific faith was "delivered" and was to be "contended for." The belief system #3 satisfies this context. However, my point is that this should be understood as #3 "a particular belief system" any way because the definite article accompanies faith. It is "the" faith. Sounds simple, right?

However, what would seem to be "simple", lo, is not so simple when one considers that the Greek "the" is NOT always translated into English. The presence of whether there is a definite article or not is somewhat ignored by translators in preference for a smooth reading in English. Even the King James which prides itself in following closely the "accepted Greek text" might omit or add "the" to certain passages to correspond to our English patterns. For example, we don't say "the [ὁ] God created" but the Greek does. The translators therefore omit "the" in these passages in preference for our English practice of simply using "God." So for this study I propose that we double check with the Greek in the passages referring to "faith".

This procedure is compatible with what we know about the Greek "the." J. Harold Greenlee, Ph.D. in Biblical and Patristic Greek, tells us , "One general rule permeates the use of the articleⁱ in Greek : Nouns which have the article are generally either definite or generic, and nouns which do not have the article are generally either indefinite or qualitative."^{ii iii} Another authority says that the absence of the definite article generally indicates the quality or character of the subject.^iv

For examples, “Now as Jannes and Jambres withstood Moses, so do these also resist the truth: men of corrupt minds, reprobate concerning the faith” (2 Timothy 3:8, ASV). “Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth” (John 17:17). Putting these verses together, “the faith” is the Word of God.

WHAT IS THE FAITH IN THESE PASSAGES? THE FAITH= THE TRUTH = GOD'S WORD.

THE FAITH passages.

"The" and "faith” as found in the original Greek in the following list of Scripture passages.

Note: If the English version does not have "the" translated before the word faith but it is present in the Greek, I have inserted its word "[the]" in background green. If the "the" was added (inserted) by translator, I have written it ("[the]") in gray tone. CODE: OSAS= "ONCE SAVED ALWAYS SAVED".

1. Romans 1:5 “By whom we have received grace and apostleship, for obedience to the faith among all nations, for his name:”

2. Romans 3:3 “For what if some did not believe? shall their unbelief make the faith of God without effect?”

3. Romans 3:30 “Seeing it is one God, which shall justify the circumcision by faith*, and uncircumcision through [the]** faith”. * [no article in the original] . ** "the" is in the original.

4. Romans 3:31 “Do we then make void the* law through [the] faith? God forbid: yea, we establish the* law.”

[*Note: "the" is added to "law" twice by the translator] [Note: Since law has no definite article in original Greek, it speaks of indefinite or qualitative law; faith has the article; hence, the definite faith] .

5. Romans 4:14 “For if they which are of the law* be heirs, [the] faith is made void, and the promise made of none effect.” [*hence, the Law of Moses]

6. Romans 5:2 “By whom also we have access by [the] faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.”

7. Romans 10:8 “But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of [the] faith, which we preach;”

8. Romans 10:17 “So then [the] faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.”

9. Romans 11:20 “Well; because of unbelief they were broken off, and thou standest by [the] faith. Be not highminded, but fear:”

10. Romans 12:6 “Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, whether prophecy, let us prophesy according to the proportion of [the] faith ;”

11. Romans 14:1 “Him that is weak in the faith receive ye, but not to doubtful disputations.”

12. 1 Corinthians 15:14 “And if Christ be not risen, then is our preaching vain, and your [the] faith is also vain.”

13. 1 Corinthians 15:17 “And if Christ be not raised, your [the] faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins.”

14. 1 Corinthians 16:13 “Watch ye, stand fast in the faith, quit you like men, be strong.”

15. 2 Corinthians 1:24 “Not for that we have dominion over your [the] faith, but are helpers of your joy: for by [the] faith ye stand.”

16. 2 Corinthians 4:13 “We having the same spirit of [the] faith, according as it is written, I believed, and therefore have I spoken; we also believe, and therefore speak;”

17. 2 Corinthians 10:15 “Not boasting of things without our measure, that is, of other men's labours; but having hope, when your [the] faith is increased, that we shall be enlarged by you according to our rule abundantly”

18. 2 Corinthians 13:5 “Examine yourselves, whether ye be in [the] faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?”

19. Galatians 1:23 “But they had heard only, That he which persecuted us in times past now preacheth the faith which once he destroyed.”

20. Galatians 3:14 “That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through [the] faith. ”

21. Galatians 3:23 “But before [the] faith came, we were kept under the law, shut up unto the faith which should afterwards be revealed.”

22. Galatians 3:25 “But after that [the] faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster.”

23. Galatians 3:26 “For ye are all the children of God by [the] faith in Christ Jesus.”

24. Galatians 5:5 “For we through the Spirit wait for the hope of righteousness by* faith. ” *no article in Greek.

25. Galatians 6:10 “As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of [the] faith. ”

26. Ephesians 2:8 “For by grace are ye saved through [the] faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:”

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

28. Ephesians 3:17 “That Christ may dwell in your hearts by [the] faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love,”

29. Ephesians 4:5 “One Lord, one* faith, one baptism,” ^v

30. Ephesians 4:13 “Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:”

31. Ephesians 6:16 “Above all, taking the shield of [the] faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.”

32. Philippians 1:25 “And having this confidence, I know that I shall abide and continue with you all for your furtherance and joy of [the] faith; ”

33. Philippians 1:27 “Only let your conversation be as it becometh the gospel of Christ: that whether I come and see you, or else be absent, I may hear of your affairs, that ye stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel;”

34. Philippians 2:17 “Yea, and if I be offered upon the sacrifice and service of your [the] faith, I joy, and rejoice with you all.”

35. 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 [the] faith:

36. Colossians 1:4 “Since we heard of your [the] faith in Christ Jesus, and of the love which ye have to all the saints,”

37. Colossians 1:23 “If ye continue in the faith grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel, which ye have heard, and which was preached to every creature which is under heaven; whereof I Paul am made a minister;”

38. Colossians 2:7 “Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving.”

39. Colossians 2:12 “Buried with him in [the] baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation [power] of God, who hath raised him from the dead.”

40. 1 Thessalonians 1:3 “Remembering without ceasing your [the] work of [the] faith, and [the] labour of [the] love, and [the] patience of [the] hope in our Lord Jesus Christ, in the sight of God and our Father;”

41. 1 Thessalonians 1:8 “For from you sounded out the word of the Lord not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but also in every place your [the] faith to God-ward is spread abroad; so that we need not to speak any thing.”

42. 1 Thessalonians 3:2 “And sent Timotheus, our brother, and minister of God, and our fellowlabourer in the gospel of Christ, to establish you, and to comfort you concerning your [the] faith: ”

43. 1 Thessalonians 3:5 “For this cause, when I could no longer forbear, I sent to know your [the] faith, lest by some means the tempter have tempted you, and our labour be in vain.”

44. 1 Thessalonians 3:6 “But now when Timotheus came from you unto us, and brought us good tidings of your [the] faith and charity, and that ye have good remembrance of us always, desiring greatly to see us, as we also to see you:”

45. 1 Thessalonians 3:7 “Therefore, brethren, we were comforted over you in all our affliction and distress by your [the] faith: ”

46. 1 Thessalonians 3:10 “Night and day praying exceedingly that we might see your face, and might perfect that which is lacking in your [the] faith? ”

47. 2 Thessalonians 3:2 “And that we may be delivered from unreasonable and wicked men: for all men have not [the] faith. ”

48. 1 Timothy 1:19 “Holding faith, and a good conscience; which some having put away concerning [the] faith have made shipwreck: ” First faith has no article; qualitative (See Popular Commentary on the New Testament). The second has the article.

49. 1 Timothy 3:9 “Holding the mystery of the faith in a pure conscience.” cf. "But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory" (1 Corinthians 2:7).

50. 1 Timothy 4:1 “Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils;”

51. 1 Timothy 4:6 “If thou put the brethren in remembrance of these things, thou shalt be a good minister of Jesus Christ, nourished up in the words of [the] faith and of good doctrine, whereunto thou hast attained.”

52. 1 Timothy 5:8 “But if any provide not for his own, and specially for those of his own house, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel.”

53. 1 Timothy 5:12 “Having damnation, because they have cast off their [the] first faith. ”

54. 1 Timothy 6:10 “For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.”

55. 1 Timothy 6:12 “Fight the good fight of [the] faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses.”

56. 1 Timothy 6:21 “Which some professing have erred concerning the faith. Grace be with thee. Amen. ”

57. 2 Timothy 2:18 “Who concerning the truth have erred, saying that the resurrection is past already; and overthrow the faith of some.”

58. 2 Timothy 3:8 “Now as Jannes and Jambres withstood Moses, so do these also resist the truth: men of corrupt minds, reprobate concerning the faith. ”

59. 2 Timothy 3:10 “ But thou hast fully known my doctrine, manner of life, purpose, [the] faith, longsuffering, charity, patience,”

60. 2 Timothy 4:7 “I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: ”

61. Titus 1:13 “This witness is true. Wherefore rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith; ”

62. Titus 2:2 “That the aged men be sober, grave, temperate, sound in [the] faith, in charity, in patience.”

63. Titus 3:15 “All that are with me salute thee. Greet them that love us in the faith. Grace be with you all. Amen. ”

64. Philemon 1:5 “Hearing of thy love and [the] faith, which thou hast toward the Lord Jesus, and toward all saints;”

65. Philemon 1:6 “That the communication of thy [the] faith may become effectual by the acknowledging of every good thing which is in you in Christ Jesus.”

66. Hebrews 4:2 “For unto us was the gospel preached, as well as unto them: but the word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with [the] faith in them that heard it. ”

67. Hebrews 12:2 “Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our [the] faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.”

68. Hebrews 13:7 “Remember them which have the rule over you, who have spoken unto you the word of God: whose [the] faith follow, considering the end of their conversation.”

69. James 1:3 “Knowing this, that the trying of your [the] faith worketh patience.”

70. James 2:1 “My brethren, have not the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, with respect of persons.”

71. James 2:14 “What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can [the] faith save him?”

72. James 2:17 “Even so [the] faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.”

73. James 2:18 “Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy [the] faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my [the] faith by my works.”

74. James 2:20 “But wilt thou know, O vain man, that [the] faith without works is dead?”

75. James 2:22 “Seest thou how [the] faith wrought with his works, and by works was [the] faith made perfect?”

76. James 2:26 “For as the body without the spirit is dead, so [the] faith without works is dead also.”

77. James 5:15 “And the prayer of [the] faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him.”

78. 1 Peter 1:5 “Who are kept by the power of God through [the] faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.”

79. 1 Peter 1:7 “That the trial of your [the] faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ:”

80. 1 Peter 1:9 “Receiving the end of your [the] faith, even the salvation of your souls.” *"end" = "the point aimed at as a limit" (Strong's).

81. 1 Peter 1:21 “Who by him do believe in God, that raised him up from the dead, and gave him glory; that your [the] faith and hope might be in God.”

82. 1 Peter 5:9 “Whom* resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world.” *resist the devil.

83. 2 Peter 1:5 “ And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your [the] faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge;”

84. 1 John 5:4 “For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our [the] faith. ”

85. Jude 3 “Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints.”

        What is your verdict? My observation along with grammar commentaries is that in at least a majority of the cases that by knowing that the definite article is present the object of faith is readily to be understood.

THROW OUT THE LIFELINE