The NIV, ESV, KJV, NKJV, YLT, WYC, WEB, RSV, NLT, NET, NCV, NASB, MEV, LEB, ISV, HCSB all state the word 'faith' as being the word used. In fact, the Greek word used is 'pisitis' and that rendering you are stating it to be can not be further from being correct. The faith, that true belief in God, comes from Him, and is not 'pent up' inside of man.
The verse I remember talking about was Jude 3:
Jud 1:3 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.
(This is what you referred back to in #214).
The KJV has the definite article in front of it as referring to a definite body of truth, as most commentaries I have read also refer to it.
For example, A.T. Robertson:
For the faith (tēi - pistei). Dative of advantage. Here not in the original sense of trust, but rather of the thing believed as in Jud_1:20; Gal_1:23; Gal_3:23; Phi_1:27.
Jamieson, Faucett, Brown:
once, etc. — Greek, “once for all delivered.” No other faith or revelation is to supersede it.
In fact I don't know of a commentary that says otherwise. As Robertson says, it is not the sense of "trust."
¶ αγαπητοι πασαν σπουδην ποιουμενος γραφειν υμιν περι της κοινης σωτηριας αναγκην εσχον γραψαι υμιν παρακαλων επαγωνιζεσθαι τη απαξ παραδοθειση τοις αγιοις
πιστει
pistis
Thayer Definition:
1) conviction of the truth of anything, belief; in the NT of a conviction or belief respecting man’s relationship to God and divine things, generally with the included idea of trust and holy fervour born of faith and joined with it
1a) relating to God
1a1) the conviction that God exists and is the creator and ruler of all things, the provider and bestower of eternal salvation through Christ
1b) relating to Christ
1b1) a strong and welcome conviction or belief that Jesus is the Messiah, through whom we obtain eternal salvation in the kingdom of God
1c) the religious beliefs of Christians
1d) belief with the predominate idea of trust (or confidence) whether in God or in Christ, springing from faith in the same
2) fidelity, faithfulness
2a) the character of one who can be relied on
Part of Speech: noun feminine
There are many definitions of pistis. The second definition fits quite well in this context.
The ESV which you quoted above says:
contend for
the faith that was once for all delivered to the saints.
--And so do most of the other translations.
I don't understand your objection here.
As mentioned, I fail to see your objection, and I don't know where you got your information from. It doesn't seem to be correct.
Non, mon ami, non. That is not a play on words our blest Savior was saying. It was/is a biblical fact that Jesus replied, “This is the work of God—that you believe in the One He has sent.” [Jn 6:29] Faith is not a work of man, oui. If faith was a work, then salvation, which comes with faith being exercised, is not grace but merit. But it is a fruit of the Spirit.
But it was a play on words. Jesus cast "works" deliberately as a work when we (as well as He) know that it is not as work. Thus the response, to "What must we "DO"? The can't DO anything. No one can merit anything to obtain eternal life. That is what Jesus was telling them. He deliberately uses "works" to teach them that faith is not a "work." If faith was a work, the salvation would by by merit, by works. It was a pun on words.
You make a very compelling case here, mon ami. However, if you were to just use this one passage, you would have an 'ironclad' case. But let us also look into other passages, monsieur.
It is the one of the two ways God uses faith in the Bible--a spiritual gift or the fruit of the Spirit: neither of which He would give to the unregenerate. Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God.
As I already showed you, in Heb. 12:2, it states that God is the Pioneer and Perfecter of our faith. The KJV states is as the Author and Finisher of our faith. That would 'Author'/'Pioneer' means the chief leader, prince, of Christ, one that takes the lead in any thing and thus affords an example, a predecessor in a matter, pioneer, the author. None of these renderings show it dwelling inside man mon ami. And 'finisher'/'Perfecter' means a perfector', one who has in his own person raised faith to its perfection and so set before us the highest example of faith. Again, this in no way shows faith residing within man, monsieur.
There is a good answer to that also. It is in the context.
First, chapter 11: We are shown a great stadium of witness--heroes of "the faith."
Second, We are told: "Therefore, ...run this race that is set before us."
Third, "looking unto Jesus" (our example) who pioneered the way for us, and ran it for us and completed it for us. He is our Great Example. He sets before them an example to follow while running this race lest they be discouraged. It is the perfect example, the perfect One, who ran perfectly--from beginning to end. "Look to him." Run the race. Walk the walk (of faith). Don't give up.
Think about it. You say that sinners must exercise faith, of which I completely agree with. Now, if faith is a fruit of the Spirit, and God does not give faith to sinners, then what faith do they, being sinners, exercise?
The unsaved sinner exercises faith in himself, in his fleshly desires, in many things. Sometimes the object of his faith may be good--his wife, his family, his work.
It is the object of one's faith that is important. The unsaved will put their faith in some thing or person other than Christ.
A saved person will put their faith in Christ, as Hebrews 12 teaches us.
"Looking unto Jesus."
"Consider Him, who endured such contradiction of sinners..."
The object of their faith was not to be their own discouragement, but rather Jesus. They were to focus on Christ.
The question is: Can an unsaved person put their faith in Christ?
The Calvinist says he must be "forced" to do so (i.e., Irresistible Grace).
The non-Cal says, no this doctrine is wrong. Jesus invites all to freely come to Him. He doesn't need to be forced by God. He is not reprobated to Hell. He is invited freely to come. "Whosoever will may come."