Faith in Romans 3:30

[Old Union Brother]

In Romans 3:30

Seeing it is one God, which shall justify the circumcision by faith, and uncircumcision through faith.

I understand the difference between the circumcision and the uncircumcision. So that implies that there is a difference between by faith and through faith. So my question is:
What is the difference between by faith and through faith as in Rom 3:30? I think that I know but need some reinforcement and opinions. Thanks a head of time.

 

[kyredneck]

In Romans 3:30


I understand the difference between the circumcision and the uncircumcision. So that implies that there is a difference between by faith and through faith. So my question is:
What is the difference between by faith and through faith as in Rom 3:30? I think that I know but need some reinforcement and opinions. Thanks a head of time.

'Through faith' is the faithfulness of God.

 

[glfredrick]

"By" -- ek -- out of, from, by, away from

"Through" -- dia -- through, by reason of, because of this reason, therefore

The difference is that the OT (circumcision) signifies faith as a result of (out of) while the NT (uncircumcision) signifies faith as because of.

The Amplifed Bible has it this way:

Amplified: Rom 3:30 Since it is one and the same God Who will justify the circumcised by faith [which germinated from Abraham] and the uncircumcised through their [newly acquired] faith. [For it is the same trusting faith in both cases, a firmly relying faith in Jesus Christ]. (Amplified Bible - Lockman)

At the end of the day though, both are actually one and the same, the OT is faith from out of God's promise while the NT is faith because of God's promise.

Why does Paul say "by faith" for the Jews and "through faith" for the Gentiles? Cranfield points out that attempts to find a very subtle difference are not convincing. Augustine was probably correct in ascribing the change to rhetorical variety.

Vincent writes that...

Some make the two prepositions equivalent. The difference may be explained from the fact that the real Jew has already a germinating faith from the completion of which justification arises as fruit from a tree. So Wordsworth: “The Jews are justified out of (ek) the faith which their father Abraham had, and which they are supposed to have in him. The Gentiles must enter that door and pass through (dia) it in order to be justified.”

Whatever the reason for the use of different prepositions here (by and through), there is no difference in the instrumental cause of justification; it is faith in both cases. (MacDonald, W., & Farstad, A. Believer's Bible Commentary: Old and New Testaments. Nashville: Thomas Nelson)

Hope this helps...

 

[percho]

"By" -- ek -- out of, from, by, away from

"Through" -- dia -- through, by reason of, because of this reason, therefore

The difference is that the OT (circumcision) signifies faith as a result of (out of) while the NT (uncircumcision) signifies faith as because of.

The Amplifed Bible has it this way:

Amplified: Rom 3:30 Since it is one and the same God Who will justify the circumcised by faith [which germinated from Abraham] and the uncircumcised through their [newly acquired] faith. [For it is the same trusting faith in both cases, a firmly relying faith in Jesus Christ]. (Amplified Bible - Lockman)

At the end of the day though, both are actually one and the same, the OT is faith from out of God's promise while the NT is faith because of God's promise.



Vincent writes that...





Hope this helps...

Help some more.


Just what is the faith spoken of here? Justified how other than saying faith what can we say the faith is that justifies us?

 

[glfredrick]

I would say the "faith" in this passage is God's gift -- the ability to believe in Him.

In order to have faith in God, a couple of things (logically) have to be in place (or happen).

First, we must know that there is a God. That sounds really easy, but this may be the most difficult point. How exactly is it that we do know that there is a God? The answer? We know only because God has chosen to reveal Himself to us. If He had not revealed Himself, we could have no faith (at least in the One True Creator God of the Bible) for we could not know a God who is transcendent and "wholly other" (not a part of His physical creation)

Second, that God must also give us cause to believe in Him. This too seems simple, and many would hold that once we know there is a God, wanting to have faith in Him is natural, but the Word says otherwise. Having faith in God is not natural, it is supernatural, and we cannot access supernatural without God giving us that ability. Because He gives faith as a gift, we have cause to believe in Him.

Third, we must see some fruit from our faith, or else we simply turn away (as is amply demonstrated in the pages of Scripture, where even those people to whom He most clearly demonstrated that He was God (their God!) turned away at every opportunity. Again, this fruit is not of our own making -- it too is a gift of God.

Fourth, we must have some assurance of our faith. This again can only come from God, and it does come as the Holy Spirit confirms with our spirit that we are His children.

These are the essential issues behind the faith that God gives (though not an exhaustive list).

 

[percho]

I would say the "faith" in this passage is God's gift -- the ability to believe in Him.

In order to have faith in God, a couple of things (logically) have to be in place (or happen).

First, we must know that there is a God. That sounds really easy, but this may be the most difficult point. How exactly is it that we do know that there is a God? The answer? We know only because God has chosen to reveal Himself to us. If He had not revealed Himself, we could have no faith (at least in the One True Creator God of the Bible) for we could not know a God who is transcendent and "wholly other" (not a part of His physical creation)

Second, that God must also give us cause to believe in Him. This too seems simple, and many would hold that once we know there is a God, wanting to have faith in Him is natural, but the Word says otherwise. Having faith in God is not natural, it is supernatural, and we cannot access supernatural without God giving us that ability. Because He gives faith as a gift, we have cause to believe in Him.

Third, we must see some fruit from our faith, or else we simply turn away (as is amply demonstrated in the pages of Scripture, where even those people to whom He most clearly demonstrated that He was God (their God!) turned away at every opportunity. Again, this fruit is not of our own making -- it too is a gift of God.

Fourth, we must have some assurance of our faith. This again can only come from God, and it does come as the Holy Spirit confirms with our spirit that we are His children.

These are the essential issues behind the faith that God gives (though not an exhaustive list).

You mean something like this?



Seeing one God, which shall justify the circumcision by giving the ability to believe in him, and uncircumcision through giving the ability to believe in him.

 

[glfredrick]

You mean something like this?



Seeing one God, which shall justify the circumcision by giving the ability to believe in him, and uncircumcision through giving the ability to believe in him.

I would say that is an accurate way to say it. Of course, there is the additional component that once God gives the ability (gift, grace) then one should also participate in that belief. We don't initiate the belief, but we live in it once God gifts it, just like other gifts of God.