Faith In The Blood? KJV and Other Bible Translation

[Truth Seeker]

In Romans 3:25 of the KJV the phrase "faith in his blood" is puzzling. We all know that the object of our faith is Jesus Christ and not the blood. But this is how it is translated in other bible translations as well. Is this an accurate rendering in the Greek? Are we to also put our faith in his blood?

 

[Deacon]

As you note, comparing other versions often helps when studying a passage, particularly the difficult passages that the Apostle Paul writes.
The English Standard Version is trustworthy and may, or may not, clarify things for you.
In some cases, a more contemporary, dynamic version like the New Living Translation is helpful but it is not designed to closely follow the Greek structure.

Romans 3:24–25 (ESV): …Christ Jesus, (25) whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith….

(Romans 3:25 (NLT) For God sent Jesus to take the punishment for our sins and to satisfy God’s anger against us. We are made right with God when we believe that Jesus shed his blood, sacrificing his life for us. God was being entirely fair and just when he did not punish those who sinned in former times.

Rob

 

[37818]

Hebrews 9:22, And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission.

 

[David Lamb]

In Romans 3:25 of the KJV the phrase "faith in his blood" is puzzling. We all know that the object of our faith is Jesus Christ and not the blood. But this is how it is translated in other bible translations as well. Is this an accurate rendering in the Greek? Are we to also put our faith in his blood?

The NKJV (New King James Version) says:

“whom God set forth [as] a propitiation by His blood, through faith, to demonstrate His righteousness, because in His forbearance God had passed over the sins that were previously committed,” (Ro 3:25 NKJV)

 

[Truth Seeker]

The NKJV (New King James Version) says:

“whom God set forth [as] a propitiation by His blood, through faith, to demonstrate His righteousness, because in His forbearance God had passed over the sins that were previously committed,” (Ro 3:25 NKJV)

The NKJV is my preferred bible translation. I believe the rendering in Romans 3:25 is more accurate and better harmonizes with the whole of scripture. I'm not minimizing the blood of Christ but no where in scripture are we commanded to worship the blood as Savior. Our object of faith is always in the person of Jesus Christ.

 

[Deacon]

The phrase utilizes a figure of speech, an idiom,
“the blood” representing the crucifixion and death of our Savior.

I’m reminded of a hymn we sang in the past.

What can wash away my sin?
Nothing but the blood of Jesus.
What can make me whole again?
Nothing but the blood of Jesus.

Refrain:
O precious is the flow
that makes me white as snow;
no other fount I know;
nothing but the blood of Jesus.

For my pardon this I see:
nothing but the blood of Jesus.
For my cleansing this my plea:
nothing but the blood of Jesus. [Refrain]

Nothing can for sin atone:
nothing but the blood of Jesus.
Naught of good that I have done:
nothing but the blood of Jesus. [Refrain]

This is all my hope and peace:
nothing but the blood of Jesus.
This is all my righteousness:
nothing but the blood of Jesus. [Refrain]​

*************

Romans 3:25 (NA28)
ὃν προέθετο ὁ θεὸς ἱλαστή
ριον διὰ [τῆς] πίστεως ἐν τῷ
αὐτοῦ αἵματι εἰς ἔνδειξιν
τῆς δικαιοσύνης αὐτοῦ διὰ
τὴν πάρεσιν τῶν προγε
γονότων ἁμαρτημάτων


διὰ - through KJV, NASB, NET, NIV, NRSV,
- - - - by CEV, ESV,

πίστεως - faith (almost all versions)

ἐν - ‘in’ [CEV, GW, KJV, NASB, NCV, NIV],
- - -- ‘by’ [NET, NRSV, NKJV],
αἷμα - ‘blood’ (KJV, NET, NIV, NLT, NRSV, TEV],

The phrase is translated as ‘his death’ [REB], "shed his blood, sacrificing his life for us" (NLT), "by his blood he should become the means by which people’s sins are forgiven" (Good News),

The NET Bible offers and interesting translation of the idiom:

(NET 2nd ed.)
God publicly displayed him at his death as the mercy seat accessible through faith. This was to demonstrate his righteousness, because God in his forbearance had passed over the sins previously committed.​

"...expiation or propitiation in his blood. Paul never makes Christ’s blood the object of faith, and as in other NT passages, the phrase ‘in his blood’ singles out Christ’s blood as the means by which God’s wrath is propitiated or turned away, the means through which salvation is secured."
David Abernathy, An Exegetical Summary of Romans 1–8, 2nd ed. (Dallas, TX: SIL International, 2008), 275.

Rob

 

[GodisgraciousR325]

Good day,

Yes, we are saved through faith in his blood and yes, we are saved through faith in Christ Jesus.

The Lord Jesus Christ had to shed his blood, die, rose again to put the blood into the mercy seat so we can have the opportunity to be saved through faith.

Both are equally important, the blood is the key that giveth us the eternal salvation since as above mentioned, witihout the shedding of blood, there is no remission.

Shawn

 

[MMDAN]

I understand "blood" here in Romans 3:25 as an expression pointing to the totality of Christ's atoning work as a sacrifice for sin. The word "cross" is used similarly to refer to the whole atoning work of Christ on the cross. (1 Corinthians 1:18; Galatians 6:12,14; Ephesians 2:16)

 

[GodisgraciousR325]

Thanks for replying, I do agree that the cross is important as well, though without the shedding of blood (which is also mentioned in Ephesians 2:16) is very important as well.

 

[GodisgraciousR325]

I would like to note a few more things: Cursed is every man that hangeth on a tree. Without the shedding of blood, there is no remission.

For the blood is the life of the flesh.

The gospel is found in 1 Cori 15:1-5 which saith "how he died..." this is referring about his bloodly crucification on the cross, which the scripture saith cursed is every man that hangeth on a tree and also sin is the curse of the law.

Jesus had to die on the cross to shed his blood, to be buried, to rise again on the 3rd day, ascend to heaven to put his blood in the mercy seat since his priesthood never changeth, so that blood is always there, pure and holy.

Hope that clarifies things, and please do not go into the Greek/Hebrew/other translations.

We must believe every word of the Bible, its surely blood. There was also some other verse that talked about how from one blood came all nations, they also try to remove blood there.

Ephesians 1:7 also talk about the remission of sins through his blood.

The bloodstained gospel is important, and I really never heard about this until I watched a video on YouTube.

 

[GodisgraciousR325]

I would like to note a few more things: Cursed is every man that hangeth on a tree. Without the shedding of blood, there is no remission.

For the blood is the life of the flesh.

The gospel is found in 1 Cori 15:1-5 which saith "how he died..." this is referring about his bloodly crucification on the cross, which the scripture saith cursed is every man that hangeth on a tree and also sin is the curse of the law.

Jesus had to die on the cross to shed his blood, to be buried, to rise again on the 3rd day, ascend to heaven to put his blood in the mercy seat since his priesthood never changeth, so that blood is always there, pure and holy.

Hope that clarifies things, and please do not go into the Greek/Hebrew/other translations.

We must believe every word of the Bible, its surely blood. There was also some other verse that talked about how from one blood came all nations, they also try to remove blood there.

Ephesians 1:7 also talk about the remission of sins through his blood.

The bloodstained gospel is important, and I really never heard about this until I watched a video on YouTube.

Colossians 1:14

 

[GodisgraciousR325]

Colossians 1:14

To make it more clear, we are saved because of faith in the blood, we are not putting our faith in the cross, we are putting our faith in the shed blood of the Lord Jesus Christ the only God and great Saviour.

 

[percho]

I started a thread on Sunday below [For those who have studied Greek. The Greek Guru's] which no one has bothered to address, BTW ; This OP is exactly why I asked the question: Romans TR

3:25 ὃν προέθετο ὁ θεὸς ἱλαστήριον διὰ τῆς πίστεως ἐν τῷ αὐτοῦ αἵματι εἰς ἔνδειξιν τῆς δικαιοσύνης αὐτοῦ διὰ τὴν πάρεσιν τῶν προγεγονότων ἁμαρτημάτων (3:26) ἐν τῇ ἀνοχῇ τοῦ θεοῦ

I know, no Greek. Does, " the," add meaning to understanding, as used in the above Greek?

Say the God. What does the mean relative to God in the Greek? What about the faith. The blood of him? ect

 

[GodisgraciousR325]

I started a thread on Sunday below [For those who have studied Greek. The Greek Guru's] which no one has bothered to address, BTW ; This OP is exactly why I asked the question: Romans TR

3:25 ὃν προέθετο ὁ θεὸς ἱλαστήριον διὰ τῆς πίστεως ἐν τῷ αὐτοῦ αἵματι εἰς ἔνδειξιν τῆς δικαιοσύνης αὐτοῦ διὰ τὴν πάρεσιν τῶν προγεγονότων ἁμαρτημάτων (3:26) ἐν τῇ ἀνοχῇ τοῦ θεοῦ

I know, no Greek. Does, " the," add meaning to understanding, as used in the above Greek?

Say the God. What does the mean relative to God in the Greek? What about the faith. The blood of him? ect

God took on him flesh, and blood.

I do not need to go to the Greek/Hebrew, the King James Bible is right and anyways, I read that the "the" and other articles (not sure if this is right term,) are sometimes implied but not expressly added in the text. The Bible is for the common man, not for scholars.