unprofitable
Active Member
I don't believe that pistis Christou, 'faith of Christ,' refers to the personal faith of Christ, or that it means 'the faithfulness of Christ' but that it is an objective genitive and means faith towards or in respect of Christ: 'in Christ.' There are four main reasons for this:
Firstly, Romans 4:3. Abraham believed God and it was credited to him as righteousness.' What was credited to Abraham? Clearly his belief or faith towards or in respect of God.
Secondly, Romans 5:19. 'For as by one man's [Adam's] disobedience many were made sinners, so also by one Man's [Christ's] obedience [Gk. hupakoe] many will be made righteous.' It is not by our Lord's faith that many will be made righteous, but by His obedience.
Thirdly, here is Galatians 2:16 (KJV), where pistis Christou occurs twice. '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.' Please not that the Definite Article ('The') is not found in the Greek of this verse. That is why I have not enboldened it throughout. The contrast in the verse is between ergon nomou, 'Works of law' and pistis Christou, 'faith of Christ.
So let's consider 'works of law:' is it the law that works? Of course not! It is our works in respect of the law. So for the comparison to work, 'faith of Christ' has to be our faith towards or in respect of Christ; 'faith in Christ.'
Finally, Revelation 14:12, KJV. 'Here is the patience of the saints:here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus [Gk. ten pistin Iesou].' The fist two genitives are plainly Subjective, but how do you keep someone else's faith? Clearly, it refers to that faith which is towards or in respect of Jesus.
Thanks for the reply Bro Marprelate. If this needs to be a separate post that will be fine.
I agree with your point of faith toward and in respect of Christ
There still seems to be a distinction between the "faith in Christ" and "faith of Christ" with the faith of Christ being that he believed what the Father had said he would accomplish in and for him as making him King of kings and lord of Lords and our faith in Christ being that he would accomplish what he has said in his covenant and promises that he would do for us as his people.
The faith of Christ toward the Father that you spoke of in Romans 5:19 would precede the obedience unto the Father. I don't believe they can be separated.
Romans 12:3 For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think soberly, according as God has dealt to every man the measure of faith. Here it says that God has dealt/given us the measure of faith that we have. Whose faith is being given to us by the Father? This also would seem to point to Matt 13:8 that says "But others fell unto good ground and brought forth fruit, some an hundred fold, some sixty fold, some thirty fold." This would be according to the measure of faith given us.
Since we are given the life, righteousness, and mind of Christ, why would it seem strange to have been given the faith of Christ in regard to believing what he would do for us covenantly as to a kingdom teaching? We see through the life of Christ in us, the work of Christ, that we might believe in Christ.
I believe my post concerning the mustard seed would be an example of the faith of Christ, as a type of particular doctrinal understanding necessary to cast down the destroying mountain contained in types and shadows of the law. We believe that he has overcome by the type of faith that he had, not of the kingdom according to the law, but according to the faith of Christ as a new covenant teaching. Have you ever seen a body of Christ literally cast a mountain into the sea? I have in the context of casting out the doctrines of the law in types and shadows and pronouncing the fulfilling of the law by Christ thereby taking it out of the way. I have a difficult time believing that was by my faith or understanding.
I hope I have showed why I believe that there is a distinction in some cases. I appreciate and look forward to your reply.