Faith “of” vs. Faith “in”

Actually, in the Greek, there's NO word between 'pistis'(faith) and 'Iesous'(Jesus), which leaves translators' choice open.

Besides that, JESUS IS GOD. He does NOT have to have faith in ANYTHING; all is KNOWN to Him...all is SEEN by Him. HE KNOWS everything about His Father. He KNOWS everything about everything!

 

All from the KJV:

Mark 11:22 And Jesus answering saith unto them, Have faith in God.

Act 24:24 And after certain days, when Felix came with his wife Drusilla, which was a Jewess, he sent for Paul, and heard him concerning the faith in Christ.

Rom 3:25 Whom God hath set forth [to be] a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God;

Gal 3:26 For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus.

Eph 1:15 Wherefore I also, after I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus, and love unto all the saints,

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

Col 2:5 For though I be absent in the flesh, yet am I with you in the spirit, joying and beholding your order, and the stedfastness of your faith in Christ.

 

"faith of Jesus" - "of" in English does not always mean "belonging to", as in "Jesus' faith". "of" has a huge range of meaning. It can also mean related to, centering on, etc. If I have a "love of vanilla ice cream", that is referring to my love, not the vanilla ice cream's love.

Many other scriptures (in all versions), often use the phrase "justfied by faith". Are you saying that in all these instances, the faith is not ours, but Christ's?

 

AVBunyan said "Haven't done a big study but since you mentioned I'll check into - The main point was in those verses where justification was the issue. "

My question was about verses that talk about justification. Justification "by" faith.

Also, if "faith of Jesus" always means Jesus' faith as opposed to faith centered on Jesus, how are saints supposed to keep it?

Rev 14:12 Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.

 

My point is that Jesus *KNEW* all that was gonna occur. Having always been with His Father, having been given all authority by his Father, He didn't have FAITH, He had/has EMPIRICAL KNOWLEDGE since He's seen everything and knows everything.

I <<<RESPECTFULLY>>> ask...What was/is there for JESUS to have faith IN? He, His father, & the Holy Spirit are the SUPREME BEINGS! None nor nothing is as high or higher! JESUS made all there is, according to Yahweh's "blueprint". FAITH is believing in the UNSEEN. WHAT is unseen by JESUS?

 

Ah, interesting point robycop3. I didn't quite understand the first time.

 

AVBunyan said "Just not sure what verses you may be referring to"

Rom 3:27-30, James 2:24, others.

AVBunyan said "they obviously have to keep a faith"

But my question is, how can they keep a faith that is someone else's? They could not keep Jesus' faith, just as I could not keep your faith.

 

Let's see if we can work this out...First, I don't think JESUS HIMSELF had/has faith...He has SURE KNOWLEDGE AND FACTS.

Now, what would faith OF Jesus be? Would it be the faith He gives us? Would it be the complete set of beliefs we have in Him? Would it be our complete set of beliefs pertaining to God in general?

In Luke 17, the apostles asked Jesus to increase their faith. Jesus replied by showing them how small their faith was...and I believe He meant for them to increase their faith THEMSELVES.

Later, He opened their minds for them to fully realize who He was. Now, one might say they didn't believe believe in Him by faith, but, after He was returned to heaven, the apostles CALLED ON HIS NAME to have miracles occur. They knew it was JESUS' power, and not their own, that performed those miracles. the apostles had FAITH that Jesus would do those miracles if they asked in His name. That's what Jesus had told them He would do, & they had FAITH He would do it.

I believe faith is a human thing, while GOD should be the OBJECT of our faith. God is ULTIMATE-THE MOST HIGH. There's nothing for Him to have faith IN...He's seen all, made all, controls all.

Stretching things a bit, we MIGHT say Jesus, while a man, had faith His Father would do all He'd said. But as Scripture shows, Jesus retained His KNOWLEDGE, although He'd temporarily laid most of His POWER AND GLORY aside.

 

Hiya AvBunyan!

Thank you for all your posts! They are like a breath of fresh air in here. I think it is wonderful that you are sharing the truth with others, and it is becoming apparent, many either do not understand the gospel, or they are arguing against the truth in order to feel justified at the end of the day for their compromise with error. I have come to understand, that as much as one tries to help others understand the truth, it can only come by God through the Holy Spirit. It also seems apparent, that many here don't really care to understand the truth, but only argue against it. There is a very strong argumenative spirit on these boards, that wrest the truth in the scriptures to their own destruction, and at the expense of the truth and faith of others. You are absolutely correct. Our faith comes not by our own selves, but by and of Jesus Christ. Otherwise I would not have understood the gospel. I would not be able to say confidently that I am saved. Faith has been given to me by God, and it is the faith of Jesus Christ. He was the second Adam, in that he lived perfectly in God's will and law (and only He could, because only God is perfect) to be a lamb without blemish, in order for his perfect, and unblemished blood could remiss our sins. He inparted to us, not only our understanding of this great truth (to which is what faith is) but also that it was His full obediance to the law in the flesh for us. This is the faith of Jesus to which he has imparted to every born again believer. I know this, because I can testify to it, with my own testimony. I did not turn to God on my "own", but it was the Lord who called me to him, and gave me faith, his faith, that I may have faith in him.

Matt. 16

13. When Jesus came into the coasts of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, saying, Whom do men say that I the Son of man am?
14. And they said, Some say that thou art John the Baptist: some, Elias; and others, Jeremias, or one of the prophets.
15. He saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am?
16. And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.
17. And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven.
18. And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.


The faith of God (revealed by God the faith of Jesus Christ - his perfect fulfilment of the law) is what Jesus states will build his church.
(Isaiah 49:7, Luke 16, 1 Cor. 1:9, 1 Cor. 10:13, 2 Thess.3:3, Heb.10, 1 John 1, Rev. 3:14, Rev. 19:11, Rev.22:6)


This is what I have been given in my understanding of the gospel and my faith. It did not come from my own faith, but the faith of the Son of God, Jesus Christ.


Love in Jesus Christ our Lord and Saviour,
michelle