Are We Saved By The Faith Of Jesus, Do We Live By The Faith of Jesus? Part One - Romans 3:22

There is a teaching gaining popularity within the grace movement that says we are saved by the faith of Jesus and live by the faith of Jesus and not by our own faith.

This teaching comes from a misinterpretation and mistranslation by many translators of Romans 3:22 and Galatians 2:20.

Let’s start by looking at three different translations of Romans 3:22.

Translation #1 – NIV (see also the NASB and NKJV)

This righteousness is given through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference between Jew and Gentile…

NOTE: The NIV makes a note that faith in Jesus could also be translated as “through the faithfulness of Jesus.”

Translation #2: Literal Standard Version (see also Youngs Literal Translation)

…and the righteousness of God [is] through the faith of Jesus Christ to all, and on all those believing—for there is no difference…

Translation #3 – International Standard Version (see also the NET Bible)

…God's righteousness through the faithfulness of Jesus the Messiah — for all who believe.

These are three different translations which say,

…faith in Jesus (NIV, NASB, NKJV)

…faith of Jesus (Literal Standard Version, Youngs Literal Translation)

…faithfulness of Jesus (International Standard Version, NET)

So, which is it?

The Greek word used for faith and faithfulness is pistis.

In Romans 3:3, most translations translate pistis as faithfulness, not faith.

Romans 3:3 says,

What if some were unfaithful? Will their unfaithfulness nullify God’s faithfulness [Greek word is pistis]?

Even though most translations translate pistis as faithfulness in Romans 3:3, they translate pistis as faith in Romans 3:22.

For example, The Literal Standard Version and Youngs Literal Translation translates pistis as faithfulness in Romans 3:3 and Galatians 5:22 but translate pistis as faith in Romans 3:22.

In Galatians 5:22, pistis is also translated as faithfulness by most all translations.

Galatians 5:22 says,

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness…” [Greek word is pistis – same Greek word in Romans 3:3 and 22].

The Greek word pistis is correctly translated as faith throughout the Bible, yet it is also correctly translated as faithfulness, such as in Romans 3:3 and Galatians 5:22 by most translations.

So how are we to know if pistis in Romans 3:22 should be translated faith in Jesus, faith of Jesus, or faithfulness of Jesus?

We know by two ways.

Way #1: The word pistis is used repeatedly in Romans to refer to one’s own faith in Jesus for salvation, with no connection to the faith of Jesus for salvation.

Therefore, translating pistis as the faith of Jesus that saves us in Romans 3:22 is inconsistent with the rest of Romans.

Way #2: The context of Romans 3:22 is about the faithfulness of Jesus in being the propitiation for our sins, or the faithfulness of Jesus in making the payment for our sins so that righteousness could come to us.

Let’s look at the context.

Paul, the writer of Romans, states in Romans 1:16-17 his reason for writing.

He writes:

For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes: first to the Jew, then to the Gentile. For in the gospel the righteousness of God is revealed—a righteousness that is by faith from faith to faith, just as it is written: ‘The righteous will live by faith.’

From this point, Paul begins making the case in Romans, that all are unrighteous and need the righteousness of God that comes through Jesus and is received by faith or by believing.

Starting in Romans 3:21-26, Paul teaches that the righteousness of God has been made known through the faithfulness of Jesus when Jesus became the sacrificial payment for our sins at the cross.

At the cross, Jesus faithfully took all our sinfulness and now offers us his righteousness.

Paul makes it very clear in Romans that righteousness is received by one’s personal faith in Jesus or through belief in Jesus.

So, let’s summarize.

In Romans, the righteousness of God comes through the faithfulness of Jesus in making the payment for our sins.

This righteousness is received by one’s personal belief or faith, not by the faith of Jesus.

This is the same point Paul is making in Galatians 2:20 when he confronts Peter for depending upon his own faithfulness to the law for righteousness rather than depending upon the faithfulness of Jesus who loved us and gave himself (grace) for us in going to the cross where he took our sinfulness and offers us his righteousness that is received by faith.

I will write on this in Part Two of this teaching.

So in conclusion, it is my view the Internal Standard Bible and the NET Bible accurately translate pistis as the faithfulness of Jesus rather than the faith of Jesus or faith in Jesus.

CLICK HERE to read Part Two.