Are We Saved By The Faith Of Jesus, Do We Live By The Faith of Jesus? Part Two - Galatians 2:20

In Part One, I stated 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.

In Part One, I examined Romans 3:22.

In Part Two, I will begin to examine Galatians 2:20 and will conclude the study in Part Three.

Let’s start by looking at three different translations of Galatians 2:20.

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

I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.

NOTE: The NIV makes a note that faith in Jesus could also be translated through the faithfulness of Jesus (see Galatians 2:16 notes).

Translation #2: Berean Literal Bible (see also the Webster’s Bible Translation and Youngs Literal Translation)

I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.

Translation #3: – The Net Bible (see also the International Standard Version

I have been crucified with Christ, and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me. So the life I now live in the body, I live because of the faithfulness of the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.

These are three different translations which say,

…faith in the Son of God (Jesus)

…faith of the Son of God (Jesus)

…faithfulness of the Son of God (Jesus)

So, which is it?

The Greek word used for faith and faithfulness in Galatians 2:20 is pistis.

Pistis can be translated as faith and faithfulness.

In Galatians 5:22, most translations translate pistis as faithfulness, not faith.

Galatians 5:22 says,

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness…

The Greek word for faithfulness in this verse is pistis.

Yet in Galatians 2:20, pistis is translated by many translations, but not all translations, as faith rather than faithfulness.

Pistis is the same Greek word in Romans 3:3.

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 Galatians 5:22 and Romans 3:3, they translate pistis as faith in Galatians 2:20.

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.

So how are we to know how if pistis in Galatians 2:20 should be translated as faith in the Son of God, faith of the Son of God, or faithfulness of the Son of God?

We know by the context.

Let’s start by first looking at Galatians 3:22.

Galatians 3:22 in the NIV says,

But Scripture has locked up everything under the control of sin, so that what was promised [righteousness by faith, the same faith as Abraham], being given through faith [pistis] in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe.

Other translations say…being given by the faith of Jesus Christ, and still other translations say through or because of the faithfulness of Jesus Christ.

So which is it?

The context of the verse tells us which of these is the most accurate translation.

Let’s look at the context of Galatians 3:22.

What has been promised in Galatians 3 is righteousness by faith to the Gentile nations.

This promise was made in Genesis 12:1-3.

Abraham was declared righteous when he believed – see Genesis 15:6.

This promise of righteousness that God stated in Genesis 15:6 and that Paul teaches on in Galatians 3 came through the faithfulness of Jesus when he gave himself for us because he loved us (see Galatians 2:20 in the NET and International Standard Version).

Jesus faithfully took our sinfulness upon himself at the cross so that through faith in Jesus we would become the righteousness of God.

The promise of righteousness has now come to us through the faithfulness Jesus.

Righteousness is a gift offered to us that is received by faith…not the faith of Jesus, but one’s personal faith.

This gift of God can be rejected through unbelief or received through belief.

Those who believe in Jesus receive the promise of righteousness that came through the faithfulness of Jesus when he loved us and gave himself for us.

I believe the NET Bible and the International Standard Version translates Galatians 3:22 correctly.

The NET says,

But the scripture imprisoned everything and everyone under sin so that the promise could be given--because of the faithfulness of Jesus Christ--to those who believe.

The International Standard Version says,

But the Scripture has captured everything by means of sin's net, so that what was promised by the faithfulness of the Messiah might be granted to those who believe.

What was promised in Genesis 15:6 was righteousness to the Gentile nations.

This promise of righteousness came through the faithfulness of Jesus in loving us and giving himself for us and is now offered freely to everyone.

Those who believe or have faith in Jesus receive the righteousness that Jesus faithfully brought to us.

So, how should Galatians 2:20 be translated?

The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, faith of the Son of God, or through the faithfulness of the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.

The structure of the sentence places the emphasis on the one who loved me and gave himself for me.

This is why faithfulness is the better translation for pistis in this verse.

Jesus faithfully loved us and gave himself for our sinfulness in his death so that we could become righteous through faith in him and not by following the law or any religious requirements or moral standards for righteousness.

Galatians 2:21 continues by saying,

I do not set aside the grace of God, for if righteousness comes through the law, then Christ died for nothing.

So the structure of Galatians 2:20 and 21 emphasize the faithfulness of Jesus in dying for us so that by faith, rather than following a religious requirement or moral standard, we can receive the very righteousness of Jesus.

So, we see in Galatians 3:22 and 2:20-21 that these verses are not speaking about the faith of Jesus that we live by or that saves us.

But instead, these verses are talking about the righteousness that comes to us through the faithfulness of Jesus that we receive by faith – our own faith, not the faith of Jesus on our behalf.

God has given everyone the ability to believe…to have faith.

We exercise this ability every day in many different ways.

God has also given everyone the ability to make choices.

We utilize this ability every day in many different ways.

He has given all of us the freedom to choose where we will place our faith for righteousness.

Righteousness has freely and fully come to us through the faithfulness of Jesus loving us and giving himself for us when he took our sinfulness at the cross.

Will we believe in…have faith in…Jesus for righteousness?

Or will we reject Jesus and his death on the cross and believe in ourselves for righteousness?

God has given us all the ability and freedom to believe and choose.

The question is…who will I have faith in for righteousness…my religious practices and my moral conduct, or Jesus, the one who faithfully loved me and gave himself for me?

The choice is ours, not the choice of Jesus to give his faith to some - this is Calvinism, or the choice of Jesus to give his faith to all - this is Universalism.

In Part Three, we will examine the context of Galatians 2:20.

CLICK HERE to read Part Three.