Justification and Faith in Paul's Thought

B. N. Fisk

1. Justification by Faith

1.1.Key texts: Romans 1-11; Galatians; Philippians 3

Paul's use of dikaiosyne and dikaioo

	Paul	Romans	NT
Dikaiosyne (righteousness)	57	33	91
Dikaioo (justify)	27	15	39
Dikaioma (righteous deed)	5	5	10

    Rom 1:16-17

    What is meant by "from faith to faith"?
    (Compare translations.)

    Could it mean "from (God's) faithfulness for (our) faith"?

    Rom 3:21-22

    What is the key word in this verse? Why
    does verse 22 seem to repeat itself?

    Rom 4:3-5

    Is this a challenge to those claiming God's
    righteousness can be earned by good works?

    Rom 10:2-4

    Does "their own righteousness"
    mean "earned by them" or "belonging to them"?

    Gal 2:16

    With what is "faith in Jesus Christ"
    contrasted?
 

    Gal 3:6 Cf. Rom 4:3

    What is the source of Paul's OT citation?

    Gal 3:11 (cf. Rom 1:17)

    What is the source of Paul's OT citation?

    Phil 3:7-9

    Does "my own righteousness" mean
    "earned by me" or "belonging to me"?
    

1.2.Is this the center of Paul's thought?

2. Faith in or the faith of Christ? Continuing debate over the Pistis plus Genitive construction.

2.1.Pauline References to pistis Christou: Gal 2:16a,b; 2:20; 3:22; Rom 3:22, 26; Phil 3:9; Eph 3:12

2.2.Interpretive options:

Subjective genitive: the faith[fulness] displayed by Christ (cf. Rom 3:3 -- the faithfulness of God)

Objective genitive: [our] faith directed towards Christ

• parallels showing "objective" force: gnosis Christou in Phil 3:8-9; zelos theou (Rom10:2)
• cf. Mk 11:22; Ac 3:16
• equivalent phrases: 1 Tim 3:13; 2 Tim 1:13; 3:15; Eph 1:15; Col 2:5; Phm 5

2.3.Discussion questions:

Do Paul's uses of verb (pisteuein, believe) and noun (pistis, faith) in close proximity (Gal 2:16; 3:22; Rom 3:22) refer to the same thing?

Does Paul's Abraham/Jesus comparison (Gal 3:6-9; cf. Rom 3:26 & 4:16) imply that Jesus, like Abraham, had a representative faith?

Further Reading

R. B. Hays, "Pistis and Pauline Christology: What is at Stake?" (1991 SBLSP) 714-729.

J. D. G. Dunn, "Once More, Pistis Christou" (1991 SBLSP) 730-744.