Faith Metonymies

Faith Metonymies
(August 9, 2007)

To substitute a word for something it is closely associated is a figure of speech called a metonymy. Using the White House to refer to our president is one such example. Christians commonly use metonymies, especially when referring to eternal salvation.

Metonymies used in reference to Jesus Christ's atoning work include: the place (Golgotha), the punishment (crucifixion), the wounds (his stripes), and the vehicle (the cross). We often say, 'We are saved by the cross,' but in reality, we are saved by Jesus' blood shed on the
cross.

Scripture uses another metonymy to describe the atoning work of Jesus Christ. The phrase 'the faith of Jesus Christ' is used to describe Jesus' obedience. Scripture says we have:
* remission of sin because of Jesus' obedience - Eph 1:7, Col 1:14;
* peace with God because of Jesus' obedience - Rom 5:1-2, Eph 2:3-5, 3:12;
* a heavenly inheritance because of Jesus' obedience - Act 26:18, Gal 4:7;
* sanctification because of Jesus' obedience - Act 15:9, Heb 10:14, 1Cor 1:30;
* triumph because of Jesus' obedience - 1Jo 5:4-5, John 16:33, 1Cor 15:57;
* justification because of Jesus' obedience - Rom 3:28, 5:9, Gal 3:24, Is 53:11;
* eternal life because of Jesus' obedience - John 5:24, 1Jo 5:11-12; and
* sonship because of Jesus' obedience - Gal 3:26, Eph 1:5.

If our faith, in any way is involved in our eternal salvation, then our eternal destiny is only as sure as our ability to believe. Our justification, reconcilement, sonship, inheritance, remission of sins, and eternal life would be as imperfect as our faith.

However, if the faith of Christ is taken to mean Jesus' perfect and obedient life; then our eternal salvation is perfect, pure, sure, unchangeable, complete, certain, and finished - Gal 2:16, Php 3:9. Praise the Lord, for thus is the case!

Elder Dolph
http://moriahpbc.org/

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On Aug 20, 2007, at 8:31 PM, wasp-bee wrote:

That's very helpful clarification. I did wonder what it meant to refer to
the "faith of Jesus" - as if Jesus needed to have faith to be the Saviour! I
realised that it must have referred to the MAN-part of Jesus.

In appreciation,
Bee
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On Aug 20, 2007, at 11:12 PM, sing wrote:

I do hope you realize the vast difference between the faith OF Christ,
and your faith IN Christ. Many do not, and some refuse to.

sing
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On Aug 21, 2007, at 11:18 AM, xing wrote:

Dear Wasp-bee,

When I lay myself down to sleep last night, I told myself that I should remind you of these facts.... since you are begin to see some light in the important matter.

Read these passages carefully: note the phrase 'faith OF - OF - OF Christ/Jesus Christ' most carefully. I quote them from the good ole ancient King James translation.

Ga 2:16 Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed [faith] 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.

Ro 3:22 Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe [faith in]: for there is no difference:
Ga 3:22 But the scripture hath concluded all under sin, that the promise by faith of Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe.
Php 3:9 And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith:[of Christ]

Now, please read the same passages in your new way modern New KJ translation. All those phrases have been perverted and twisted into 'faith IN - IN - IN Christ/Jesus Christ.'

In the Greek, all the phrases 'faith OF - OF - OF Christ/Jesus Christ' are in the GENITIVE case.
Modern translators have consistently perverted that into the DATIVE case... to accommodate man-centred lies and fables (read Arminian doctrine of justification before God by faith, man's believing).

I wrote in the 'Pruning ' book these words:
Romans 3:21-22 “But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets; even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe.” This passage speaks of the righteousness of God. The gospel is about the righteousness of God, a righteousness of God’s provision for the redemption of His people. How did God provide His righteousness for His people? It is through the ‘faith of Christ.’ The faith of Christ speaks of the faithfulness of Christ in discharging His work of redeeming His people. ‘I have glorified You on the earth. I HAVE FINISHED the work which You have given Me to do’ (Jn 17:4). ‘For I have come down from heaven, not to do my own will, but the will of Him who sent Me.’ It is by Christ’s perfect obedience unto God that He is found faithful in doing the will of God. It is by His obedience in executing the will of the Father, that the righteousness of God’s provision is secured. The righteousness of God is the subject under consideration in Romans 3:22. That righteousness of God comes by the faith of Christ – i.e., by Christ’s faithfulness to God’s will in His active obedience unto the whole law, and passive obedience in His death. The righteousness of God is upon all them that believe.

It is an error to translate ‘faith of Christ’ as ‘faith in Christ.’ The righteousness of God is not secured through our faith in Christ. Translating ‘faith of Jesus’ as ‘faith in Jesus’ would render the statement meaningless – it becomes ‘the righteousness of God which is by faith in Jesus Christ unto all and upon all that have faith in Jesus Christ.’ By the faithfulness of Christ, the righteousness of God absolutely necessary for the justification of His elect is secured for all the elect. “And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war” Rev 19:11. The phrase ‘the faith of Christ’ reminds us that Christ was faithful in doing the mission that the Father sent Him to do, even to save His people. This is the essence of the gospel: Christ’s faithfulness to do what we cannot do, and suffered what we deserve to suffer. Yet this is something so many have forgotten. Their deceitful hearts are so captivated by their own faith in Christ. They don’t know the faith of Christ for them."

Bee, may the Lord show you the truth of His gospel.

Even Apollos, an eloquent man, and mighty in the scriptures, can learn something from a woman named Priscilla. May our Lord make you a Priscilla to Geek, a brother no greater than Apollos, to expound to him the way of the Lord more perfectly.

Acts 18:
24 ¶ And a certain Jew named Apollos, born at Alexandria, an eloquent man, and mighty in the scriptures, came to Ephesus.
25 This man was instructed in the way of the Lord; and being fervent in the spirit, he spake and taught diligently the things of the Lord, knowing only the baptism of John.
26 And he began to speak boldly in the synagogue: whom when Aquila and Priscilla had heard, they took him unto them, and expounded unto him the way of God more perfectly.

'The trust OF Bee' is a world of difference from 'the trust IN Bee.'
However, theological prejudice BLINDs many to such obvious and basic difference.

your noisome 'pesty' brother (I know!!!),
sing
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On Aug 23, 2007, at 6:38 PM, Bee wrote:

Dear sing,

Thanks for the elaboration. I am aware of the difference between AV and other newer translations on this particular phrase, but I would like to know why the other newer translations prefer the "faith IN Jesus Christ" over the "faith OF Jesus Christ" translation. Even the oldest Chinese Bible translation, which I thought was based on KJV (AV) also gives the meaning of "fatih IN Jesus Christ" - I think but I will check it again.

Must leave now for study...

In Christ,
honey-bee
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On Aug 27, 2007, at 3:14 PM, xing wrote:

Dear Bee,

Why? I don't have a definitive answer.
It is most likely a case of translation governed by ONE'S THEOLOGICAL PREJUDICE, instead of a translation governed strictly by the original TEXT.

In many places in the non-AV translations, the genitive remained translated as genitive... for examples... 'righteousness of God', 'faith of God', 'law of God', 'love of God'.... the subjective genitive are always translation as subjective genitive. When it comes to 'faith OF Christ' they are translated as 'faith in Christ' - genitive case is translated as dative case. The only possible explanation is THEOLOGICAL PREJUDICE - which pervert the whole meaning of the texts.

The fact is, when the idea of 'faith in Christ' is meant, the Holy Spirit consistently inspired the apostles to use the VERB 'believe' - i.e. BELIEVE Him/Christ. 'FAITH' is a noun. 'BELIEVE' is a verb.

Following are ALL the occurrences (in KJ) of 'faith of'... many are translated into 'faith in'.

Ga 2:16 "Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of (NKJ 'in')Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of (NKJ 'in') Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified."
[Note the contrast: justification before God is EITHER by your works of the law or the faith of Christ, i.e. between your obedience to the law, and Christ's obedience to the law. 'Faith of Christ' is a metonym for Christ's obedience.]

Ga 2:20 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 (NKJ 'in') the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.
[The basis or the ground of your new life is not by your believing in Christ; it is by the OBEDIENCE of Christ, i.e 'the faith OF Christ'... the obedience of Christ ALONE secured the blessing of eternal life]

Ga 3:22 But the scripture hath concluded all under sin, that the promise by faith of (NKJ 'in') Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe.
[The promise by the faith of Christ MIGHT BE GIVEN (aorist subjunctive passive) to them that believe (present active participle).]

Eph 3:12 In whom we have boldness and access with confidence by the faith of (NKJ 'through faith in') Him.

Php 1:27 Only let your conversation be as it becometh the gospel of Christ: that whether I come and see you, or else be absent, I may hear of your affairs, that ye stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel;

Php 3:9 And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of (NKJ 'in') Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith: [i.e. by of Jesus Christ. Cp Rom 3:22] - Ro 3:22 "Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference:" All them that do believe do so because the righteousness of God by the faith of Jesus Christ HAS BEEN IMPUTED and APPLIED to them.

Col 2:12 Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of (NKJ 'in') the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead.
[Ye are risen from the dead, i.e. regenerated, NOT through your faith IN the operation of God (dead man can't possibly believe!), but through the the faith OF God... God's faithfulness in regenerating those who died with Christ... i.e. those for whom Christ died.

2Ti 2:18 Who concerning the truth have erred, saying that the resurrection is past already; and overthrow the faith of some. [The 'genitive' sense is properly translated.]

Tit 1:1 Paul, a servant of God, and an apostle of Jesus Christ, according to the faith of God’s elect, and the acknowledging of the truth which is after godliness; [The 'genitive' sense is properly translated.]

Jas 2:1 My brethren, have not the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, with respect of persons. [The 'genitive' sense is properly translated.]
Re 13:10 He that leadeth into captivity shall go into captivity: he that killeth with the sword must be killed with the sword. Here is the patience and the faith of the saints. [The 'genitive' sense is properly translated.]

Re 14:12 Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus. [The 'genitive' sense is properly translated.]

I hope the above help.

sing
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