Moore Perspective: Bookends of Romans: Defining “Faith” Biblically

Thursday 16 November 2023

Bookends of Romans: Defining “Faith” Biblically

Paul’s letter to the Romans has much to say about faith. The underlying Greek noun pístis and verbal pisteúō are found throughout the book for a combined total of sixty-one times.¹ Comprising nearly two thirds of these occurrences, the noun-form first emerges in 1:5 and its final usage is in 16:26, serving as bookends of the document. The bracketing texts read, in view of the apostolic mission: “through whom we received grace and apostleship unto obedience of faith [hupakoēn písteōs] among all the nations for his name” (1:5); “but now having been made manifest through the prophetic scriptures and according to the commandment of the eternal God unto obedience of faith [hupakoēn písteōs] made known unto all the nations” (16:26).²

In the letter’s opening-thanksgiving, Paul writes, “First of all, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for you all because your faith [pístis] is being proclaimed in all the world” (1:8). Near the close of the letter the observation is made, “For your obedience [hupakoē] has reached (the attention) of all, therefore I rejoice over you” (16:19a).³ From beginning to end, faith clearly does not stand alone apart from obedience. Whenever Paul speaks of faith (e.g., 1:16-17; 3:22), it is not void of obedience. Whenever he speaks of obedience (e.g., 2:6; 6:17), it is not void of faith. The faith that appropriates justification, as explained in Romans, is always an obedient faith.

Additional Bookends

Romans is further bracketed between other parallel concepts that help to enhance the letter’s thrust. Paul is a self-described “slave” [doûlos] of Christ (1:1a), later warning about troublemakers who “do not serve (as slaves)” [douleúō] our Lord Christ (16:18). “Paul … a called apostle, having been set apart for the gospel [euaggélion] of God” (1:1); “to him who is able to strengthen you according to my gospel [euaggélion] and the preaching of Jesus Christ” (16:25a). The gospel message was “promised beforehand through his prophets [prophētai] in the holy scriptures [graphaí], concerning his Son” (1:1b-3a); “according to the revelation of the mystery having been kept secret for times of the ages but now having been made manifest through the prophetic [prophētikōn] scriptures [graphaí]” (16:25b-26a). Among the nations “you also are called [klētoí] of Jesus Christ” (1:6); “all the called-out-ones [ekklēsíai] of Christ greet you” (16:16b). “Grace [cháris] to you and peace [eirēnē] from God our Father and Lord Jesus Christ” (1:7b); “the God of peace [eirēnē] …. the grace [cháris] of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you” (16:20).

Conclusion

If we begin our examination of Romans in chapter 3 or 4 or 10, we miss what has been established from the letter’s beginning and are therefore subject to misunderstanding and perhaps misconstruing what the inspired message conveys. Genuine faith is not merely an internal conviction without any observable action. Faith without obedience is disingenuous and lifeless. Obedience without faith is empty ritualism. The faith that saves is the faith that obeys.

--Kevin L. Moore

Endnotes:

¹ The noun pístis occurs at 1:5, 8, 12, 17; 3:3, 22, 25, 26, 27, 28, 30, 31; 4:5, 9, 11, 12, 13, 14, 16, 19, 20; 5:1, 2; 9:30, 32; 10:6, 8, 17; 11:20; 12:3, 6; 14:1, 22, 23; 16:26. A form of the verb pisteúō is used in 1:16; 3:2, 22; 4:3, 5, 11, 17, 18, 24; 6:8; 9:33; 10:4, 9, 10, 11, 14, 16; 13:11; 14:2; 15:13.

² Unless noted otherwise, scripture quotations are the author’s own translation.

³ Half of Paul’s uses of the noun hupakoē (“obedience”) and verbal hupakoúō (“obey”) are found in Romans. The gospel preached on the Day of Pentecost and heard by “visitors from Rome” prompted a faith-response that included belief, repentance, baptism, and ongoing faithfulness (Acts 2:10-42), the same message Paul preached (1 Cor. 15:11; Gal. 1:7-9; 3:26-27).