Gold Tried in the Fire - Robert J. Wieland
You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles
YUMPU automatically turns print PDFs into web optimized ePapers that Google loves.
was as if new term<strong>in</strong>ology had to be <strong>in</strong>vented.<br />
Thus <strong>the</strong> passage <strong>in</strong> Luke is not an excuse for<br />
restrict<strong>in</strong>g faith <strong>in</strong> Paul's letters. We have no<br />
alternative but to view his use of <strong>the</strong> word faith <strong>in</strong><br />
<strong>the</strong> light of <strong>the</strong> cross.<br />
The assumed def<strong>in</strong>ition of faith <strong>in</strong> Hebrews<br />
next deserves our attention: "Faith is <strong>the</strong> substance<br />
of th<strong>in</strong>gs hoped for, <strong>the</strong> evidence of th<strong>in</strong>gs not<br />
seen." Hebrews 11:1. Or, "faith is be<strong>in</strong>g sure of<br />
what we hope for and certa<strong>in</strong> of what we do not<br />
see. This is what <strong>the</strong> ancients were commended<br />
for." Hebrews 11:2, 3, NIV. This passage def<strong>in</strong>itely<br />
does not de<strong>in</strong>e faith as an egocentric trust. Several<br />
factors need to be considered:<br />
1. The immediate context is discuss<strong>in</strong>g<br />
righteousness by faith. (See Hebrews 10:38: "Now<br />
<strong>the</strong> just shall live by faith."). Unless this one<br />
passage is out of harmony with Paul's volum<strong>in</strong>ous<br />
discussions elsewhere of justification by faith, <strong>the</strong><br />
mean<strong>in</strong>g of faith here must be <strong>the</strong> same as we f<strong>in</strong>d<br />
<strong>in</strong> all his epistles. Even if Paul were not <strong>the</strong> author<br />
72
Change language