Faith and Faithfulness (Part 15)

This is the fifteenth in a series of studies on the topic of faith and faithfulness. (If you are coming to this page from a search engine, I recommend this link for a table of contents of the topics covered in this series.)


Romans 1:8

CEB — First of all, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for all of you, because the news about your faithfulness is being spread throughout the whole world.

CPV — Let me say first that through Jesus Christ I thank my God for every one of you, because your faithfulness is being reported all over everywhere. 

See here for comments I made yesterday on the Cotten Patch Version (CPV).

If we understand faith to be only belief— "an acceptance that a statement is true or that something exists"— then it is not observable.  If we understand the word in this way, then Paul is saying that "people all over the world are talking about" (NIRV) a belief that the Romans have.  Yes, their belief in the "resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead" (1 Peter 1:3 NKJV) would been a subject for comment among non-believers, but it was not a belief that was unique to the Romans; it doesn't make sense for Paul to draw attention to a fundamental belief that they have in common.  Paul would only make this comment about an observable behavior— faithful obedience to the principles that Jesus taught.

Elsewhere, Paul describes the changes that occur in those who choose to become followers of Jesus.  Is it not this kind of change that would be "spoken of throughout the whole world?"

Eph. 2:1 NKJV – And you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins, 2 in which you once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience, 3 among whom also we all once conducted ourselves in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, just as the others. 

Col. 3:5 NKJV – Therefore put to death your members which are on the earth: fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. 6 Because of these things the wrath of God is coming upon the sons of disobedience, 7 in which you yourselves once walked when you lived in them. 8 But now you yourselves are to put off all these: anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy language out of your mouth. 

See below where Romans 1:18 through 2:11 develops this idea further.

Romans 1:12

CEB — What I mean is that we can mutually encourage each other while I am with you. We can be encouraged by the faithfulness we find in each other, both your faithfulness and mine.

Only a faithfulness that is observable— an action or behavior— could encourage another.

Romans 1:17

CEB — God’s righteousness is being revealed in the gospel, from faithfulness for faithfulness (footnote), as it is written, The righteous person will live by faith.

Romans 1:18-32

Verse 18 begins a contrast with the "righteous" (or just) of verse 17, "the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men" (NKJV).  The rest of the chapter describes the "unrighteous" with characteristic behaviors.  "Although they knew God"— could we say they believed in God in the James 2:19 sense— "they did not glorify Him as God."  Paul goes on with a list of evil behaviors and concludes "that those who practice such things are deserving of death" (NKJV).  In contrast to the unrighteous and paraphrasing verse 17,  can we not say that the righteous person will live faithfully? That is, without the evil behaviors that Paul lists?  Are the righteous—in contrast to some of the characteristics of verses 29-31— moral, generous, lovers of God, peaceful, humble, obedient to parents, trustworthy, loving, forgiving and merciful?  Surely, Paul's intention for the Romans is more than just belief; surely, he is calling for righteous behavior.

Romans 2:1-11

In chapter 2, Paul continues to develop a case that makes it difficult to maintain an exclusively belief understanding of faith.  Yes, we understand that "through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ we shall be saved" (Acts 15:11 NKJV), but also that "the goodness of God leads you to repentance" (2:4 NKJV).  Paul goes on to say that God "will render to each one according to his deeds" (2:6 NKJV).  The theme of judgement "according to deeds" is well developed throughout the Bible— see for example, Job 34:11, Ezekiel 7:3,27, 1 Peter 1:17, and Revelation 20:12-13.  Paul continues the theme in the next verse, describing how God will "give eternal life to everyone who has patiently done what is good" (2:7 CEV).  In contrast, "to those who live in selfish ambition and do not obey the truth but follow unrighteousness," (2:8 NET) God "will reward" (2:6 NET) with "wrath and anger" (2:8 NET) and "affliction and distress" (2:9 NET).  In contrast, again,  to everyone who "does evil" (2:9 NET), God "will reward" with "glory and honor and peace for everyone who does good" (2:10 NET).

Paul seems to be promoting an active, doing faithfulness— rather than a mere passive belief.


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Previously, I wrote a short series of posts on repentance as a change in behavior rather than just a feeling of regret.