Faith in Romans: The Salvation of the Individual or Life in Community?*

Abstract

Over the last half-century communal aspects of Paul’s thought have gained increasing prominence over against individual facets of his theology. Accordingly, many scholars have sought to overturn what they perceive to be an ‘individualistic’ understanding of Pauline faith, replacing it with various alternatives, ranging from faith as participation in Christ, to faith as communal edification. Others have maintained that a classic definition of faith as belief in Christ overrides communal concerns. In light of these debates, this article—based on an exegetical investigation of the clearest statement of Paul’s faith-righteousness language in Romans (namely Rom. 10.6-13) and on the phrase ‘measure of faith’ in Rom. 12.3—contends that faith is the means through which individuals find salvation, but also that faith cannot be understood merely as such; it also plays an indispensable role in building up the communities of Paul’s addressees and in fostering a new communal identity in Christ.

‘Christ-Faith’ as an Eschatological Event (Galatians 3.23-26): A ‘Third View’ on Πίστις Χριστοῦ

“…Interpreters of Paul should not limit his idea of πίστις to its individual and social dimension (cf. Dunson 2011; also Schliesser 2011: 27-33), but rather be alert to its supra-individual, eschatological dimension, that is, to its event-character. The tension between ‘cosmology’ and ‘anthropology’, between ‘power’ and ‘participation’, which is typical for Paul’s reasoning, also applies to his concept of faith.…”

Romans 10:5–13 revisited

“…In verse 22 he elaborates on this: δικαιοσύνη δὲ θεοῦ διὰ πίστεως Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ [The righteousness of God is given through faith in 2.Cognisance is taken of the debate about the collectivity or individuality of πίστις in this passage and in Romans as a whole. Scholars who are part of the debate are Dunson (2011), Jewett (2007, Campbell (2005), Hays ([1983, Burnett (2001), Sanders (1977), Käsemann (1973) and Stendahl (1963).…”