Questions for 1/11: Faith

The Christian Virtues
Discussion Sheet #2
Faith


I. The Definition of Faith
In the Bible, the meaning of the word “faith” (Greek = pistos) varies according to its particular context and usage. Look up the verses below and write a definition of faith that you think is appropriate to each passage.

1. John 20:31
2. Acts 6:7
3. Colossians 2:12
4. Acts 27:25
5. Hebrews 3:5
6. Hebrews 11:1


II. The Divine Faith/Faithfulness

The Christian virtues are adoptable qualities of God the Father and Jesus the Son. The Spirit of God reveals these qualities so that we can (with God's aid) develop them into our own dispositions for doing God’s will. We might, therefore, understand “faith” to be a quality of the divine character that is to be reflected in our own dispositions and practices. Examine the following Scriptures and define the different ways in which faith is a divine quality. As you read each verse, consider how we might share (2 Peter 1:3) and exhibit (1 Peter 1:9) the virtue of God and Jesus by modeling divine faith in our own lives.

a. The Faith of God

Romans 3:3
1 Corinthians 1:9
1 Corinthians 10:13
2 Corinthians 1:18
1 Thessalonians 2:4
2 Thessalonians 3:3
1 Peter 4:19
1 John 1:9

b. The Faith of Jesus (also see the article on “the faith of Jesus” on the class weblog)

Romans 3:25
2 Corinthians 4:13
2 Corinthians 13:5
Galatians 2:20
Ephesians 3:17
1 Timothy 1:14
2 Timothy 1:13
2 Timothy 2:13
Hebrews 2:17
Hebrews 3:2, 6
Hebrews 12:2
Revelation 1:5; 14:12; 19:11


III. The Life of Faith: Beginning, Middle, End

a. According to these verses, what are the sources of faith?

Romans 10:17
Luke 8:15
1 Corinthians 7:25
1 Thessalonians 2:13-14
2 Timothy 1:5
Jude 1:3

b. According to these verses, what should characterize our faith, i.e., what should it be like?

1 Corinthians 15:2
1 Corinthians 16:13
2 Corinthians 1:24
Ephesians 6:16
Colossians 1:23
Colossians 2:5, 7
1 Peter 5:9
1 Timothy 1:5
Titus 2:2

c. What is the purpose or “end” of our faith?

1 Peter 1:9


IV. Practices for Building Faith

What are specific habits that we can develop as Christians that will help to deepen faith as a disposition within us? Feel free to share in class your own insights from the Scriptures. The following verses might be understood to describe practices that will better dispose us to faithful thought and action:

1. Reading the Lives of our Leaders
How might the practice prescribed in Hebrews 13:7 help to develop unity in our individual faith and the collective faith of the church? In this vein, see also Hebrews 6:12, Ephesians 4:11-13 and Gal 6:10.

2. Reflecting on the Weakness of Our Body

How might we approximate the “contemplation” by Abraham in Romans 4:19-20 and the “consideration” by Sarah in Hebrews 11:11-12? In other words, how might we be strengthened in faith through reflection on the impotency of our bodies and the potency of God’s care? Cf. Matthew 6:25-34, esp. 27 and 30.

3. Confessing our Faith before Others

Confession is arguably the most explicit way to practice and build our faith. Confession and faith are closely joined in the Scriptures (e.g., Rom 10:8-10, Acts 24:14). In 1 Timothy 5:11-13, Paul’s exhorts Timothy to “pursue . . . faith” and “fight the good fight of faith” and mentions this in connection to both Timothy’s and Christ’s “good confession.” How might imitation of Jesus’ “good confession before Pontius Pilate” strengthen our faith? See these confessions in Matt 27 and John 18.