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Faith is the gift of God -
April 2nd, 2012, 06:28 PM
Ephesians 2:8-9:
" For by grace you have been saved through faith, and this not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, 9 not of works, lest anyone should boast."
The Calvinist correctly exegetes Paul's statement above showing that faith is the antecedent of the pronoun "this" and is therefore itself the gift of God. But the Arminians deny that faith is the gift of God because the pronoun "this" is neuter and the noun "faith" is feminine. They say that a pronoun and a noun must always agree in gender. Since the pronoun "this" and the noun "faith" do not agree in gender, we must infer that it is the "general idea of salvation" that is the gift of God.
The Arminians show their deficiency in Greek grammar. The word "faith" is an abstract feminine noun. A neuter pronoun may take an abstract feminine noun (afn) as its antecedent. An abstract noun is a noun that that expresses something intangible like faith, hope, love, peace etc. A.T. Robertson who is no friend of Calvinism has acknowledged this on page 704 of his A Grammar of the Greek New Testament. He gives 1 Peter 2:19-20 as an example of the neuter pronoun "this" taking the abstract feminine noun "grace" as its antecedent.
19For THIS is GRACE, if a man for conscience toward God endure grief, suffering wrongfully.
20For what glory is it, if, when you are buffeted for your faults, you shall take it patiently? but if, when you do well, and suffer for it, you take it patiently, THIS is GRACE with God.
There you have it! A.T. Robertson himself says that a neuter pronoun may take an abstract feminine noun as its antecedent and he gives an example where this occurs twice. But then he says that the afn "faith" in Ephesians 2:8 is not the antecedent of the neuter pronoun "this" and gives no grammatical or theological reason for saying this.
The Arminians re-write the scripture to fit their PRECONCEIVED notions. Their commentaries insert the word "salvation" into the text.
" For by grace you have been saved through faith, and this [salvation] is not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, 9 not of works, lest anyone should boast."
The Arminians add to the word of God and devise a freak Greek so they can make it all fit with their PRECONCEIVED notion that faith is not the gift of God.
I am neither an Arminianist or Calvinist, and know for certain that faith is a gift.
Romans 12:3
For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.
That was an enlightening post wc. There is no doubt that Faith is the Gift of God, as well as Salvation, and Faith accompanies Salvation ! The whole of Salvation by Grace through Faith is the Gift of God, not of works, lest any man should boast ! And that is exactly what the arminians and freewillers do, boast about their Faith that saved them !
Rom 2:28-29
28 For he is not a Jew, which is one outwardly; neither is that circumcision, which is outward in the flesh:
29 But he is a Jew, which is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit, and not in the letter; whose praise is not of men, but of God.
I am neither an Arminianist or Calvinist, and know for certain that faith is a gift.
Romans 12:3
For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.
That verse is limited to the Elect !
Rom 2:28-29
28 For he is not a Jew, which is one outwardly; neither is that circumcision, which is outward in the flesh:
29 But he is a Jew, which is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit, and not in the letter; whose praise is not of men, but of God.
Someone called me an "idiot" and gave me a negative rep for my op. This is to be expected from those who cannot give an intelligent reply from the scripture.
I will add more scripture about faith being a gift tomorrow.
" For by grace you have been saved through faith, and this not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, 9 not of works, lest anyone should boast."
The Calvinist correctly exegetes Paul's statement above showing that faith is the antecedent of the pronoun "this" and is therefore itself the gift of God. But the Arminians deny that faith is the gift of God because the pronoun "this" is neuter and the noun "faith" is feminine. They say that a pronoun and a noun must always agree in gender. Since the pronoun "this" and the noun "faith" do not agree in gender, we must infer that it is the "general idea of salvation" that is the gift of God.
The Arminians show their deficiency in Greek grammar. The word "faith" is an abstract feminine noun. A neuter pronoun may take an abstract feminine noun (afn) as its antecedent. An abstract noun is a noun that that expresses something intangible like faith, hope, love, peace etc. A.T. Robertson who is no friend of Calvinism has acknowledged this on page 704 of his A Grammar of the Greek New Testament. He gives 1 Peter 2:19-20 as an example of the neuter pronoun "this" taking the abstract feminine noun "grace" as its antecedent.
19For THIS is GRACE, if a man for conscience toward God endure grief, suffering wrongfully.
20For what glory is it, if, when you are buffeted for your faults, you shall take it patiently? but if, when you do well, and suffer for it, you take it patiently, THIS is GRACE with God.
There you have it! A.T. Robertson himself says that a neuter pronoun may take an abstract feminine noun as its antecedent and he gives an example where this occurs twice. But then he says that the afn "faith" in Ephesians 2:8 is not the antecedent of the neuter pronoun "this" and gives no grammatical or theological reason for saying this.
The Arminians re-write the scripture to fit their PRECONCEIVED notions. Their commentaries insert the word "salvation" into the text.
" For by grace you have been saved through faith, and this [salvation] is not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, 9 not of works, lest anyone should boast."
The Arminians add to the word of God and devise a freak Greek so they can make it all fit with their PRECONCEIVED notion that faith is not the gift of God.
However, Paul is talking about how "ye are saved". Eph. 2:8
By grace, through faith, not of works.
It's a fact (not a pre-conceived notion) "this salvation" is not of yourselves......AND "this salvation" is not of works. Titus 3:5
Elsewhere in the Word, there is the gift of grace, the gift of the Holy Spirit which happens at salvation. Acts 8:20 Acts 11:17
The gift of God is salvation (eternal life). Romans 6:23 John 4:10 Romans 5:15
I am neither an Arminianist or Calvinist, and know for certain that faith is a gift.
Romans 12:3
For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.
This verse, in context, is about the believer's faith post-conversion for service, spiritual gifts.
It is not talking about salvific faith for justification by grace at conversion.
Know God and make Him known! (YWAM)
They said: "Where is the God of Elijah?"
I say: "Where are the Elijahs of God?" (Ravenhill "Why Revival Tarries")
" For by grace you have been saved through faith, and this not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, 9 not of works, lest anyone should boast."
The Calvinist correctly exegetes Paul's statement above showing that faith is the antecedent of the pronoun "this" and is therefore itself the gift of God. But the Arminians deny that faith is the gift of God because the pronoun "this" is neuter and the noun "faith" is feminine. They say that a pronoun and a noun must always agree in gender. Since the pronoun "this" and the noun "faith" do not agree in gender, we must infer that it is the "general idea of salvation" that is the gift of God.
The Arminians show their deficiency in Greek grammar. The word "faith" is an abstract feminine noun. A neuter pronoun may take an abstract feminine noun (afn) as its antecedent. An abstract noun is a noun that that expresses something intangible like faith, hope, love, peace etc. A.T. Robertson who is no friend of Calvinism has acknowledged this on page 704 of his A Grammar of the Greek New Testament. He gives 1 Peter 2:19-20 as an example of the neuter pronoun "this" taking the abstract feminine noun "grace" as its antecedent.
19For THIS is GRACE, if a man for conscience toward God endure grief, suffering wrongfully.
20For what glory is it, if, when you are buffeted for your faults, you shall take it patiently? but if, when you do well, and suffer for it, you take it patiently, THIS is GRACE with God.
There you have it! A.T. Robertson himself says that a neuter pronoun may take an abstract feminine noun as its antecedent and he gives an example where this occurs twice. But then he says that the afn "faith" in Ephesians 2:8 is not the antecedent of the neuter pronoun "this" and gives no grammatical or theological reason for saying this.
The Arminians re-write the scripture to fit their PRECONCEIVED notions. Their commentaries insert the word "salvation" into the text.
" For by grace you have been saved through faith, and this [salvation] is not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, 9 not of works, lest anyone should boast."
The Arminians add to the word of God and devise a freak Greek so they can make it all fit with their PRECONCEIVED notion that faith is not the gift of God.
A.T. Robertson was likely Calvinistic/Baptist? There is much debate about the demonstrative pronoun with scholarly opinions on all sides. I concur with those who say it refers to salvation in general, not grace or faith in particular. If faith is a gift, then we would expect TULIP to be true and all the negative implications of God giving some vs all faith. I would have to check (since you likely don't know Greek) what Robertson really said about this verse. OK, I checked my copy of his Word Pictures of the NT. He states that it does not refer to grace or faith (see link) and concurs with salvation which is by grace (God's part) through faith (man's part). He is a renowned expert and you are misunderstanding/misquoting him (I did not think he would agree with your view).
That was an enlightening post wc. There is no doubt that Faith is the Gift of God, as well as Salvation, and Faith accompanies Salvation ! The whole of Salvation by Grace through Faith is the Gift of God, not of works, lest any man should boast ! And that is exactly what the arminians and freewillers do, boast about their Faith that saved them !
TULIP is not the gospel. The inspired grammar contradicts your eisegesis of a preconceived idea.
Know God and make Him known! (YWAM)
They said: "Where is the God of Elijah?"
I say: "Where are the Elijahs of God?" (Ravenhill "Why Revival Tarries")
Someone called me an "idiot" and gave me a negative rep for my op. This is to be expected from those who cannot give an intelligent reply from the scripture.
I will add more scripture about faith being a gift tomorrow.
Nick? Sozo? johnw?
Some try to use I Cor. 12 and Gal. 5. Let's see if you fall into the trap?
Are you a Calvinist or just Calvinistic?
Know God and make Him known! (YWAM)
They said: "Where is the God of Elijah?"
I say: "Where are the Elijahs of God?" (Ravenhill "Why Revival Tarries")
Our faith is in Gods fidelity and ability to perform His promises.
Not in our feeble and inadequate works.
All we like sheep have gone astray and the heart of man is evil, continually.
Alas for me, for i am a man of unclean lips dwelling amidst a people of unclean lips.
2 Corinth 4 - While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen.
Jeremiah 1:12 - Thou hast well seen: for I watch over my word to perform it.
Oh Yes it is, those Truths are absolutely essential to the Gospel pf Jesus Christ, without them, you have no Gospel !
Rom 2:28-29
28 For he is not a Jew, which is one outwardly; neither is that circumcision, which is outward in the flesh:
29 But he is a Jew, which is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit, and not in the letter; whose praise is not of men, but of God.
This verse, in context, is about the believer's faith post-conversion for service, spiritual gifts.
It is not talking about salvific faith for justification by grace at conversion.
Does not matter, Faith is Given by God by the Spirit. Without New Birth there is no saving or converting Faith. Faith that proceeds from the unregenerate flesh does not please God ! Rom 8:7-8
7Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.
8So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God.
Rom 2:28-29
28 For he is not a Jew, which is one outwardly; neither is that circumcision, which is outward in the flesh:
29 But he is a Jew, which is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit, and not in the letter; whose praise is not of men, but of God.
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