Pauline letters and Sola Fide?

  • Thread starter Thread starter Pious_Mat
  • Start date Start date
Status
Not open for further replies.
P

Pious_Mat

Guest
Recently, in reading through the letters of the New Testament, I have found that Paul places a great deal of emphasis on faith. I know that we are saved by our works and our faith, but in light of that, how do I properly interpret the Pauline letters, especially Romans and Galatians?

Also, what precisely does Paul mean by “put right with God?”
 
Recently, in reading through the letters of the New Testament, I have found that Paul places a great deal of emphasis on faith. I know that we are saved by our works and our faith, but in light of that, how do I properly interpret the Pauline letters, especially Romans and Galatians?
Click to expand...
Also, what precisely does Paul mean by “put right with God?”
Click to expand...
First, I would suggest reading the Catechism of the Catholic Church for the best explanation.
However, I’ll try and explain how I understand it as best as I can. When Paul speaks about faith what he is referring to is how we first become a Christian.
Some believed that they had to be circumcised in order to be brought into the Body of Christ. This is wrong, our intiation, if you will, is by faith and baptism (Galatians 3:24-27), not of works of the old law (Romans 3:28). No one has to follow the ordinances of the old law, like circumcision, to become a Christian and no one can live up to the requirements of the Commandements without God’s help (Romans 3:23, Matthew 19:25-26).
Then once we become Christians, we are filled with the Holy Spirit and we are given the grace, by God, to live up to the Commandments (Matthew 19:16-19), hence the works part (James 2:24). Of course the Sacraments are a part of our Salvation as well (baptism being the first Sacrament we recieve).
And when we turn from God and sin, we can obtain forgiveness for our sins through Christ’s death on the cross for us. We are to obtain forgiveness through Confession of course (John 20:21-23)
But without that initial faith in Christ (and baptism), we’re lost, since we are not Christians then.
Some people misunderstand Paul’s words these days, unfortunately. However, people also misunderstood them during the time of the Apostles as well (2 Peter 3:15-16).
Therefore we must always turn to the divine authority of the MoCC (Magesterium of the Catholic Church) for complete guidance in understanding difficult concepts such as this.
I could have explained it inadequately or even wrongly so check this out for yourself on the Vatican’s website, that has the Catechism. Probably the best place to start is Paragraph 1949-2029 on God’s Salvation: Law and Grace, and specifically the sections on Grace and Justification.
vatican.va/archive/ENG0015/_INDEX.HTM
I hope this helps. God bless.
 
Pious_Mat said:
Recently, in reading through the letters of the New Testament, I have found that Paul places a great deal of emphasis on faith. I know that we are saved by our works and our faith, but in light of that, how do I properly interpret the Pauline letters, especially Romans and Galatians.
Click to expand...
We are not saved by our works. “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.” Ephesians 2:8-9. We are saved to do good works. Works is a matter of obediance and is the sine qua non of maintaining, not of gaining, our salvation. That is what James meant when he said: “Faith without works is dead.” James 2:26. It is also what Paul had in mind when he told us to “work out your salvation with fear and trembling.” Philippians 2:12.
 
Zenas said:
We are not saved by our works. “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.” Ephesians 2:8-9. We are saved to do good works. Works is a matter of obediance and is the sine qua non of maintaining, not of gaining, our salvation. That is what James meant when he said: “Faith without works is dead.” James 2:26. It is also what Paul had in mind when he told us to “work out your salvation with fear and trembling.” Philippians 2:12.
Click to expand...
Not really a true statement either. We are saved by the Grace of God ALONE, period, end of statement.
Our faith (a work of the will and intellect) and our good works set out for us by God are simply our co-operation in God’s saving Grace.
If you take the whole Word of God in complete context as the Catholic Church does, rather than cherry picking verses that seem to prove your preconcieved beliefs, you just might come see the fullness of truth.
 
Pious_Mat said:
Recently, in reading through the letters of the New Testament, I have found that Paul places a great deal of emphasis on faith. I know that we are saved by our works and our faith, but in light of that, how do I properly interpret the Pauline letters, especially Romans and Galatians?

Also, what precisely does Paul mean by “put right with God?”
Click to expand...
Classically Protestants have had a different understanding of grace, thus they come to different conclusions on issues like Justification.
Here is a thread I made highlighting the main difference:
forums.catholic-questions.org/showthread.php?t=165229

As a quickie however, Catholic believe Abraham LIVED his faith through obedience and grew in righteousness as he continued to obey, not that he was Justified one time only. His faith started as far back as Gen 12 (Heb 11:8; Gal 3:8; Gal 3:16; Gen 12:7), thus the Protestant idea that he first put his faith in God years later in Gen 15 is simply (and disastrously) incorrect.

Also, you will do very well if you read this article:
pugiofidei.com/logizomai.htm
 
  1. We are saved by grace alone.
  2. We receive this saving grace through faith and baptism.
  3. To retain this saving grace we must be obedient (do or not do what Our Lord has commanded - what I think, Protestants refer to as “works”.)
  4. If we are to die “saved”, we must be in this state of saving grace at the time of death. In other words, not be guilty of unrepented serious sins.
There are many passages which show that we can lose the grace of salvation after initially receiving it. Here are just a few:
Parable of the seed Mt. 13:18-21.
1 Cor 9:27; Gal 4:8,9,11; Gal 5:4, 19-21; 2 Tim 4:4; Heb 2:1; 2 Peter 2:20; 2 Peter 3:17. (All of these are being written to baptized - saved - Christians)

Nita
 
I’ve been re-reading Paul, too, on faith.

One thing to keep in mind is his listeners are Jews: especially they lack the very faith, in Christ, necessary for the new order of reality. Thus, Paul stresses faith.

More generally, what would you stress to the unbeliever? If I were, as Paul was, philosophically and rhetorically sophisticated, I would begin with faith.

The Protestant abuse of Paul on faith is a sad chapter in human history.
 
Palladio said:
…
One thing to keep in mind is his listeners are Jews: especially they lack the very faith, in Christ, necessary for the new order of reality. Thus, Paul stresses faith.
…
Click to expand...
Hi Palladio,

Actually, the listeners - the ones the letters were sent to - were Christians. Some were Jewish converts, but most of them were Gentile converts. (Epistle to the Hebrews would be the exception.)

But, like all of us, they needed to be reminded of the truths of the faith.

God bless,
Nita
 
Nita said:
Hi Palladio,

Actually, the listeners - the ones the letters were sent to - were Christians. Some were Jewish converts, but most of them were Gentile converts. (Epistle to the Hebrews would be the exception.)

But, like all of us, they needed to be reminded of the truths of the faith.

God bless,
Nita
Click to expand...
Thanks, Nita.
I can see where I’ve muddled things.
Of course in the form we have them they are letters. But the subtext and text is preaching–to Jews quite specifically to convert them to Christianity, as is clear in Romans, to others as well.

God bless.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top