Romans 3:30 and meaning of "of faith" and "through faith"

[sthudium]

Romans 3:30 (NAB), “for God is one and will justify the circumcised on the basis of faith and the uncircumcised through faith.”

Why does Paul say that the Jews will be justified on the basis “of faith,” while the Gentiles will be justified “through faith?”

What is the difference between “on the basis of faith” and “through faith?”

 

[De_Maria]

Romans 3:30 (NAB), “for God is one and will justify the circumcised on the basis of faith and the uncircumcised through faith.”

Why does Paul say that the Jews will be justified on the basis “of faith,” while the Gentiles will be justified “through faith?”

What is the difference between “on the basis of faith” and “through faith?”

In my opinion, the second faith should be capitalized. Or, could be expanded to be more specific. It should say, “through the Faith of Jesus Christ”. Or, “through the Religion that Jesus Christ established.” Or, “through the Sacraments of Jesus Christ”.

Let me explain.

By faith

The Jews were the circumcised. They were justified on the basis of works. But they didn’t do their righteous works just because they believed they had a hobby or something trivial. They did them out of faith in God.

Here’s what St. Paul also says about the Jews and their faith:

Hebrews 11New American Bible (Revised Edition) (NABRE)

V. Examples, Discipline, Disobedience
Chapter 11
Faith of the Ancients. 1 Faith is the realization of what is hoped for and evidence of things not seen. 2 Because of it the ancients were well attested. 3 By faith we understand that the universe was ordered by the word of God, so that what is visible came into being through the invisible…

If you go on to read the rest of that, you will see that St. Paul says that the righteous Jews did all their good works from a basis of faith in God.

The key to understanding Rom 3:30 rests upon verse 11:39

39Yet all these, though approved because of their faith, did not receive what had been promised.

Why? Because they had to be judged faithful, according to their works before they could enter heaven.

Through faith

The uncircumcised, that’s us. Christians. We are uncircumcised because Jesus established the Sacraments and Baptism replaced circumcision.

And what does Jesus say about Baptism?

Mark 16:16 Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved; whoever does not believe will be condemned.

St. Peter confirms that this is true.

1 Peter 3:21 This prefigured baptism, which saves you now. It is not a removal of dirt from the body but an appeal to God[a] for a clear conscience, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ,

So, in verse Romans 3:30, St. Paul is contrasting the fate of the Jews with that of those who believe in Christ.

The Jews had to work the whole day and in the end, were not saved (Matthew 20:1-16). They had to await the arrival of Jesus Christ and His crucifixion before they could enter heaven.

Whereas, Christians are saved, when they are baptized.

See Heb 12:18-24 for another contrast between Judaism and Catholicism.

Anyway, that’s the way I understand it. Let me know what you think.

 

[RandomAlias]

I took a look at BibleHub commentaries on Romans 3:30. Some scholars figure there is minor difference in meaning like this:

on the basis of faith – The Jews already had a covenant with God and a tradition of faith and law. These may be regarded as something already established, an existing foundation and hence a basis for justification. In Romans 3:30, Paul teaches that faith is the firm foundation, implying that circumcision and other observances of the law are built upon faith, and without faith those works would be like a house built upon sand.

through faith – The Gentiles had no foundation of faith, nothing established like a covenant with God or a tradition of faith and law. For the Gentiles, faith is the means to justification. The word “through” suggests a spiritual journey, conversion, and movement along the Way from unjustification to justification.

Many scholars (going back even to St. Augustine!) admit that there is not a substantial difference. Faith, the same faith, is required of Jew and Gentile alike. Paul, like many writers and orators, employs alternative wording in parallel phrases just because it sounds better that way. So don’t read too much into that small variation.

 

[sthudium]

Thanks, De_Maria and RandomAlias,

I think to summarize: Jews are justified by the faithfulness that they lived before Christ, while Christians will be justified by the faithfulness that they live after Christ.

Is the object, to which they are faithful, different between Jews and Christians?

 

[fhansen]

Romans 3:30 (NAB), “for God is one and will justify the circumcised on the basis of faith and the uncircumcised through faith.”

Why does Paul say that the Jews will be justified on the basis “of faith,” while the Gentiles will be justified “through faith?”

What is the difference between “on the basis of faith” and “through faith?”

Here’s another translation, the NIV:
"since there is only one God, who will justify the circumcised by faith and the uncircumcised through that same faith."
It just means that we’re all justified by faith, regardless.