A
C
OMPREHENSIVE
S
TUDY OF
THE CONCEPT OF FAITH IN
H
EBREWS
*
How does one define "faith" in Hebrews? A close examination of the literature in Hebrews
reveals that there are divergent opinions on this issue. After a thorough study of different views
on the concept of faith in Hebrews, I have come to realize that these variant opinions are caused
by different interpretations of the orientation of faith in Hebrews. In this paper I will interact with
the ethical view of faith proposed by some scholars and argue that faith in Hebrews is
Christologically oriented (i.e., Jesus is considered as the model and object of faith for believers).
E
THICAL
V
IEW
Generally speaking, the proponents of the ethical view tend to de-emphasize the
Christological orientation of faith. They argue that in Hebrews Jesus is not presented as the
content (or the object) of faith. Some are willing to go so far as acknowledging Jesus as the model
of faith, but not as the content of faith.
For example, Grässer, in his book Der Glaube im Hebräerbrief, argues that Paul's concept of
faith has an unbreakable relationship with the salvation event. He considers that, for Paul, faith is
always faith in Christ (e.g., Col 2:5; Gal 2:16; 3:22; Rom 3:22; Phil 3:9).
1
However, he contends
that faith in Hebrews is not directed to Christ in any way. According to him, the specific
Christological notion of faith finds no continuation either in the reflective sense of Paul or
* Victor (Sung-Yul) Rhee is associate professor of New Testament Language and Literature, Talbot School of
Theology, La Mirada, California.
This essay is the summary of my book entitled, Faith in Hebrews: Analysis
within the Context of Christology, Eschatology, and Ethics (New York: Peter Lang, 2001), and is use by
permission."
1 Erich Grässer, Der Glaube im Hebräerbrief (Marburg: N. G. Elwert Verlag, 1965), 6566. Other scholars who
hold the ethical view of faith: Barnabas Lindars, The Theology of the Letter to the Hebrews (Cambridge: Cambridge
University Press, 1991), 108; Harold W. Attridge, The Epistle to the Hebrews, Hermeneia Commentary (Philadelphia:
Fortress Press, 1989), 313; Leonhard Goppelt, Theology of the New Testament, ed. Jürgen Roloff, trans. John Alsup
(Grand Rapids: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., 1981), 2:263.