2
unreflective Synoptic sense.
2
Grässer believes that faith in Hebrews is transformed from a
soteriological, personal reference of "faith in Christ" into an ethical category of steadfastness
(Standhaftigkeit)
3
For Grässer, faith in Hebrews "has nothing to do with the indicative/
imperative tension of the Pauline response to the gospel. It is not a relationship, but a conviction
and a way of behaving accordingly--a moral quality, a virtue among other virtues."
4
Grässer has done a good service in bringing to light the differences of faith between the
Pauline literature and Hebrews. Indeed, in Hebrews the ethical aspect of faith cannot be denied.
Certainly, faith embodies an aspect of steadfastness. However, one needs to ponder which
concept of faith is normal in the New Testament. When Grässer suggests that the Pauline concept
of faith (i.e., soteriological aspect) is replaced by the ethical category in Hebrews, he clearly
indicates that this Christological aspect of faith is a normative interpretation in the early church.
5
Yet, a careful study of the Pauline epistles and Synoptic Gospels reveals that the idea of faith
is broad enough to include other aspects. In the Synoptic Gospels indicates that, in addition to the
meaning of having Jesus as the object of faith, faith has the following senses. First, it has the idea
of believing in God or Christ who is the almighty, self-revealing and beneficent toward humanity,
particularly toward the worshipers (Matt 8:13; 21:22; Mark 5:36; 9:23; 15:32; Luke 8:1213,
50).
6
This aspect of faith is different from the soteriological meaning of trusting in Jesus. Second,
faith is related to the miracle stories (e.g., Matt 8:10; Mark 2:5; 5:34).
7
What is the meaning of
faith in these instances? These verses reveal that faith is trusting in the mission of Jesus and his
2 Ibid., 79.
3 Ibid., 63.
4 C. F. D. Moule, "Review of Grässer, Der Glaube im Hebräerbrief," Journal of Theological Studies n.s. 17
(1966): 148.
5 Gerhard Dautzenberg, "Der Glaube im Hebräerbrief," Biblische Zeitschrift 17 (1973): 174.
6 E. C. Blackman, "Faith, Faithfulness," in The Interpreter's Dictionary of the Bible, ed. George Arthur Buttrick
(New York: Abingdon Press, 1962), 2:22234.
7 O. Michel, "Faith, Persuade, Belief, Unbelief," in The New International Dictionary of New Testament
Theology, ed. Colin Brown (Grand Rapids: Zondervan Publishing House, 1975), 1:587606. Also Dautzenberg, "Der
Glaube im Hebräerbrief," 17475. He believes that the concept of faith in the Synoptic tradition (i.e., Q and miracle