Pistis Christou (or pistis Iēsou) is a Greek genitive phrase. How it should be understood is a matter of contention. In Paul's authentic letters, he uses this phrase at important junctures: Rom. 3:21–22, 26; Gal. 2:16, 20; Phil. 3:9. I argue that, by the subjective genitive, Paul means Christ’s faithfulness. Watch my video. While we may compare various English translations of these texts, I will pick the following English translations for comparison: NRSV, NIV, KJV, and CEB.
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Rom 3:21-22
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Rom 3:26
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Gal 2:16
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Gal 2:20
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Phil 3:9
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-NRSV: "faith in Jesus"
-NIV: "faith in Jesus"
-KJV: "by the faith of Jesus"
-CEB: "through the faithfulness of Jesus"
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-NRSV: "faith in
Jesus"
-NIV: "faith in Jesus"
-KJV: "of him which believeth in Jesus"
-CEB: "faith in Jesus"
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-NRSV:
"faith in Jesus"
-NIV: "faith in Jesus"
-KJV: "by the faith of Jesus"
-CEB: "through the faithfulness of Jesus"
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-NRSV: "by faith in the
Son of God"
-NIV: "by faith in the Son of God"
-KJV: "by the faith of the Son of God"
-CEB: "by the faithfulness of God's Son"
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-NRSV:
"through faith in Christ"
-NIV: "through faith in Christ"
-KJV: "through the faith of Christ"
-CEB: "from the faithfulness of Christ"
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*No English translations, as far as I know, rendered the pistis christou phrase in Rom 3:26 as a subjective genitive. I argue that even this genitive phrase must be the subjective genitive ("faith of Jesus"). So, "God justifies the one who has the faith of Jesus."
NOW there is the updated edition of the NRSV, called NRSVue, which translates all the above phrases as the subjective genitive except for Phil 3:9. That is a big improvement.
For more about Pistis Christou, see my book: How to Read Paul: A Brief Introduction to Paul's Theology, Writings and World.
