"It’s Not Your Faith: Why Paul Relied on the Faithfulness of Jesus"

"It’s Not Your Faith: Why Paul Relied on the Faithfulness of Jesus"

—Crucified with Christ: Living by His Faithfulness, Not Ours—

I am now more convinced than ever that when Paul writes of "faith" in Galatians 2:20, he is emphasizing his relationship with Jesus through the lens of Christ’s faithfulness. While traditional translations often support the doctrine of justification by human faith—as seen in the NIV’s phrasing, "I live by faith in the Son of God"—this misses the nuance of Paul’s argument.

Paul’s central point is existential: the "I" who is living is no longer Paul himself, but Christ. Therefore, logically, the life he lives must be sustained by Christ's own faithfulness, not Paul’s belief.

This reading is supported by modern translations like the NRSVue, which reads: "... I live by the faith of the Son of God." Similarly, the CEB and NET adopt this subjective genitive translation, rendering it as "by the faithfulness of God's Son" and "because of the faithfulness of the Son of God," respectively.

My hope is that more readers will grasp what Paul actually means in this passage. He is not highlighting his own faith in Jesus because theologically, the old Paul no longer exists. Instead, he refers to Jesus' faithfulness, which serves as the true driving force of his new life.

(For more on my perspective, see my latest book, How to Read Paul.. Other key verses regarding the pistis Christou debate include Romans 3:21-22, 3:26; Galatians 2:16; and Philippians 3:9.)

See also related posts:

• A brief analysis of Gal 2:20
• Pistis Christou Texts 
• A Bone of Contention
• Sanders's book review
• Pistis Christou video. 

Truth Telling about the Cross

Truth telling is essential to my vocation. I don’t claim to know everything, but I dare to speak the truth based on my understanding. I convey my scholarly insights through speaking, writing, and engaging with others. One topic I am particularly passionate about is the discussion surrounding the cross of Jesus.

Confusion about the Cross: True Meaning of the Good News

"The Cross of Christ in African American Christian Religious Experience"

 

I want to bring your attention to a book by one of my colleagues, Dr. Demetrius K. Williams: The Cross of Christ in African American Christian Religious Experience: Piety, Politics, and Protest (Lexington Books, 2023).

I reviewed his book, which will be published in the April 2025 issue of Interpretation: A Journal of Bible and Theology (79.1). My understanding of African American religious experience has become deeper now because of this provocative, transformative, deeply spiritual, and insightful book. Simply put, it is a soulful book.

Dr. Williams engaged in an extensive discussion about his book in an interview with the Calvin Institute of Christian Worship.

Justice and the Parables of Jesus

I received peer reviewers' comments through my publisher. Of course, I don't know who they are other than they know me. Their critical feedback is indeed gratifying. There are things I missed and will improve because of their review. There are also things they love and affirm in my book. Book writing is not a solitary task. I appreciate all of them.

I am truly uplifted by the positive feedback I received on my book proposal. All four readers highlighted its strengths. The quotes below are paraphrases of the original words.

Reader 1 stated, “The book presents an interdisciplinary and unifying question that is accessible to lay readers while acknowledging the social, political, and ethical implications of Jesus's teachings.”

Reader 2 noted, “The book's relevance to students who study and interpret the parables of Jesus from a justice perspective is significant.” I am particularly encouraged to emphasize the importance of the Greek translation (e.g., Matthew 20:15) in the study of these parables.

Reader 3 commented, “The use of comparative cross-cultural materials, such as the Dao De Jing, is commendable.” Based on this feedback, I plan to include Confucianism in the discussion by drawing on the Analects, as they contain relevant insights concerning justice.

Reader 4 remarked, “The book clearly and intelligently introduces readers to Jesus’ parables, makes a strong case for the theme of justice concerning them, and persuasively advocates for the use of political philosophy in biblical interpretation.”

This feedback has been incredibly encouraging as I continue to refine my work.

Analects 13:23

君子和而不同。小人同而不和。

"The noble person seeks harmony while remaining distinct from others. In contrast, the small person desires uniformity without achieving true harmony." (Analects 13:23, trans. by Yung Suk Kim)

My commentary:
The wise individual pursues harmony or coexistence while remaining unique. Such a person embraces diversity while maintaining authenticity and striving for a greater community. On the other hand, the petty individual conforms to the majority without considering the importance of achieving deeper harmony.

Photo courtesy of Inhee Lee 2025

Analects 13:25

[13-25] 子曰。君子易事而難說也。說之不以道、不說也。及其使人也、器之。小人難事而易說也。說之雖不以道、說也。及其使人也、求備焉。

Analects 13:25: The Master said: "A noble person is easy to work for but difficult to satisfy. If you try to win their approval through questionable methods, they will not be pleased. When they assign tasks to others, they do so according to each person's abilities. In contrast, an inferior person is difficult to work for but easy to please. Even if you resort to deceitful tactics to make them happy, they will still be satisfied. When hiring others, they tend to exploit their workers to the fullest extent possible" (trans. by Yung Suk Kim). 

Pep Talk about Human Transformation and Mental Health

A sustainable transformation must involve both human and social transformation. We should not focus on either one or the other. Both are fundamental to our daily lives and maintaining our overall health. Any discussion of transformation must begin with questions about human transformation. I initially recorded my talk on my phone. Then, I combined the audio file with photos and made a video file through an app. The same episode can also be found on Spotify.

2024 Ellison-Jones Convocation

I remember speaking at the faculty panel during the annual 2024 Ellison-Jones Convocation. I felt energized as I discussed the implications of biblical studies for politics. We must approach our studies with honesty and transparency, and there are no sacred topics that we should avoid or shy away from.

My talk is entitled “The Danger of a Singular Order: Joshua’s Conquest Narrative of Canaan, Jesus’s Dealing with a Canaanite Woman, and Christian Nationalists’ Reading of the Bible.” A briefer title for publication is "The Danger of a Singular Order: Engaging with Some Controversial Texts."

One thing significantly lacking in libertarian hermeneutics and homiletics is self-criticism.
Yes, we need self-knowledge that we are precious and weak (frail).
Yes, we need social change. We can be critical of others and other things.
But we need more than anything; that is self-criticism, which is not the same as criticizing the self.
Self-criticism is a recognition that we all need continual awakening. We all need deconstruction.

Toward that goal, we must study and read various things, including books, society, and the self.

• The danger of a singular order
• Oppressors and the oppressed are everywhere: external and internal
• True liberation from everything and everywhere
• God’s effectiveness to those who change

Knowledge and Humility: A Peek into Thoughts of Jesus and Classical Philosophers

Jesus exemplifies humility by acknowledging that he does not know everything. On three occasions, he demonstrates this humility and recognition of his limitations. For instance, Jesus states that he does not know about the time of the end of the world (Mark 13:32); only God knows. Additionally, when a man addresses him as "Good Teacher," Jesus replies, "Why do you call me good? No one is good except for God alone" (Mark 10:18). He also shares a parable called The Seed Growing Secretly, emphasizing that the work of God is beyond human control (Mark 4:26-29). This suggests that there are things that only God can manage, while there are other things within human capability. Overall, the Gospel of Mark showcases the essential qualities of Jesus's humanity.

Classical philosophers also recognize human limitations. Socrates believes that knowledge is inherently limited. Confucius states, "If you know something, you know it. But if you don't know something, you don't know it" (Analects 2:13). Laozi further adds, "Knowing not to know is the best. Pretending to know when you do not is the worst disease" (Dao De Jing 71). He even warns against biases with the phrase, "Taste without taste." This emphasizes the importance of an open-minded approach.

The mindset of acknowledging "I don't know" is fundamental to our identity and crucial for living a healthy life. Knowledge is not static; it evolves continuously over time. Einstein notes: "Imagination is more important than knowledge. For knowledge is limited. Imagination encircles the entire world" (quoted in p. 96 of Maggie Jackson's book, *Uncertain*).

Assignments for Working Preacher

Photo courtesy of Working Preacher

Again, I received an invitation to write for Working Preacher for April and May 2026 commentaries (4 pieces) on four texts in John's Gospel. Previously, I wrote on Paul's letters, Matthew, Acts, and 1 Peter (12 commentaries for this site). I was told that in the past 12 months, Working Preacher garnered more than six million visits from 200 countries. I love this kind of assignment because it is short yet deeply engaging. 

-4/2/2026: Maunday Thursday (John 13:1-17, 31b-35)
-4/3/2026: Good Friday (John 18:1-19:42)
-4/12/2026: Second Sunday of Easter (John 20:19-31)
-5/10/2026: Sixth Sunday of Easter (John 14:15-21)