What shall we say then that the Gentiles which followed not after righteousness have attained to righteousness, even the righteousness which is of faith?

Hey listeners, this is Nick from Scripture Central, and today's podcast addresses the question.

How did Paul understand faith?

Faith is an essential element of righteous living, often emphasized in Paul's writings.

The importance of faith in Jesus Christ has also been discussed repeatedly by modern prophets,

including Joseph Smith, who declared it to be one of the basic, first principles of the gospel.

Without faith, we would not be able to fully access the saving grace of Jesus Christ, or reap all the rewards of eternal life that he offers us.

True to form, Paul's ancient discussions of faith have

richer, deeper meanings than can be readily translated into English. The word faith, as it appears

in the King James Version of the New Testament, is a translation of the Greek word, Pistus,

which is best understood in terms of the ancient world's patron-client relationship,

as is grace. Brent J. Schmidt has observed that through the Greco-Roman world, Pistus,

meant knowing and understanding one's patron, and developing a relationship based on fidelity

to that patron that ideally resulted in a lifetime relationship.

As such, many instances of Pistus in the New Testament can be translated more accurately as loyalty

or faithfulness, better reflecting this relational understanding.

This view was also reflected in many Greco-Roman attitudes towards

humans' relations with their gods, seeing the gods as patrons who would forge relationships

with mortals, often for their bettermen. For Paul and other New Testament apostles and authors,

faith likewise pertained to our relationship with Heavenly Father, the only true God.

According to Schmidt, the disciple client understands that God is the patron, shows faithfulness

towards Him, and develops a relationship with Him. This relationship is mutually beneficial,

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