Jn 12:42, PISTIS of regeneration?

dixonps at juno.com dixonps at juno.com
Sat Mar 4 10:41:53 EST 2000




On Sat, 4 Mar 2000 01:39:02 EST CEP7 at aol.com writes:
> 
> In a message dated 3/3/2000 8:33:05 PM, dixonps at juno.com writes:
> 
> << POLLOI  EPISTEUSAN EIS AUTON, ALLA DIA TOUS FARISAIOUS
> OUC hWMOLOGOUN hINA MH APOSUNAGWGOI GENWNTAI,
> HGAPHSAN GAR THN DOXAN TWN ANQRWPWN MALLON
> HPER THN DOXAN TOU QEOU.
> 
> Is this an example of PISTIS of regeneration?  They were
> not confessing Him for fear of excommunication, because
> they loved the praise of man rather than the praise of God.
> 
> In 5:44 Christ says, PWS DUNASQE hUMEIS PISTEUSAI 
> DOXAN PARA ALLNLWN LAMBANONTES, KAI THN DOXAN
> THN PARA TOU MONOU QEOU OU ZHTEITE;
> 
> Apparently Christ saw the two propositions as mutually
> exclusive: either they would love the praise of God and
> believe, or they would love the praise of man and not
> believe.
> 
> If so, then the PISTIS of 12:42-43 must be a different 
> kind than that of 5:44. >>
> 
> The question here becomes is their PISTIS temporary or their
> fear of the Pharisees? At the Crucifixion, some these men 
> come out of the closet 
> 
> (Nicodemus and Joseph).

No, their PISTIS could be permanent, just as the PISTIS of
those who claim to have faith but have no works in Js 2:14.
James questions with an expected negative response:
MH DUNATAI hH PISTIS SWSAI AUTON; 

It could be a permanent, non-saving faith, which issues
in the fear of man rather than the fear of God (12:42-43),
but ultimately issues in a shuddering, just as the
demons in Js 2:19.  PISTEOUSIN KAI FRISSOUSIN.

It looks like John envisions two kinds of faith: as the
reformers put it, a faith including fiducia, notitia, and
assentia versus a faith of perhaps notitia and/or
assentia only.

Paul Dixon





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