When dealing with an idiomatic Greek or Hebrew element don’t just use your favourite translation. Especially if that translation is a more literal one. Here are a number of the more literal translations of “from faith to faith” – notice what happens.
- (ASV) For therein is revealed a righteousness of God from faith unto faith: as it is written, But the righteous shall live by faith.
- (BBE) For in it there is the revelation of the righteousness of God from faith to faith: as it is said in the holy Writings, The man who does righteousness will be living by his faith.
- (EMTV) For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, “The just shall live by faith.”
- (ESV) For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith for faith, as it is written, “The righteous shall live by faith.”
- (ISV) For in it God’s righteousness is being revealed from faith to faith, as it is written, “The righteous will live by faith.”
- (KJV) For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.
- (LITV) for in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; even as it has been written, “But the just shall live by faith.” Hab. 2:4
- (MKJV) For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith, as it is written, “The just shall live by faith.”
- (Murdock) For in it is revealed the righteousness of God, from faith to faith; as it is written, The righteous by faith, shall live.
- (NASB) For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, “BUT THE RIGHTEOUS man SHALL LIVE BY FAITH.”
- (RV) For therein is revealed a righteousness of God by faith unto faith: as it is written, But the righteous shall live by faith.
- (Webster) For in this is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.
- (YLT) For the righteousness of God in it is revealed from faith to faith, according as it hath been written, `And the righteous one by faith shall live,’
Does this help at all? No! They are all simply literal translations of the Greek idiom which translate word for word and don’t attempt to translate the meaning.
ἐκ πίστεως εἰς πίστιν
from faith to faith
That is no help at all to us understanding the phrase.
- (AMP) For in the Gospel a righteousness which God ascribes is revealed, both springing from faith and leading to faith [disclosed through the way of faith that arouses to more faith]. As it is written, The man who through faith is just and upright shall live and shall live by faith. [Hab. 2:4.]
The Amplified Bible does not help. In fact it adds the misleading element [disclosed through the way of faith that arouses to more faith]. This is like one of those student’s answers yesterday. It is plain wrong.
- (CEV) The good news tells how God accepts everyone who has faith, but only those who have faith. It is just as the Scriptures say, “The people God accepts because of their faith will live.” Skillfully avoids the issue.
- (MSG) God’s way of putting people right shows up in the acts of faith, confirming what Scripture has said all along: “The person in right standing before God by trusting him really lives.” – The Message doesn’t help at all.
If we turn to the more dynamic translations we will find the answer there.
- (GNB) For the gospel reveals how God puts people right with himself: it is through faith from beginning to end. As the scripture says, “The person who is put right with God through faith shall live.”
- (GW) God’s approval is revealed in this Good News. This approval begins and ends with faith as Scripture says, “The person who has God’s approval will live by faith.”
- (NLT) This Good News tells us how God makes us right in His sight. This is accomplished from start to finish by faith. As the Scriptures say, “It is through faith that a righteous person has life.”
These help us and this is exactly the meaning of “from faith to faith”:- Faith and faith alone, from the beginning of our lives to the end of our lives. through faith from beginning to end, begins and ends with faith, from start to finish by faith.
Just like John’s theme of believe and keep on believing. Trust and keeping trusting. The dynamic equivalence versions are the ones to turn to in order to understand idioms in the original languages because they are translating thought for thought or idea for idea, not word for word.
Use multiple versions to solve those difficult readings and be prepared to break out of your habits and preferences by using various translations and not just your tried-and-true-only-right-version-for-you Bible. Sorry I don’t mean to step on toes; just trying to help you.
You have to do your own growing, no matter how tall your dad is.
Ian Vail