Faith in the Son of God: The Place of Christ-Oriented Faith Within Pauline Theology

“A number of recent books have been written on the subject of faith in Paul’s letters, and so we might wonder if there is anything fresh and interesting to say about faith in Christ in Paul’s theology. McFadden’s book shows us that the answer is yes. I was struck repeatedly by McFadden’s careful and astute reading of the biblical text, a reading in which he dialogues with scholarly interlocutors. McFadden demonstrates that faith in Christ is constitutive of Paul’s theology and central to it as well. Those interested in Pauline theology, even those who disagree, will be provoked to consider anew the role of faith in Christ in Paul’s theology. We find here a remarkably close and insightful reading of the Pauline letters, one that repristinates the theology of the Reformers for our day.”

“Kevin McFadden has written an important book on a central theme of the New Testament and of the theology of the apostle Paul more specifically. Interacting with a wide range of scholarship, he forcefully defends the traditional understanding of the phrase ‘faith in Christ’ as highlighting the necessity and the reality of faith in Jesus that saves sinners. At a time when it has become fashionable to diminish the significance of individuals in favor of corporate dimensions of the body of Christ, Faith in the Son of God describes with admirable exegetical sensitivity how Paul uses the language of faith when explaining what sinners do as God saves them on account of Jesus’s death on the cross. Thus, the book is as much about the gospel as it is about faith, and thus about the effective witness of the church in an increasingly secular world.”

“McFadden presents a compelling case that Paul’s letters emphasize the importance of faith in Christ. His argument is that εκ πιστεως Χριστου describes Christ-oriented faith as the means (‘instrumental cause’) of salvation. This work is biblical theology at its finest. Not content to merely tread the path well worn by others, McFadden presents fresh arguments that I have not previously encountered. He writes as a scholar who is consistently fair and irenic in his treatment of differing views and as a humble student who is able to learn from those with whom he disagrees. More than anything else, he writes as a faithful exegete who seeks to formulate his theology from the biblical text rather than impose his preconceived theology on the text. I highly recommend this book to scholars, students, and pastors.”