Terry L. Miethe on Ephesians 2.8 and Faith as a Gift of God

        The classic text, used by Calvinists, to support the assertion that even faith must be given to men by God is Ephesians 2:8, which says “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is a gift of God.” But in the Greek text of this passage there is only one pronoun, not two; and that pronoun does not agree grammatically with the word “faith.” The pronoun is neuter in gender, while the word “faith” is feminine. According to all grammatical rules, the gift cannot be faith! What is referred to in this passage is God’s gracious gift of salvation, which none can merit.

Terry L. Miethe, ‘The Universal Power of the Atonement’, in Clark H. Pinnock (ed.), The Grace of God and the Will of Man (1989; repr., Minneapolis, MN: Bethany House, 1995),[1] p. 77

Copyright © Clark H. Pinnock, 1989. All rights reserved.

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Note

        1. This volume was originally published by Academie Books, entitled The Grace of God, The Will of Man: A Case for Arminianism (Grand Rapids, MI: Academie Books, 1989), and republished by Bethany House Publishers in 1995.  —J. D. Gallé

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