The Faith of the Centurion

@fmf said
So, as a basis for some theology and religious ideology, it's not much use, right?

Wrong!!
It's very useful in showing us how much Jesus desires faith from us.

He was "very impressed".

@chaney3 said
Wrong!!
It's very useful in showing us how much Jesus desires faith from us.

He was "very impressed".

Faith is not salvation.

@divegeester said
Faith is not salvation.

Faith is required for salvation.

@chaney3 said
Wrong!!
It's very useful in showing us how much Jesus desires faith from us.

He was "very impressed".

Did the centurion "go to Heaven"?

@fmf said
Did the centurion "go to Heaven"?

There is no way for me to know that.

@chaney3 said
Faith is required for salvation.

As I said earlier, your insights in this forum are astonishing.

@chaney3 said
There is no way for me to know that.

So you have no way of knowing if there is any connection between the centurion's faith and everlasting life.

@fmf said
So you have no way of knowing if there is any connection between the centurion's faith and everlasting life.

Well, according to John 3:16, the Centurion has good odds.

Jesus was "impressed".
The best referral to have.

@chaney3 said
Well, according to John 3:16, the Centurion has good odds.

Jesus was "impressed".
The best referral to have.

If, say, you believed Jesus healed people - like the centurion's servant - and you believed that Jesus' message/teaching was a good way for people to live - but you didn't believe that Jesus rose from the dead, how is that affected by John 3:16?

@chaney3 said
In Matthew 8:5-13, a Centurion came to Jesus and asked Him to heal his very sick servant. Jesus was going to go to the Centurion's home, but the Centurion said that he wasn't worthy of that, and that he knew if Jesus just said the word, his servant would be healed.

Jesus was "impressed" by this man's "great faith", and told him to go home, for the servant is healed.

...[text shortened]... reat faith, and Jesus was impressed. NO works, just "faith".

Jesus wants us to have faith in Him.

Your interpretation doesn't really hold water.

One problem with what you read into that passage is that the word translated as "faith" really has two very different meanings:

Strong's Concordance
pistis: faith, faithfulness
Usage: faith, belief, trust, confidence; fidelity, faithfulness.

"Fidelity, faithfulness" is much more likely to be what Jesus had in mind given that He says "pistis" immediately after the centurion says the following:
"For I also am a man under authority, with soldiers under me; and I say to this one, ‘Go!’ and he goes, and to another, ‘Come!’ and he comes, and to my slave, ‘Do this!’ and he does it.”"

It is about fidelity, faithfulness, loyalty, obedience, etc. which are really about DOING.

@chaney3 said
In Matthew 8:5-13, a Centurion came to Jesus and asked Him to heal his very sick servant. Jesus was going to go to the Centurion's home, but the Centurion said that he wasn't worthy of that, and that he knew if Jesus just said the word, his servant would be healed.

Jesus was "impressed" by this man's "great faith", and told him to go home, for the servant is healed.

...[text shortened]... reat faith, and Jesus was impressed. NO works, just "faith".

Jesus wants us to have faith in Him.

One-sided views of the teachings of the bible are always going to lead to incorrect conclusions. The whole story about what is required for eternal life, from the teachings of Christ and the Apostles are as follows:

- belief in God aka faith
- good works and righteousness
- keeping the commandments of Christ chief of which is brotherly love / charity

All 3 are desirable but not required.

These teachings also recognizes that there are some who either never had an opportunity to know about God or to hear / read the teachings of Christ and there are provisions for these people as well. Clearly for these, faith is not an option. These people will be judged by their works. Knowledge of good and evil is hardwired into conscience of man. There is no excuse for doing evil or for not doing good works. People know good from evil without having to read any holy book etc.

In the Kingdom of God [1000 yr reign of Christ] there is a pecking order.
1. The Elect who rule with Christ - these have both faith + works
2. All others - some with faith only, some with works only.

My disagreement with modern Christian teachings is that they preach a faith only doctrine, and have completely eliminated the requirement for good works, and the need to refrain from sin. Eternal life for them is assured even if they commit the most atrocious acts of evil. They have also condemned all without faith to eternal torment. Its all nonsense.

@chaney3 said
Well, according to John 3:16, the Centurion has good odds.

Jesus was "impressed".
The best referral to have.

Who do you think has better odds, the centurion or these people: Which group would you rather be in?

Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted.
Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth.
Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.
Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy.
Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God.
Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.
(Matthew 5:3-9 KJV)

What about these :

Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in: Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me. (Matthew 25:34-36 KJV)

@chaney3 said
In Matthew 8:5-13, a Centurion came to Jesus and asked Him to heal his very sick servant. Jesus was going to go to the Centurion's home, but the Centurion said that he wasn't worthy of that, and that he knew if Jesus just said the word, his servant would be healed.

Jesus was "impressed" by this man's "great faith", and told him to go home, for the servant is healed.

...[text shortened]... reat faith, and Jesus was impressed. NO works, just "faith".

Jesus wants us to have faith in Him.

Why do you care? You do not have such faith.

@thinkofone said
Your interpretation doesn't really hold water.

One problem with what you read into that passage is that the word translated as "faith" really has two very different meanings:

Strong's Concordance
pistis: faith, faithfulness
Usage: faith, belief, trust, confidence; fidelity, faithfulness.

"Fidelity, faithfulness" is much more likely to be ...[text shortened]... it.”"

It is about fidelity, faithfulness, loyalty, obedience, etc. which are really about DOING.

Once again then, as in much of what's written in the Bible, a simple story will be interpreted in different ways to fit the belief system as the reader sees fit.

@chaney3 said
Once again then, as in much of what's written in the Bible, a simple story will be interpreted in different ways to fit the belief system as the reader sees fit.

Or in the case of what I presented, as the context dictates.

Your interpretation, on the other hand, does not take the context into account. Instead you interpret it as you "see fit".