Abstract This article examines the translation history of the Pauline phrase πίστις Χριστοῦ (‘faith of Christ’ or ‘faith in Christ’) across six major Western languages—English, French, German, Dutch, Spanish, and Italian—from the printing press to the present. While scholarly debate has long focused on the phrase’s grammatical ambiguity in Greek, little attention has been paid to how it has been rendered in post-Greek translations. This study addresses that gap by surveying both premodern Latin usage (fides Christi) and vernacular translations. It highlights a significant shift initiated by Martin Luther, who was the first to translate the phrase systematically as ‘faith in Christ’. While this marked a translational innovation, the underlying interpretation was already widely accepted in the Latin West. Over time, Protestant and later Catholic translations converged on this reading. The article concludes by suggesting that this Western tendency towards the objective genitive might challenge some modern readings that emphasize a subjective or ‘faith(fulness) of Christ’ interpretation, urging scholars to reckon more fully with the weight of the history of Western translations.
Abstract This article examines the evolving role of Apollinarism in Augustine’s theology, arguing that during his life Augustine not only reinterpreted its theological significance but also revised his own understanding of the doctrines it comprises. While his early writings treat Apollinarism as a denial of Christ’s rational soul and physiological integrity, his later works—especially in the context of the Pelagian controversy—recast it as a rejection of Christ’s predestined humanity and moral will. This shift reflects Augustine’s broader theological development, particularly his increasing emphasis on grace and the fallen condition of the human will. By tracing this transformation, the article offers new insight into the theological function of Apollinarism in Augustine’s Christology and highlights the interplay between doctrinal reception, polemics, and the unfolding of his mature soteriology.
