Our difficulties with understanding “one faith” may relate to our own limited categories. We try to squeeze “one faith” into our own modern boxes.
- One box is subjective. For many, faith is how they themselves think and feel. Can personal experiences and personal perspectives be made the pillar that unites all Christians?
- Another box is objective. Many denominations have their respective confessions of faith, their constitutions, creeds and catechisms. To them, “one faith” must fit into one of those boxes, those traditional categories. A group’s “box” is the body of beliefs and teachings on which they have agreed. But that raises questions: “Which group is more correct?” and “In that group, who gets to choose the agreed teachings?” and “Which teachings are essential, and which are non-essential?”
We who read the Bible today should remember that Paul was not boxed in by today’s denominational traditions. Under the apostles, Christianity was not divided into different brands. Immature Corinthians tried to denominate—to divide by names—but such a disgrace was not tolerated (1 Corinthians 1-4). The Great Commission ensured that basic teachings given to disciples would be consistent worldwide. All who were made disciples would belong to Jesus, the sole authority. His apostles would pass on His commands to all disciples (Matthew 28:18-20). Therefore, there was a recognizable standard called “the apostles’ teaching” (Acts 2:42 cf. Romans 6:17; 2 Timothy 1:13). Over time, and through the apostles, the all-powerful Lord fulfilled His promise. Through the one Spirit, He supplied “all the truth” that Christians needed (John 16:13; 2 Peter 1:3; 3:2). Could this be the meaning of “one faith”? Is it, in essence, the faith advanced by all faithful Christians, the faith on which they were united?
Only let your manner of life be worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of you that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving side by side for the faith of the gospel (Philippians 1:27).
Stand firm in one spirit with one mind.
Paul uses the term “the faith” in Philippians 1:27 and in Ephesians 4:13, “unity of the faith.” Is this the same faith defended by Jude, “the faith that was once for all delivered to the saints” (Jude 1:3)? Such questions relate to “one faith” in Ephesians 4:5. Is “one faith” meant in the objective sense, as a body of truth? Is it referring to the Spirit’s truth as delivered through the apostles? With such questions in mind, we return to the context of Ephesians 4.