"I have not found such faith in Israel" (Luke 7, 9)

Abstract

1. The sentence suggests a comparison. Does it mean that Jesus met with no faith in Israel? Out of context it could mean that, but in context it need not (and does not). That is, it could also just as easily mean that Jesus found faith in Israel, but not as great a faith as he found in the Centurion. That is, Jesus would have expected to find faith in Israel, which was awaiting its Messiah; he found it, but even in an Israel responding with faith, Jesus found even greater faith in this Centurion. Thus, there need be no denial that Jesus found faith among the Jews of Galilee. And indeed Jesus found faith among Gentiles, those said to come to him "from the coastal area of Tyre and Sidon" (6,17). So far, however, Jesus praises only this one Gentile for faith in him. 2. One might translate tosauten (the description of faith) as "such", but the word could also be translated "so great". Does the word indicate quality or quantity? Strictly speaking, the dictionary meaning points to quantity. In this sense, the Centurion has "more faith" than others. But should we translate it in the qualitative sense: the Centurion has a quality of faith not seen in others who have faith? On the assumption that the distinction between quantity and quality should be kept, perhaps a decision can be better made at the end of the consideration I offer in this essay. 3. To appreciate Jesus' remark, I believe Luke intends the reader to have in mind the examples of faith the reader had earlier encountered. Let us briefly review these; they occour in Chapters 4, 5, and 6.