Proportion of Faith

The phrase "proportion of faith" (Greek analogia tes pisteos) appears in Romans 12:6, where Paul instructs those with the gift of prophecy to exercise it "according to the proportion of faith" (AV) or "in proportion to our faith" (NIV). The phrase has been interpreted in two main ways: (1.) subjectively, as exercising the prophetic gift in accord with the individual's measure of faith; or (2.) objectively, as prophesying in accord with the body of Christian truth — the "rule of faith" or the standard of apostolic teaching. The second interpretation became foundational to the early church's principle that prophetic utterances and interpretations must be tested against the established norm of Christian doctrine (1 Cor. 14:29).