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Kierkegaard, in his book "Fear and Trembling," presents a comparison between the faithful tax collector and Abraham, who is considered the father of faith in the Bible. According to Kierkegaard, the faithful tax collector is similar to Abraham in some ways but also differs in crucial respects.
The faithful tax collector is like Abraham in that he is willing to give up everything he has, including his wealth and social status, for the sake of faith. Just as Abraham was willing to sacrifice his son Isaac, the tax collector is willing to sacrifice his career, reputation, and even his life for the sake of God. Both Abraham and the tax collector act in faith, without seeking any worldly reward or recognition.
However, there is a crucial difference between the two. Abraham's faith is characterized by his willingness to give up the most valuable thing he had, his son Isaac, without knowing whether God would provide an alternative sacrifice or not. He acted in absolute faith and trust in God's promises, even when it seemed impossible or contradictory. In contrast, the faithful tax collector's faith is not tested to the same degree as Abraham's faith. He is not asked to sacrifice his only son, but rather his worldly possessions and social status. In this sense, the tax collector's faith is less radical and less risky than Abraham's.
Moreover, the faithful tax collector's faith is a "repetition" of Abraham's faith, not an original act of faith. The tax collector's faith is based on the example of Abraham and the tradition of faith that he represents. In contrast, Abraham's faith was an original act that established a new paradigm of faith, which subsequent generations could only emulate but never replicate.
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