Methodists Knew

There is a definite article in Ephesians 2:8, and the Methodists were aware of it according to a popular Methodist commentary.

The Peoples New Testament

Commentary on Ephesians 2:8

For by grace are ye saved through faith. Lest they might forget the doctrine that he ever preached, he reminds them that works of the law never saved them; that they were saved by God's grace shown in the gospel; that this salvation was obtained through the faith. The definite article is found before faith in the Greek, showing that the faith, or the gospel, is meant.

I don't want people to think I am just making stuff up, for this understanding has ben around for many decades or even centuries.

Eph 2:8  G3588 ForG1063 by favorG5484 you areG1510.2.5 being preservedG4982 throughG1223 theG3588 belief;G4102 andG2532 thisG3778 [3 is notG3756 4ofG1537 5youG1473 2of GodG2316 G3588 1gift];G1435

Latin does not use articles so they are missing in Latin copies of scripture and English.

Grace is what allowed the faith to be delivered to us for our exercise of faith.