Theological Virtues
Faith, hope, and love, the God-given graces that turn the heart toward God
The theological virtues are faith, hope, and love, named together in Paul's hymn in 1 Corinthians 13 and developed by Augustine and Aquinas. Unlike the moral virtues acquired by practice, these are understood as infused gifts of God that orient the whole person directly toward him. Aquinas treats them as the supernatural foundation of the Christian life, with love as the greatest.
How it traveled
- JamesJerusalem · 62applies
- 1 PeterRome · 64applies
- RomansCorinth · 67explains
- 1 CorinthiansEphesus · 67explains
- PhilippiansRome · 67applies
- ColossiansRome · 67explains
- 1 JohnEphesus · 100explains
- On Patience.— · 220explains
- The LettersCaesarea (Cappadocia) · 379explains
- On the Duties of the ClergyMilan · 397explains
- Homilies on First CorinthiansConstantinople (Istanbul) · 407explains
- The Homilies of St. John ChrysostomConstantinople (Istanbul) · 407explains
- The Homilies of St. John Chrysostom on Philippians, Colossians, and ThessaloniansConstantinople (Istanbul) · 407explains
- The Homilies of St. John Chrysostom on Paul's Epistle to the RomansConstantinople (Istanbul) · 407explains
- The Homilies of St. John Chrysostom on Timothy, Titus, and PhilemonConstantinople (Istanbul) · 407explains
- The Homilies of St. John Chrysostom on the Epistle to the HebrewsConstantinople (Istanbul) · 407explains
- The Commentary and Homilies of St. John Chrysostom on Galatians and EphesiansConstantinople (Istanbul) · 407explains
- Homilies on Second CorinthiansConstantinople (Istanbul) · 407explains
- A Commentary on the Acts of the ApostlesConstantinople (Istanbul) · 407explains
- The Letters of St. JeromeBethlehem · 420explains
- Expositions on the Book of PsalmsHippo Regius · 430explains
- Letters of St. AugustinHippo Regius · 430explains
- On the Morals of the Catholic ChurchHippo Regius · 430explains
- The EnchiridionHippo Regius · 430explains
- On Christian DoctrineHippo Regius · 430explains
- Of Holy VirginityHippo Regius · 430applies
- City of GodHippo Regius · 430explains
- Lectures or Tractates on the Gospel According to St. JohnHippo Regius · 430explains
- Sermons on Selected Lessons of the New TestamentHippo Regius · 430explains
- A Treatise on Grace and Free WillHippo Regius · 430explains
- On the Holy TrinityHippo Regius · 430explains
- On PatienceHippo Regius · 430explains
- The Book of Pastoral Rule, and Selected Epistles, of Gregory the GreatRome · 604explains
- Treatise on the Sacraments (qq[60]-90)Paris · 1274explains
- Treatise on the Incarnation (qq[1]-59)Paris · 1274explains
- Book Third. the Mode of Obtaining the Grace of Christ. the Benefits It Confers, and the Effects Resulting from ItGeneva · 1564explains
- A Treatise Concerning Religious Affections, in Three PartsNorthampton, Massachusetts · 1758explains
- A Dissertation on the Nature of True VirtueNorthampton, Massachusetts · 1758explains
- Seventeen Occasional SermonsNorthampton, Massachusetts · 1758explains
- Thoughts on the Revival of Religion in New EnglandNorthampton, Massachusetts · 1758explains
Key passages(20)
Mere Christianity · C. S. Lewis
But now faith, hope, and love remain—these three. The greatest of these is love.
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A Treatise Concerning Religious Affections, in Three Parts · Jonathan Edwards
So hope in God, and in the promises of his word, is often spoken of in the Scripture, as a very considerable part of true religion. It is mentioned as one of the three great things of which religion c
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On Christian Doctrine · Augustine of Hippo
Chapter 39.—He Who is Mature in Faith, Hope and Love, Needs Scripture No Longer. 43. And thus a man who is resting upon faith, hope and love, and who keeps a firm hold upon these, does not need the S
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The Enchiridion. ———————————— Argument. Laurentius having asked Augustin to furnish him with a handbook of Christian doctrine, containing in brief compass answers to several questions which he had
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The Enchiridion · Augustine of Hippo
Chapter 3.—God is to Be Worshipped Through Faith, Hope, and Love. Now if I should answer, that God is to be worshipped with faith, hope, and love, you will at once say that this answer is too brief,
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The Enchiridion · Augustine of Hippo
Chapter 117.—Love, Which is Greater Than Faith and Hope, is Shed Abroad in Our Hearts by the Holy Ghost. And now as to love, which the apostle declares to be greater than the other two graces, that i
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The Enchiridion · Augustine of Hippo
Chapter 4.—The Questions Propounded by Laurentius. You are anxious, you say, that I should write a sort of handbook for you, which you might always keep beside you, containing answers to the question
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The Homilies of St. John Chrysostom on Philippians, Colossians, and Thessalonians · John Chrysostom
But it is not sufficient to watch and be sober, we must also be armed. For if a man watch and is sober, but has not arms, the robbers soon dispatch him. When therefore we ought both to watch, and to b
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Treatise on the Incarnation (qq[1]-59) · Thomas Aquinas
Objection 1: It would seem that there was hope in Christ. For it is said in the Person of Christ (Ps. 30:1): "In Thee, O Lord, have I hoped." But the virtue of hope is that whereby a man hopes in God.
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Two Books of Soliloquies · Augustine of Hippo
12. R. Thou art moved to good effect. For the Reason which is talking with thee promises so to demonstrate God to thy mind, as the sun demonstrates himself to the eyes. For the senses of the soul are
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Epistle to the Smyrnæans: Shorter and Longer Versions · Ignatius of Antioch
Let no man deceive himself. Both the things which are in heaven, and the glorious angels,They have no regard for love; no care for the widow, or the orphan, or the oppressed; of the bond, or of the fr
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Sermons on Selected Lessons of the New Testament · Augustine of Hippo
Sermon LV. [CV. Ben.] On the words of the Gospel, Luke xi. 5, “Which of you shall have a friend, and shall go unto him at midnight,” etc. 1. We have heard our Lord, the Heavenly Master, and most fa
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remembering without ceasing your work of faith and labor of love and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ, before our God and Father.
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We are bound to always give thanks to God for you, brothers, even as it is appropriate, because your faith grows exceedingly, and the love of each and every one of you towards one another abounds;
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A Dissertation on the Nature of True Virtue · Jonathan Edwards
By these things, it appears, that truly virtuous mind, being as it were under the sovereign dominion of love to God, above all things, seeks the glory of God, and makes this his supreme, governing, an
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A Treatise Concerning Religious Affections, in Three Parts · Jonathan Edwards
All gracious affections have a tendency to promote this christian tenderness of heart. Not only godly sorrow, but even a gracious joy does this. Psal. ii. 11. “Serve the Lord with fear, and rejoice wi
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An Invitation to Holy Communion · Thomas à Kempis
WITH greatest devotion and ardent love, with all affection and fervor of heart I wish to receive You, O Lord, as many saints and devout persons, most pleasing to You in their holiness of life and most
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Book Third. the Mode of Obtaining the Grace of Christ. the Benefits It Confers, and the Effects Resulting from It · John Calvin
42. Wherever this living faith exists, it must have the hope of eternal life as its inseparable companion, or rather must of itself beget and manifest it; where it is wanting, however clearly and eleg
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Book Third. the Mode of Obtaining the Grace of Christ. the Benefits It Confers, and the Effects Resulting from It · John Calvin
31. The word of God the prop and root of faith. The word attests the divine goodness and mercy. In what sense faith has respect to the power of God. Various passages of Isaiah, inviting the godly to b
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Modern teachers who discuss this idea
Modern and living teachers whose books take up Theological Virtues. These works are still in copyright, so we can’t show the text here — each links out to the book.
- C. S. LewisMere Christianity(1952)View on Amazon→