Did Early Christians Teach Faith Alone?
Early Christians taught that people are justified by faith, but many also said true faith must lead to obedience, love, and good works. Clement of Rome, Irenaeus, Tertullian, Clement of Alexandria, and Origen all connect faith and salvation in different ways. Romans and Galatians support justification by faith, while James 2 says a person is not justified by faith alone. That makes the early Christian picture real but mixed, not one simple slogan.
100 early-church witnesses · 184 source quotations · compared with Scripture
Did the early Christians believe in faith alone?
Early Christian writers did teach that people are justified by faith and not by works of the law, but they did not usually mean a simple "faith alone" idea with no obedience. Clement of Rome, Irenaeus, Tertullian, Clement of Alexandria, and Origen all connect faith with salvation, yet many of them also tie true faith to obedience, love, baptism, perseverance, and good works. The Bible passages most often cited in the early writings go both ways:
Romans and Galatians stress justification by faith, while James says a person is not justified by faith alone. So the early record is broad for faith as the start of salvation, but mixed on whether faith by itself, without works and obedience, saves. Many more early Christian quotations, Bible passages, and source links are gathered below so you can study the evidence for yourself.
Key Takeaways
- Early Christians often said salvation comes by faith, not by works of the law.
- Many early writers also said saving faith must be active, obedient, and fruitful.
- James 2:24 is the clearest direct challenge to the phrase "faith alone."
Questions Answered by the Sources
Did the early Christians teach justification by faith?
Yes. Early Christians often said that justification comes by faith and not by the works of the law. Clement of Rome, Irenaeus, Tertullian, Clement of Alexandria, and Ignatius all use language that points to faith as the way people are counted righteous.
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Clement of Rome, First Epistle to the Corinthians Direct teaching
...t through the operation of His will. And we, too, being called by His will in Christ Jesus, are not justified by ourselves, nor by our own wisdom, or understanding, or godliness, or works we have accomplished in holiness of heart; but by that faith through which, from the beginning, Almighty God has justified all people; to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.
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Irenaeus, Against Heresies: Book IV Direct teaching
But our faith was also prefigured in Abraham, and he was the patriarch of our faith and, in a way, its prophet, as the apostle clearly taught when he says in the Epistle to the Galatians: “So, the one who gives you the Spirit and works miracles among you, does he do it by the works of the law or by hearing with faith? Just as Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness. Know therefore, that those who are of faith are the children of Abraham. The Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the heathen through faith, announced beforehand to Abraham that in him all nations would be blessed. So then those who are of faith are blessed with faithful Abraham.” For these reasons, the apostle declared that this man was not only the prophet of faith but also the father of those who believe in Jesus Christ among the Gentiles, because his faith and ours are the same: he believed in future things as if they were already accomplished, because of the promise of God; and similarly, we also, because of the promise of God, see through faith that inheritance stored up for us in the future kingdom.
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Tertullian, Against Marcion Direct teaching
...gathered together against the Lord and against His Christ. It was so that from then on man might be justified by the liberty of faith, not by servitude to the law, because "the just shall live by his faith," Habakkuk 2:4. Now although the prophet Habakkuk first said this, yet you have the apostle here confirming the prophets, just as Christ did. Therefore, the object of the faith by which the just man shall live will be that same God to whom the law also belongs, by doing which no man is justified. Since, then, the curse in the law and the blessing in faith are equally found, you have both conditions set forth by the Creator: "Behold," says He, "I have set before you a blessing and a curse," Deuteronomy 11:26. You cannot establish a diversity of authors because there happens to be a diversity of things; for the diversity itself is proposed by one and the same author. Why, however, Christ was made a curse for us, Galatians 3:13, is declared by the apostle himself in a way that greatly helps our side, as being the result of the Creator's appointment. But it by no means follows that, because the Creator said long ago, "Cursed is every one that hangs on a tree," Christ belonged to a
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Tertullian, Against Marcion Direct teaching
For the rest, the apostle must (be permitted to) go on with his own statement, wherein he says that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by faith: Galatians 2:16 faith, however, in the same God to whom belongs the law also.
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Clement of Alexandria, The Instructor (Paedagogus) Direct teaching
...rwards be revealed, so that the law became our schoolmaster to bring us to Christ, that we might be justified by faith; but after that faith has come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster." Do you not hear that we are no longer under that law which came with fear, but under the Word, the master of free choice? Then he added the statement, free from all partiality: "For you are all the children of God through faith in Christ Jesus. For as many as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for you are all one in Christ Jesus." Galatians 3:26-28 There are not, then, in the same Word some illuminated people, that is, gnostics, and some natural men. But all who have abandoned the desires of the flesh are equal and spiritual before the Lord. And again he writes in another place: "For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, whether bond or free, and we have all drunk of one cup." 1 Corinthians 12:13 Nor would it be absurd to use the expressions of those who call the remembrance of better things the filtration of the spirit, understanding by filtration t
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Ignatius of Antioch, Connection to Galatians 3:11 Supporting witness
And be ye steadfast, "for the just shall live by faith;" be ye the followers of Paul, and of the rest of the apostles.
More related quotations from this section 6 shown
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Clement of Alexandria, The Stromata (Miscellanies) Direct teaching
But Abraham was not justified by works, but by faith.
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Irenaeus, Against Heresies: Book IV Supporting witness
...hom God raised from the stones, and placed beside him who was made the leader and forerunner of our faith. This man received the covenant of circumcision after being justified by faith while he was still uncircumcised, so that he could represent both covenants. He became the father of all who follow the Word of God and live as pilgrims in this world, whether they come from the circumcised or uncircumcised, as “Christ is the chief cornerstone” supporting everything. God gathered into the faith of Abraham those eligible for His purpose from either covenant. But this faith, which exists in uncircumcision, connects the beginning with the end and has become both the first and the last. As I have shown, it existed in Abraham before circumcision, as it did in the rest of the righteous who pleased God. In these last times, it emerged again among humanity through the coming of the Lord. Circumcision and the law of works occupied the period in between.
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Irenaeus, Against Heresies: Book III Supporting witness
...er, but not a different god, because truly there is but "one God, who justifies the circumcision by faith and the uncircumcision through faith." Zacharias, prophesying, exclaimed, "Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, for He has visited and redeemed His people, and has raised up a horn of salvation for us in the house of His servant David, as He spoke by the mouth of His holy prophets who have been since the world began: salvation from our enemies and from the hand of all who hate us; to perform the mercy promised to our fathers and to remember His holy covenant, the oath which He swore to our father Abraham, that He would grant us, being delivered from the hand of our enemies, that we might serve Him without fear, in holiness and righteousness before Him all our days." He then says to John: "And you, child, shall be called the prophet of the Highest, for you shall go before the face of the Lord to prepare His ways, to give knowledge of salvation to His people for the forgiveness of their sins." This is the knowledge of salvation they lacked, that of the Son of God, which John made known, saying, "Behold the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world. This is the one of whom
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Clement of Alexandria, The Stromata (Miscellanies) Supporting witness
...out this husband, who is the Word, formerly desolate of the bridegroom. Now "the just shall live by faith," which is according to the covenant and the commandments, since these, which are two in name and time, given according to the divine arrangement, being one in power, the old and the new, are given through the Son by one God. As the apostle also says in the Epistle to the Romans, "For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith," teaching the one salvation which from prophecy to the Gospel is perfected by one and the same Lord. "This charge," he says, "I commit to you, son Timothy, according to the prophecies which went before on you, that by them you may war the good warfare, holding faith and a good conscience; which some, having put away concerning faith, have made shipwreck," 1 Timothy 1:18-19, because by unbelief they defiled the conscience that comes from God. Accordingly, faith may no longer, with reason, be disparaged in an offhand way as simple and common, as something ordinary and available to anyone. For if it were a merely human habit, as the Greeks supposed, it would have been extinguished. But if it grows, and there is no place where it is no
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Clement of Alexandria, The Stromata (Miscellanies) Supporting witness
In the end, the agreement and harmony of both forms of faith lead to one goal: salvation. We have the apostle as a sure witness: "For I desire to see you, that I may impart to you some spiritual gift, in order that you may be strengthened; that is, that I may be comforted among you by the mutual faith of you and me." Romans 1:11-12 And a little later he adds, "The righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith." Romans 1:17 So the apostle clearly declares a twofold faith, or rather one faith that allows growth and perfection, for the common faith lies underneath as a foundation. Therefore, to those who desired to be healed and were moved by faith, He added, "Your faith has saved you." Matthew 9:22 But what is built excellently on that foundation is completed in the believer, and is further perfected by the faith that comes from instruction and the word, so that the commandments may be carried out. Such were the apostles, of whom it is said that faith removed mountains and transplanted trees. From this, seeing how great its power was, they asked that faith might be added to them, Luke 17:5 a faith that helpfully grips the soil like a grain of mustard seed and grows splendidly
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Clement of Rome, First Epistle to the Corinthians Supporting witness
but by that faith through which, from the beginning, Almighty God has justified all men;
Did the early Christians mean faith without works?
No, not usually. Many early writers tied faith to obedience, love, repentance, baptism, or good works, and some said faith is made perfect by what a person does. Clement of Rome, Hermas, Cyprian, Origen, and Hippolytus all connect faith with a changed life, not with empty belief only.
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Clement of Rome, First Epistle to the Corinthians Supporting witness
Let those who have love in Christ keep the commandments of Christ. Who can describe the blessed bond of the love of God? What person is able to tell the excellence of its beauty as it ought to be told? The height to which love exalts is unspeakable. Love unites us to God. Love covers a multitude of sins. Love bears all things, is long-suffering in all things. There is nothing base, nothing arrogant in love. Love allows no schisms; love gives rise to no seditions; love does all things in harmony. By love, all the elect of God have been made perfect; without love, nothing is well-pleasing to God. In love, the Lord has taken us to Himself. Out of the Love He bore us, Jesus Christ our Lord gave His blood for us by the will of God; His flesh for our flesh, and His soul for our souls.
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Clement of Rome, Connection to James 2:17 Supporting witness
What shall we do, then, brethren? Shall we become slothful in well-doing, and cease from the practice of love? God forbid! But rather let us hasten with all energy and readiness of mind to perform every good work.
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Hermas, The Shepherd (Pastor) Supporting witness
They did not, however, depart from God, but remained in the faith, although not working the works of faith.
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Hermas, The Shepherd (Pastor) Supporting witness
...about God are double-minded, and they receive none of their requests. But those who are complete in faith ask for everything, trusting in the Lord, and they receive it, because they ask without doubting and are not double-minded. For every double-minded person, even if he repents, will be saved only with difficulty. Therefore cleanse your heart from all doubt, and put on faith, because it is strong. Trust God that you will receive from Him all that you ask. And if at any time, after you have asked the Lord, you are slower to receive your request than you expected, do not doubt because you have not quickly received what your soul asked for. For it is always because of some temptation or some sin, unknown to you, that you are slower to receive your request. Therefore do not stop asking for what your soul desires, and you will receive it. But if you grow tired and begin to waver in your request, blame yourself and not Him who does not give to you. Think carefully about this doubting state of mind, for it is wicked and foolish, and it turns many completely away from the faith, even though they may be very strong. For this doubt is the daughter of the devil, and it acts very wickedly
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Cyprian, Treatises Supporting witness
...em be loved with our whole heart. Let them be gained by the greatness of our increasing labors. The saving labor of love is an illustrious and divine thing, dearest brothers. It is a great comfort to believers, a healthy guard for our safety, a protection of hope, a safeguard of faith, a remedy for sin, and something placed in the power of the one who does it. It is both great and easy, a crown of peace without the danger of persecution, the true and greatest gift of God, necessary for the weak and glorious for the strong. With its help, the Christian fulfills spiritual grace, is worthy before Christ the Judge, and counts God as his debtor. For this victory of works of salvation, let us strive gladly and eagerly. Let us all run in the contest of righteousness, with God and Christ looking on. And let us, who have already begun to be greater than this life and the world, never slow our course because of any desire for this life or this world. If that day finds us prepared, swift, and running in this contest of love, whether it is the day of reward or of persecution, the Lord will never fail to give a reward for our merits. In peace, He will give us who conquer a white crown for ou
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Hippolytus, Exegetical Fragments Supporting witness
And in like manner, the Gentiles by faith in Christ prepare for themselves eternal life through good works.
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Origen, De Principiis (On First Principles) Supporting witness
... help of the Author and Creator Himself was required, to restore to the one group the discipline of obedience, which had been corrupted and profaned, and to the other group the discipline of rule. And so the only-begotten Son of God, who was the Word and the Wisdom of the Father, when He was in possession of that glory with the Father which He had before the world existed, laid it aside and, taking the form of a servant, became obedient unto death, so that He might teach obedience to those who could not obtain salvation except by obedience. He also restored the laws of rule and government that had been corrupted, by bringing all enemies under His feet, so that in this way, for it was necessary that He should reign until He had put all enemies under His feet and destroyed the last enemy, death, He might teach rulers themselves moderation in their government. Since He had come, then, to restore the discipline not only of government but also of obedience, as we have said, accomplishing in Himself first what He desired to be accomplished by others, He became obedient to the Father, not only to the death of the cross, but also, at the end of the world, by embracing in Himself all who
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Irenaeus, Against Heresies: Book III Supporting witness
so was it necessary that, by the obedience of one man, who was originally born from a virgin, many should be justified and receive salvation.
More related quotations from this section 14 shown
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Irenaeus, Against Heresies: Book IV Supporting witness
4. From all these it is evident that God did not seek sacrifices and holocausts from them, but faith, and obedience, and righteousness, because of their salvation.
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Gregory Thaumaturgus, Twelve Topics on the Faith Supporting witness
but rather let us work the work of faith, let us love peace, let us exhibit concord, let us preserve unity, let us cultivate love, with which God is well pleased.
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Cyprian, Treatises Supporting witness
... prescribed everywhere in Holy Scripture, and the whole foundation of religion and faith comes from obedience and fear, what is more fitting for us to earnestly desire? What should we want more, and hold more firmly, than to stand with deep roots, and with our houses founded in a solid mass on the rock, unshaken by the storms and whirlwinds of the world, so that through the divine commands we may come to God's rewards? We should also consider and know that our bodies, after being cleansed from all the filth of the old corruption by the sanctification of the life-giving washing, are God's temples. They must not be violated or polluted, since the one who does violence to them injures himself. We are the worshippers and priests of those temples. Let us obey Him whose people we have already begun to be. Paul tells us in his epistles, in which he has shaped our way of life by divine teaching, "You are not your own, for you were bought with a great price; glorify and bear God in your body." 1 Corinthians 6:14 Let us glorify and bear God in a pure and chaste body, and with more complete obedience. And since we have been redeemed by the blood of Christ, let us obey and advance the rule
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Cyprian, Epistles Supporting witness
...g salvation. I gladly rejoice and give thanks, most brave and blessed brothers, when I hear of your faith and courage, in which the Church, our Mother, glories. Recently, she indeed gloried when, because of a steadfast confession, that punishment was endured which drove Christ’s confessors into exile. Yet the present confession is much more shining and greater in honor, because it is braver in suffering. The struggle has grown, and the glory of those who fight has also grown. You were not held back from the battle by fear of tortures. Rather, by the tortures themselves you were stirred up more and more to the conflict. Bravely and firmly you returned, with willing devotion, to contend in the greatest struggle. I find that some of you are already crowned, while some are even now close to the crown of victory. But all whom danger has enclosed together in a glorious company are eager to carry on the struggle with the same common zeal of courage, as is fitting for the soldiers of Christ in the divine camp. Let no attractions deceive the uncorrupted firmness of your faith, no threats terrify you, and no sufferings or tortures overcome you, because greater is He who is in us than he w
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Tertullian, Against Marcion Supporting witness
... sacrifice, Hosea 6:6. But even if the impulse of her repentance came from her faith, she heard her justification by faith through her repentance declared in the words, "Your faith has saved you," by Him who had declared through Habakkuk, "The just shall live by his faith," Habakkuk 2:4.
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Origen, De Principiis (On First Principles) Supporting witness
who those are to whom certain opportunities of salvation are afforded, so that sometimes, their faith being proved by an answer alone, they have unquestionably obtained salvation;
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Anonymous, Treatise on Re-Baptism Supporting witness
...ound to have all deserted Him. Even Peter himself, who had boasted that he would remain firm in his faith, and had most stubbornly resisted the prediction of the Lord Himself, still at last denied Him. This was so that it might be shown to us that whatever sins they had contracted in the meantime, and in whatever way, those same sins were without doubt put away by the baptism of the Holy Spirit, since afterward their faith was shown to be sincere. Nor, as I think, was it for any other reason that the apostles charged those whom they addressed in the Holy Spirit to be baptized in the name of Christ Jesus, except that the power of the name of Jesus, invoked upon any man in baptism, might give no small advantage toward obtaining salvation for the one being baptized, as Peter says in the Acts of the Apostles: "For there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved," Acts 4:12. The Apostle Paul also explains this, showing that God has exalted our Lord Jesus and given Him a name above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue should confess that Jesus is Lord, in the
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Cyprian, Epistles Supporting witness
13. Also, as for some people calling those who have received the peace of Christ through the saving water and through lawful faith, not Christians but Clinics, I do not know where they got that name from. Unless perhaps, because they have read more books, and more obscure ones, they took this word Clinics from Hippocrates or Soranus. For I, who know of a clinic in the Gospel, know that for that paralyzed and weak man, who lay on his bed through the long course of his life, his weakness was no obstacle to his receiving the full measure of heavenly strength. He was not only raised from his bed by divine mercy, but with his restored and increased strength he also picked up the bed itself. Therefore, as far as I am allowed by faith to understand and think, this is my opinion: anyone should be considered a true Christian if, by the law and right of faith, he has obtained the grace of God in the Church. Or if anyone thinks that those who have only been sprinkled with the saving water have gained nothing by it, and are still empty and without anything, let them not be so mistaken that, if such people escape the danger of their sickness and recover, they should seek to be baptized. But if
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Anonymous, Treatise on Re-Baptism Supporting witness
...d what ought by no means to be so asked or answered. And yet this does not greatly injure that true faith of ours, although these simpler men may hand on the mystery of the faith without the elegance and order that you would use. And certainly, with that marvelous carefulness of yours, you will say that these too should be baptized again, since this is especially the thing that is lacking to them, or that keeps them from being able to receive, uncorrupted, that divine and inviolable mystery of the faith. And yet, O excellent man, let us attribute and allow to the heavenly powers their power. And let us concede to the gracious condescension of the divine majesty its proper operations. And understanding how great the advantage is in it, let us gladly rest in it. And so, since our salvation is founded in the baptism of the Spirit, which for the most part is joined with the baptism of water, if indeed baptism is given by us, let it be conferred in its completeness and with solemnity, and with all those means that are written, and let it be administered with nothing disconnected from it. Or if, by the necessity of the case, it should be administered by a lower cleric, let us wait for
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Lactantius, The Divine Institutes Supporting witness
...d not by killing, but by dying; not by cruelty, but by patient endurance; not by guilt, but by good faith. The first belong to evils, but the second to goods. What is good must have a place in religion, not what is evil. For if you want to defend religion by bloodshed, tortures, and guilt, it will no longer be defended, but polluted and profaned. For nothing depends so much on free will as religion. If the mind of the worshiper is unwilling, religion is immediately taken away and ceases to exist. Therefore, the right way is to defend religion by patient endurance or by death. In this, preserving the faith is pleasing to God Himself and also gives authority to religion. For if a man in earthly warfare keeps faith with his king in some notable deed, then, if he lives, he becomes more beloved and accepted; and if he falls, he gains the highest glory, because he has suffered death for his leader. How much more, then, should faith be kept toward God, the Ruler of all, who is able to reward virtue not only to the living but also to the dead! Therefore the worship of God, since it belongs to heavenly warfare, requires the greatest devotion and faithfulness. For how will God love the wo
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Origen, Commentary on Matthew Supporting witness
as if there came to the power when working co-operation from the faith of him on whom the power was working, but this co-operation was hindered in its exercise by unbelief.
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Ignatius, The Epistle of Ignatius to the Ephesians (Long Version) Supporting witness
even as faith cannot do the works of unbelief, nor unbelief the works of faith.
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Cyprian, Epistles Supporting witness
even as faith itself and saving birth makes alive, not by being received, but by being preserved.
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Ignatius, Epistle to the Ephesians (Syriac Version) Supporting witness
The work is not of promise, unless a man be found in the power of faith, even to the end.
Common Questions
Did the early Christians believe in faith alone?
Some early Christians strongly taught justification by faith, but many also said true faith must be joined to obedience and good works.
Which Bible verse is most direct on this question?
James 2:24 is the clearest: "a person is justified by works and not by faith alone."
Did early Christian writers quote Paul on justification by faith?
Yes. Writers like Clement of Rome, Irenaeus, Tertullian, and Clement of Alexandria often used Romans and Galatians to speak about justification by faith.
Source Index for Did the early Christians believe in faith alone
The guided sections above show the strongest quotations. This compact index highlights 160 ranked source links from 184 compiled sources for deeper study.
Source index 160 ranked links shown
Early Christian Writings 80 shown of 100
Primary-source quotations from early Christian writers and church documents.
Bible Passages 80 shown of 84
Related Bible passages saved for comparison with the early Christian quotations.