Early Christian Beliefs About Faith

Clement of Alexandria, The Stromata (Miscellanies) Direct teaching

But faith, which the Greeks disparage, deeming it futile and barbarous, is a voluntary preconception, the assent of piety— the subject of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen, according to the divine apostle.

Hermas, The Shepherd (Pastor) Direct teaching

You see, then, says he, that, faith is from above — from the Lord — and has great power;

Ignatius, The Epistle of Ignatius to the Ephesians (Short Version) Supporting witness

For the beginning is faith, and the end is love.

Polycarp, Epistle to the Philippians Supporting witness

And when absent from you, he wrote you a letter, which, if you carefully study, you will find to be the means of building you up in that faith which has been given you, and which, being followed by hope, and preceded by love towards God, and Christ, and our neighbour, “is the mother of us all.” For if any one be inwardly possessed of these graces, he hath fulfilled the command of righteousness, since he that hath love is far from all sin.

Hermas, Connection to 2 Peter 1:5 Supporting witness

For from Faith arises Self-restraint; from Self-restraint, Simplicity; from Simplicity, Guilelessness; from Guilelessness, Chastity; from Chastity, Intelligence; and from Intelligence, Love.

Clement of Alexandria, The Stromata (Miscellanies) Supporting witness

And faith is power in order to salvation, and strength to eternal life.

Hebrews 11:1 Background

Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.

Ephesians 4:5 Background

one Lord, one faith, one baptism,

Clement of Rome, Connection to Romans 3:28 Direct teaching

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 which we have wrought in holiness of heart; but by that faith through which, from the beginning, Almighty God has justified all men

Clement of Alexandria, The Stromata (Miscellanies) Direct teaching

And, in truth, faith is discovered, by us, to be the first movement towards salvation;

Tertullian, On Baptism Direct teaching

Your faith, He would say, has saved you;

Clement of Alexandria, The Stromata (Miscellanies) Supporting witness

...tion. Therefore Scripture says, "Whoever believes in Him shall not be ashamed." That is the word of faith that we preach. For if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord, and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. Here perfect righteousness is clearly described. It is fulfilled both in action and in contemplation. Therefore we must bless those who persecute us. "Bless, and do not curse." Romans 12:14. For this is our rejoicing: the testimony of a good conscience. In holiness and sincerity we know God, and by this small example we show the work of love. It is not by fleshly wisdom, but by the grace of God, that we have lived in the world. 2 Corinthians 1:12. So far, this is what the apostle says about knowledge. And in the Second Epistle to the Corinthians he calls the common teaching of faith "the savor of knowledge." For to this day the same veil remains on many in the reading of the Old Testament, 2 Corinthians 3:14, not being removed except by turning to the Lord. Therefore also, to those able to understand, he showed resurrection, namely, that of life still in the flesh, creeping on its belly. From this too he used the name "bro

Romans 3:28 Background

For we hold that one is justified by faith apart from works of the law.

Ephesians 2:8 Background

For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:

Romans 1:17 Background

For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.

Luke 18:42 Background

And Jesus said unto him, Receive thy sight: thy faith hath saved thee.

Romans 10:10 Background

For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved.

Romans 10:9 Background

that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.

Clement of Alexandria, The Stromata (Miscellanies) Direct teaching

So that when we hear, Your faith has saved you, we do not understand Him to say absolutely that those who have believed in any way whatever shall be saved, unless also works follow.

Hermas, The Shepherd (Pastor) Direct teaching

This commandment exhibits the deeds of faith, that you may trust the works of the angel of righteousness, and doing them you may live to God.

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.

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.

Cyprian, Epistles Supporting witness

even as faith itself and saving birth makes alive, not by being received, but by being preserved.

Irenaeus, Against Heresies: Book IV Supporting witness

...declares, "Love is the fulfillment of the law," and he states that when all other things are gone, "faith, hope, and love" will remain, and the greatest of these is love. He emphasizes that without the love of God, neither knowledge, the understanding of mysteries, faith, nor prophecy is beneficial, and without love, all are empty and meaningless. Moreover, love makes a person perfect, and he who loves God is perfect both in this world and in the one to come. We never cease to love God; rather, as we continue to reflect on Him, the more we love Him.

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.

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.

James 2:26 Background

For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.

James 2:14 Background

What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him?

James 2:18 Background

But someone will say, “You have faith, and I have works.” Show me your faith without your works, and I will show you my faith by my works.

Galatians 5:6 Background

For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision; but faith which worketh by love.

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.

Tertullian, Against Marcion Direct teaching

...d of whose faith, if not Abraham's? For since Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness, Galatians 3:6, and since for that reason he deserved to be called the father of many nations, while we, who are even more like him in believing in God, are thereby justified as Abraham was, and thereby also obtain life, since the just lives by his faith, it therefore happens that, as in the previous passage he called us sons of Abraham, since he is in faith our common father, so here also he named us children of faith. For it was owing to his faith that it was promised that Abraham should be the father of many nations. As to the fact itself of his calling off faith from circumcision, did he not seek by that to make us the children of Abraham, who had believed before his circumcision in the flesh? In short, faith in one of two gods cannot possibly admit us to the divine arrangement of the other, so that it should impute righteousness to those who believe in him, and make the just live through him, and declare the Gentiles to be his children through faith. Such a divine arrangement as this belongs wholly to Him through whose appointment it was already made known by th

Clement of Rome, First Epistle to the Corinthians Supporting witness

Abraham, known as "the friend," was found faithful because he obeyed the words of God. In his act of obedience, he left his own country, his relatives, and his father's house, to leave behind a small territory, a weak family, and an insignificant home so he could inherit God's promises. For God told him, "Leave your country, your relatives, and your father's house, and go to the land I will show you. I will make you a great nation, bless you, and make your name great, and you will be blessed. I will bless those who bless you and curse those who curse you, and through you, all the families of the earth will be blessed." Again, when he parted from Lot, God said to him, "Look up, and from where you are, look north, south, east, and west; all the land you see, I will give to you and your descendants forever. I will make your descendants like the dust of the earth, so if anyone could count the dust of the earth, then your descendants could be counted." And again, the Scripture says, "God brought Abram out and said to him, 'Look up now to heaven and count the stars if you can; so shall your descendants be.' And Abram believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness." Because of

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;

Clement of Rome, First Epistle to the Corinthians Supporting witness

was it not because he wrought righteousness and truth through faith?

Genesis 15:6 Background

And Abram believed God, and it was counted to him for righteousness.

1 Maccabees 2:52 Background

Was not Abraham found faithful in temptation, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness?

Galatians 3:11 Background

But that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God, it is evident: for, The just shall live by faith.

Galatians 2:16 Background

Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.

Philippians 3:9 Background

And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith:

Romans 3:26 Background

to demonstrate at the present time His righteousness, that He might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.

Romans 3:22 Background

Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference:

Hermas, The Shepherd (Pastor) Direct teaching

...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

Hermas, The Shepherd (Pastor) Direct teaching

... me, "Do you see the persons sitting on the bench?" "I do, sir," I said. "These," he says, "are the faithful, and he who sits on the chair is a false prophet, ruining the minds of the servants of God. It is the doubters, not the faithful, that he ruins. These doubters then go to him as to a soothsayer, and ask him what will happen to them. And he, the false prophet, not having the power of a Divine Spirit in him, answers them according to their questions and according to their wicked desires, and fills their souls with expectations according to their own wishes. For since he is empty himself, he gives empty answers to empty inquirers, for every answer is made to the emptiness of man. Some true words he does occasionally speak, for the devil fills him with his own spirit, hoping that he may be able to overcome some of the righteous. As many, then, as are strong in the faith of the Lord and are clothed with truth have no connection with such spirits, but keep away from them. But as many as are doubtful in mind and repent often turn to soothsaying, just like the heathen, and bring greater sin on themselves by their idolatry. For he who asks a false prophet about any action is an id

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.

Cyprian, Epistles Supporting witness

...hat His servants stood with unfettered voice, with unyielding mind, with divine strength. They were without the weapons of this world, but they believed and were armed with the weapons of faith. Those being tortured stood braver than the torturers. Their limbs, beaten and torn, overcame the hooks that bent and tore them. The lash, used again and again with all its fury, could not conquer invincible faith, even though the membrane enclosing the inward parts was broken, and it was no longer the limbs but the wounds of God’s servants that were being tortured. Blood was flowing that could quench the blaze of persecution, that could subdue the flames of Gehenna by its glorious pouring out. Oh, what a sight that was to the Lord—how lofty, how great, how pleasing in God’s eyes because of the loyalty and devotion of His soldiers! As it is written in the Psalms, when the Holy Spirit both speaks to us and warns us: "Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of His saints." Precious is the death that has bought immortality at the cost of blood, that has received the crown through the completion of its virtues. How Christ rejoiced in it! How willingly He both fought and conquered in su

Cyprian, Treatises Supporting witness

It is the praise of faith, by trust in the future, to suffer the adversity of the world.

Cyprian, Treatises Supporting witness

But what words of confession they proclaimed! How glorious, how great, were the proofs of faith they gave! King Antiochus, their enemy—yes, in Antiochus Antichrist was set forth—tried to defile the mouths of the martyrs, glorious and unconquered in the spirit of confession, with the pollution of swine's flesh. And when he had severely beaten them with whips, and could do nothing, he ordered iron plates to be heated. When they were heated and glowing, he ordered the one who had spoken first, and had more stirred up the king by the constancy of his virtue and faith, to be brought forward and roasted, after his tongue had first been pulled out and cut off, the tongue that had confessed God. And this happened all the more gloriously for the martyr. For the tongue that had confessed the name of God ought itself to go first to God. Then, in the second brother, sharper pains were devised. Before he tortured the other limbs, he tore the skin from his head with the hair, no doubt with purpose in his hatred. For since Christ is the head of the man, and God is the head of Christ, he who tore the head in the martyr was persecuting God and Christ in that head. But he, trusting in his martyrdom,

Hebrews 10:23 Background

Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful.

1 Peter 1:5 Background

who are kept by the power of God through faith for salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.

1 Timothy 1:19 Background

having faith and a good conscience, which some having rejected, concerning the faith have suffered shipwreck,

1 Peter 1:9 Background

receiving the end of your faith—the salvation of your souls.

1 Corinthians 15:2 Background

and by which you are being saved, if you hold fast to the word I preached to you—unless you believed in vain.