What is the relationship between faith and scientific and spiritual knowledge?

St. Clement of Alexandria says, “Now neither is knowledge without faith, nor faith without knowledge … And the Son is the true teacher respecting the Father; and that we may believe in the Son, we must know the Father, with whom also is the Son … And the knowledge of the Son and Father, which is according to the gnostic rule—that which in reality is gnostic [one who truly knows God]—is the attainment and comprehension of the truth by the truth … believed and known by a few.”⁵¹

He also says, “it is impossible for a man without learning to comprehend the things which are declared in the faith. But to adopt what is well said, and not to adopt the reverse, is caused not simply by faith, but by faith combined with knowledge. But if ignorance is want of training and of instruction, then teaching produces knowledge of divine and human things.”⁵²

And St. Augustine says, “Attend, dearly beloved, and see what wholesome advice the Apostle gives, who says, As you have therefore received Christ Jesus our Lord, so walk in

48 St. Gregory the Theologian, Oration 43.11 (NPNF II/7:398–99). Quoted in Elias Koyter Al-Mukhlessy, St. Basil the Great (Beirut: Publications of the Paulist Library in Beirut, 1989, Arabic): p. 136.

49 St. Basil the Great, Homily 22.2 (PG 31:397). Quoted in Elias Koyter Al-Mukhlessy, St. Basil the Great (Beirut: Publications of the Paulist Library in Beirut, 1989, Arabic): p. 136.

50

St. Isaac the Syrian. Mystic Treatises by Isaac of Nineveh , trans. A. J. Wensinck (Amsterdam: Koninklijke Akademie van Wetenschappen, 1923): p. 210.

51 St. Clement of Alexandria , The Stromata, or Miscellanies 5.1 (ANF 2:444).

52 St. Clement of Alexandria , The Stromata, or Miscellanies 1.6 (ANF 2:307).

Him, rooted and built up in Him, and established in the faith ; for with this simple and assured faith ought we abide steadfastly in Him, that He may Himself open to the faithful what is hidden in Him; for the same Apostle says, In Him are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge ; and He does not hide them to refuse them, but to stir up desire for those hidden things.”⁵³