What do the Fathers say about the majesty of faith?

St. Jacob of Sarug compares the majesty of love to the majesty of faith, saying, “On the contrary, love has degrees, ascents, and peaks. Therefore, when the soul has made a little progress the love of God, she is able to ascend even higher … So, let us work, O servant of God, to increase that which is capable of receiving growth, and let us keep the faith as it is, without further discourse. Love is like gold, and faith like a precious stone. One can add to one pound of gold thousands more pounds of gold, but to a precious stone, one cannot add an ounce or the shadow of an ounce. Here is the true image of Christ, whose history is above all discussion … You (O Faith) are modest even when you are without a veil … Your beauty is always on the right; in you, there is no left. Merchants desired you, for the sight of you is inexhaustible; for this reason they sold their possessions to buy you, and your richness has made them forget their own possessions. You speak to us even when you are silent, because the sight of you fills us with admiration.”⁶⁰

58 St. Ambrose of Milan, Concerning Repentance 2.8(82–84) (NPNF II/10:355–356) amended

59 St. Clement of Alexandria, The Stromata, or Miscellanies 2.6 (ANF 2:353) amended.

60 St. Jacob of Sarug, Letter 16.12, 13, in J. P. P. Martin, Lettres de Jacques de Saroug aux moines du Couvent de Mar Bassus, et à Paul d’Edesse, relevées et traduites , (Zeitschrift der Deutschen Morgenländischen Gesellschaft, vol. 30, 1876): pp. 252–253.

St. Clement of Alexandria says, “And faith is a power of God, being the strength of the truth. For example, it is said, ‘if you have faith as a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, “Move from here to there,” and it will move’ (Matt. 17:20). And again, ‘According to your faith let it be to you’ (Matt. 9:29). And one is cured, receiving healing by faith.”⁶¹ “The reward of faith is great and endless. It is said that he who believes will be blessed with the richest blessings of God, for he will be filled with the gifts of the Spirit; not only enriching his mind, but also enabling him to overflow into the hearts of others, like the waters of a flooding river that overflow divine goodness upon his neighbor as well.”

St. Cyril the Great says, “Understand from this, my beloved, that faith sets us also in Christ’s presence, and so brings us unto God, as for us to be even counted worthy of His words.”⁶²

St. Philoxenus says, “Faith instills in a man divine power such that he believes that everything he wills, he can perform!”

St. Aphrahat says, “Let us draw near then, my beloved, to faith, since its powers are so many. For faith raised up to the heavens (Enoch), and conquered the Deluge. It caused the barren to bring forth. It delivered from the sword. It raised up from the pit. It enriched the poor. It released the captives. It delivered the persecuted. It brought down the fire. It divided the sea. It cleft the rock, and gave to the thirsty water to drink. It satisfied the hungry. It raised the dead, and brought them up from Sheol. It stilled the billows. It healed the sick. It conquered hosts. It overthrew walls. It stopped the mouths of lions, and quenched the flame of fire. It humiliated the proud, and brought the humble to honour. All these mighty works were wrought by faith.”⁶³

St. Mark the Ascetic says, “Steadfast faith is a strong tower; and for one who has faith Christ comes to be all.”⁶⁴

And St. Augustine says, “Great is faith, but there is no profit from it if is devoid of love.” “Faith overflows with prayer, and overflowing prayer strengthens the faith.” “The goal of faith is that we believe, and the goal of love is that we work.” “Thus, we become able to touch Him who is seated in heaven with our faith, not with our hands.”

61 St. Clement of Alexandria, The Stromata, or Miscellanies 2.11 (ANF 2:358), amended.

62 St. Cyril of Alexandria, A Commentary upon the Gospel According to St. Luke: Part II , trans. R. Payne Smith (Oxford University Press, 1859) Sermon 126: p. 585.

63 St. Aphraphat, Select Demonstrations 1.18 (NPNF II/13:351–352).

64

St. Mark the Ascetic, “On the Spiritual Law: Two Hundred Texts,” 4, in Nicodemus of the Holy Mountain, and Makarios of Corinth (eds.), The Philokalia: The Complete Text, Volume I , trans. G. E. H. Palmer et al., (Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 1979) pp. 110–124: p. 110.