What the Early Church Believed: Faith and Works

The witness of the early Church

• Clement of Rome: we are justified by works and not by words, as Abraham was blessed for deeds wrought in faith; yet we are justified not through ourselves or our works but through faith.
• Theophilus of Antioch (181): God will judge each according to merit, giving eternal life to those who seek immortality by patient good works, and wrath to the unbelieving and wicked.
• Clement of Alexandria (after 202): "Your faith has saved you" does not mean all who believe in any manner will be saved, even if works do not follow.
• Origen (226–232): whoever dies in his sins does not truly believe in Christ, even if he professes to; faith without works is dead, as James says.
• Cyprian (252) urges the rich to be cleansed by almsgiving and works of justice and to merit before God by works and manner of life.
• Aphraates (336–345): God, not aided by our works, wills us to be justified and heals us to please him.
• Gregory of Nyssa: faith without works of justice is not sufficient for salvation, nor righteous living without faith.
• John Chrysostom (391): believing in the Son is not enough; whoever believes rightly but does not live rightly gains nothing toward salvation.
• Jerome (386): Paul says the just man lives by faith, lest he seem to condemn good works.
• Augustine: God made you without your consent, but he does not justify you without your consent. God hears sinners: the publican's confession merited justification.
• Caesar of Arles (before 542): the name Christian profits nothing without Christian works such as almsgiving, love, justice and chastity.
• Gregory the Great (593): neither faith without works nor works without faith avails, though works may lead to faith, as with Cornelius.