Faith in the Sermon-Conferences of St. Thomas Aquinas on the Apostles’ Creed

Importance and Nature of Christian Faith

  • Aquinas begins by clarifying “belief” in the Creed: to believe in God (a trust-relationship) surpasses merely believing that God exists (a detached proposition).

    • Example: An “uneducated old woman” who trusts God knows God more truly than a brilliant philosopher who only reasons about Him without faith.

  • Faith is presented as the indispensable first requirement for being a Christian; baptism, the first sacrament, presupposes it.

    • Baptismal liturgy opens with the question, “Do you believe in God…?”

    • Scriptural anchor: Mark 16:16 – “Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved.”\text{Mark 16:16 – “Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved.”}

  • Epistemological point: authentic knowledge of God (rooted in love and trust) is higher than purely intellectual or speculative knowledge.

    • Connects with classical distinction between cognitio fidei (knowledge by faith) and cognitio naturalis (natural knowledge).

Four Primary Benefits (or Effects) of Faith

  • 1. Nuptial Union of the Soul with God

    • Faith functions as a “marriage” bond: Hosea 2:20 – “I will espouse you to me in faith.”\text{Hosea 2:20 – “I will espouse you to me in faith.”}

    • Any “good work” done without faith lacks divine acceptance (Augustine: apparent virtues without truth are “counterfeit”).

  • 2. Inchoatio vitae aeternae – The Beginning of Eternal Life

    • Eternal life ultimately consists in knowing God; faith initiates that knowledge here and now.

    • Scriptural support: Heb. 11:1 – “Faith is the substance of things hoped for…”\text{Heb. 11:1 – “Faith is the substance of things hoped for…”}; Jn 20:29 – Blessed are those who have not seen and yet believe\text{Jn 20:29 – Blessed are those who have not seen and yet believe}.

    • Eschatological progression: present faith → future vision of God as He is.

  • 3. Practical Guidance for Moral Living

    • Without faith, complete ethical wisdom would require exhaustive study—impossible for most.

    • Faith delivers condensed, essential truths: one God, divine justice, afterlife, heaven & hell.

    • Comparison: Pre-Christian philosophers, despite monumental effort, never attained what a simple believer now knows.

    • Prophetic image: Is. 11:9 – “The earth is filled with the knowledge of God.”\text{Is. 11:9 – “The earth is filled with the knowledge of God.”}

  • 4. Victory Over Temptation

    • Temptations stem from the devil, the world, and the flesh.

    1. Devil – Faith recognizes God’s sovereign lordship, prompting obedience (cf. 1 Pet. 5:81\,\text{Pet.}\,5:8).

    2. World – Faith relativizes worldly prosperity/adversity by pointing to a superior life (cf. 1 Jn 5:41\,\text{Jn}\,5:4).

    3. Flesh – Faith warns that clinging to transient pleasures forfeits eternal joys (cf. Eph. 6:16\text{Eph.}\,6:16, “shield of faith”).

Common Objections to Believing What Is Unseen & Aquinas’ Four Replies

  • Objection: “It is irrational to assent to what cannot be empirically verified.”

Reply 1 – Human Intellectual Limitation

  • Even the greatest philosophers cannot exhaustively know the nature of a single fly; therefore, it is not irrational but humble to trust God’s self-revelation.

  • Textual citation: Job 36:26 – “Behold, God is great, surpassing our knowledge.”\text{Job 36:26 – “Behold, God is great, surpassing our knowledge.”}

Reply 2 – Authority Analogy (Teacher vs. Bumpkin)

  • Refusing a higher intellect’s statements is foolish; angelic intellects exceed philosophers more than philosophers exceed illiterate peasants.

  • If angels—and a fortiori God—speak, philosophers should believe.

  • Sirach 3:25 – “Many things beyond human sense are shown to you.”\text{Sirach 3:25 – “Many things beyond human sense are shown to you.”}

Reply 3 – Practical Necessity of Testimonial Knowledge

  • Everyday life runs on faith in others (e.g., trusting one’s parentage). Complete self-verification is impossible.

  • Since some authority must be believed, God is the most trustworthy.

  • Non-believers therefore display not wisdom but “foolish pride” (cf. 1 Tim. 6:41\,\text{Tim.}\,6:4).

  • Paul’s confidence: 2 Tim. 1:12 – “I know in whom I have believed.”\text{2 Tim. 1:12 – “I know in whom I have believed.”}

Reply 4 – Divine Seal of Miracles

  • Miracles serve as God’s royal “seal” authenticating the faith.

  • Historical miracle‐in-fact: the unprecedented global conversion from pagan idolatry to Christianity through a handful of poor preachers proclaiming poverty and self-denial.

    • Either this mass conversion is itself miraculous (proving the point) or a greater miracle for having occurred without miracles.

  • Consequently, articles of faith deserve greater certitude than sensory data (which can deceive), whereas divine knowledge cannot err.

Philosophical & Pastoral Implications

  • Epistemic hierarchy: Faith‐knowledge (grounded in divine revelation) ranks above empirical or purely rational knowledge.

  • Democratization of wisdom: Post-Incarnation, the simplest believer can access truths eclipsing pre-Christian philosophical achievements.

  • Moral incentive: Awareness of eternal reward/punishment re-orients ethical decision-making.

  • Spiritual warfare framework: Faith is portrayed as both shield and sword against diabolical, worldly, and carnal assaults.

  • Evangelization logic: The very success of the Gospel in history stands as an ongoing public miracle.

Key Scriptural References (Chronological Order)

  • Hos. 2:20\text{Hos. 2:20} – Espousal in faith

  • Mark 16:16\text{Mark 16:16} – Belief + baptism = salvation

  • Heb. 11:6, 11:1, 11:33\text{Heb. 11:6, 11:1, 11:33} – Pleasing God, nature of faith, triumphs through faith

  • Hab. 2:4\text{Hab. 2:4} – “The just shall live by faith”

  • Is. 11:9\text{Is. 11:9} – Universal knowledge of God

  • 1 Pet. 5:81\,\text{Pet.}\,5:8 – Vigilance against the devil

  • 1 Jn 5:41\,\text{Jn}\,5:4 – Faith conquers the world

  • Eph. 6:16\text{Eph. 6:16} – Shield of faith

  • Job 36:26\text{Job 36:26} – God’s incomprehensibility

  • Sirach 3:25\text{Sirach 3:25} – Mysteries beyond human sense

  • 1 Tim. 6:41\,\text{Tim.}\,6:4 – Prideful ignorance

  • 2 Tim. 1:122\,\text{Tim.}\,1:12 – Paul’s assurance

Connections With Broader Thomistic Thought

  • Mirrors Summa Theologiae I–II q.1–2 on last end and knowledge of God.

  • Reinforces his “twofold mode of truth” (revealed vs. philosophical) from Contra Gentiles.

  • Anticipates later Catholic teaching on fides et ratio (cf. Vatican I, Fides et Ratio by John Paul II).

Practical Study Tips & Takeaways

  • Memorize the four benefits and four replies—easy exam structure.

  • Be ready to illustrate each benefit with its associated scripture.

  • Practice articulating the “old woman vs. philosopher” and “teacher vs. bumpkin” analogies; professors love these.

  • When writing essays, synthesize Aquinas’ epistemology with contemporary discussions on faith and reason (e.g., science-religion dialogue).