THE EARLY CHURCH FATHERS ON FAITH AND WORK By Ron Criss

Early Christian Fathers on Faith and Works
By Ron Criss

(Saint Paul) Galatians 5:6
For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision counts for anything, but only faith working through love.

(Saint James) James 2:24
You see that a person is justified by works and not by faith alone.

“For what reason was our father Abraham blessed? Was it not because he wrought righteousness and truth through faith?”
Clement of Rome, Epistle to the Corinthians,31 (A.D. 98),in ANF,I:13

“But He who raised Him up from the dead will raise up us also, if we do His will, and walk in His commandments, and love what He loved, keeping ourselves from all unrighteousness, covetousness, love of money, evil speaking, false witness; ‘not rendering evil for evil, or railing for railing,’ or blow for blow, or cursing for cursing, but being mindful of what the Lord said in His teaching: ‘Judge not, that ye be not judged; forgive, and it shall be forgiven unto you; be merciful, that ye may obtain mercy; with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again; and once more, “Blessed are the poor, and those that are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of God.’ “
Polycarp, To the Phillipians,2 (A.D. 135),in ANF,I:33

“They only who fear the Lord and keep His commandments have life with God; but as to those who keep not His commandments, there is no life in them.”
Shepherd of Hermas,2 Comm. 7(A.D. 155),in ANF,II:25

” ‘And other sheep there are also,’ saith the Lord, ‘which are not of this fold ‘–deemed worthy of another fold and mansion, in proportion to their faith. ‘But My sheep hear My voice,’ understanding gnostically the commandments. And this is to be taken in a magnanimous and worthy acceptation, along with also the recompense and accompaniment of works. So that when we hear, ‘Thy faith hath saved thee, we do not understand Him to say absolutely that those who have believed in any way whatever shall be saved, unless also works follow.”
Clement of Alexandria, The Stromata,6:14 (A.D. 202),in ANF,II:505

“[T]hus by the grace of the Savior healing their souls, enlightening them and leading them to the attainment of the truth; and whosoever obtains this and distinguishes himself in good works shall gain the prize of everlasting life… But others rightly and adequately comprehend this, but attaching slight importance to the works which tend to salvation, do not make the requisite preparation for attaining to the objects of their hope.”
Clement of Alexandria, Who is the rich man that shall be saved?,1,2 (A.D. 210),in ANF,II:591

“Whoever dies in his sins, even if he profess to believe in Christ, does not truly believe in Him, and even if that which exists without works be called faith, such faith is dead in itself, as we read in the Epistle bearing the name of James.”
Origen, Commentary on John, 19:6 (A.D. 232),in JUR,I:202

“And in like manner, the Gentiles by faith in Christ prepare for themselves eternal life through good works.”
Hippolytus, Commentary on Proverbs (ante A.D. 235), in ANF,V:174

“For both to prophesy and to cast out devils, and to do great acts upon the earth is certainly a sublime and an admirable thing; but one does not attain the kingdom of heaven although he is found in all these things, unless he walks in the observance of the right and just way. The Lord denounces, and says, ‘Many shall say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Thy name, and in Thy name have cast out devils, and in Thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.’ There is need of righteousness, that one may deserve well of God the Judge; we must obey His precepts and warnings, that our merits may receive their reward. “
Cyprian, On the Unity of the Church,16(A.D. 251),in ANF,V:423

“Terrible in good truth is the judgment, and terrible the things announced. The kingdom of heaven is set before us, and everlasting fire is prepared. How then, someone will say, are we to escape the fire? And how to enter into the kingdom? I was an hungered, He says, and ye gave Me meat. Learn hence the way; there is here no need of allegory, but to fulfil what is said. I was an hungered, and ye gave Me meat; I was thirsty, and ye gave Me drink; I was a stranger, and ye took Me in; naked, and ye clothed Me; I was sick, and ye visited Me; I was in prison, and ye came unto Me. These things if thou do, thou shall reign together with Him; but if thou do them not, thou shalt be condemned. At once then begin to do these works, and abide in the faith; lest, like the foolish virgins, tarrying to buy oil, thou be shut out.”
Cyril of Jerusalem, Catechetical Lectures,15:26 (A.D. 350),in NPNF2,VII:112

“Then, in the tenth place, work that which is good upon this foundation of dogma; for faith without works is dead, even as are works apart from faith. This is all that may be divulged of the Sacrament, and that is not forbidden to the ear of the many. The rest you shall learn within the Church by the grace of the Holy Trinity; and those matters you shall conceal within yourself, sealed and secure.”
Gregory of Nazianzen, Oration on Holy Baptism,45 (A.D. 381),in NPNF2,VII:377

” ‘Is it then enough,’ saith one, ‘to believe on the Son, that one may have eternal life?’ By no means. And hear Christ Himself declaring this, and saying, “Not every one that saith unto Me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven” (Matt. vii. 21); and the blasphemy against the Spirit is enough of itself to cast a man into hell. But why speak I of a portion of doctrine? Though a man believe rightly on the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost, yet if he lead not a right life, his faith will avail nothing towards his salvation.”
Chrysostom John, Homilies on John,31:1 (A.D. 391),in NPNF1,XIV:106

“Paul, joining righteousness to faith and weaving them together, constructs of them the breastplates for the infantryman, armoring the soldier properly and safely on both sides. A soldier cannot be considered safely armored when either shield is disjoined from the other. For faith without works of justice is not sufficient for salvation; neither, however, is righteous living secure in itself of salvation, if it is disjoined from faith.”
Gregory of Nyssa, Homilies on Ecclesiastes,8 (A.D. 394),in JUR,II:45-46