Omar Bennett
The theological virtues are those that enable Christians to relate directly to God and are considered gifts of grace from God. They are faith, hope, and charity (or love). They are not fully accessible to humans in their natural state without God's assistance. They are associated with Christian theology and philosophy, and salvation resulting from God's grace. They are distinct from the cardinal virtues, which are human virtues developed by knowledge and making right choices.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Theological virtues | Faith, hope, and charity (or love) |
| Theological virtues are not | Human virtues |
| Theological virtues are not accessible to | Humans in their natural state without assistance from God |
| Theological virtues are not | Cardinal virtues |
| Theological virtues are not | Self-control, courage, prudence, justice, fortitude, and temperance |
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What You'll Learn
They are not accessible without God's assistance
The theological virtues are faith, hope, and charity, and they are indeed considered gifts from God, inaccessible without His assistance. These virtues are distinct from the cardinal virtues of
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They are not human virtues
Theological virtues are traits or qualities that dispose one to conduct oneself in a morally good manner. They are associated with Christian theology and philosophy, and salvation resulting from the grace of God. These virtues are faith, hope, and charity (or love). They are not human virtues because they are not accessible to humans in their natural state without God's assistance. They are considered gifts of grace from God, freely given and not obtained through human effort.
Theological virtues are so named because their object is the divine being, and they enable individuals to relate directly to God. Faith, for instance, is a belief in God and all that He has revealed, with one's entire self committed to God. It is a supernatural virtue, where one adheres to God's testimony, in whom "truth is infallibly found".
Hope is the theological virtue that places trust in God's promise of eternal life, relying on the grace of the Holy Spirit. It is the aspiration to happiness and the Kingdom of Heaven, which God has placed in the heart of every man.
Charity, or love, is considered the greatest of the theological virtues. It is the virtue of seeking what is best for the loved one, in this case, God. It is a gift from God, and an act of free will, where one loves God above all else and loves all else in God, removing obstacles to that love.
Theological virtues are distinct from cardinal virtues, which are human virtues that can be developed through knowledge and right choices. Cardinal virtues include prudence, justice, fortitude, and temperance. They are considered logical rules that govern interactions with fellow human beings. While cardinal virtues are accessible to humans through practice, the theological virtues are not, and they are instead infused by God into a person.
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They are not natural
The theological virtues are not natural. They are considered to be gifts of grace from God—they are given to us freely, not through any action on our part, and we are free, but not required, to accept and use them. They are called theological virtues because their object is God, and they direct us towards God. They are not made known to us save by divine revelation.
The three theological virtues are faith, hope, and charity (or love). Faith is the virtue of belief in God and the truths and mysteries revealed by Him. Hope is the virtue of being confident in our eternal life in heaven with God. Charity is the virtue of seeking what is best for God and loving Him above all else.
Thomas Aquinas, the first person to use the term "theological virtues", viewed them as being the product of habitual grace. According to Aquinas, this grace, through the theological virtues, allows humanity to become agents in meritorious action that is beyond their own natural ability. In this way, the theological virtues are supernatural.
The theological virtues are opposed to the seven deadly sins. They are also distinct from the four cardinal virtues of prudence, justice, fortitude, and temperance, which are human virtues that can be developed by knowledge and making right choices.
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They are not the cardinal virtues
The theological virtues are not the same as the cardinal virtues. While the theological virtues are faith, hope, and charity (or love), the cardinal virtues are prudence, justice, fortitude, and temperance. These virtues are thought to be universal rules that provide common-sense guidelines for living responsibly with fellow human beings. They represent the values that Christians are directed to use in their interactions with one another.
The distinction between the two types of virtues lies in their source and end. The theological virtues are considered gifts of grace from God, freely given to humans without any action on their part. They enable individuals to relate directly to God, drawing them away from the natural order to the divine and supernatural. On the other hand, the cardinal virtues are human virtues that can be developed by knowledge and making right choices. They are within the reach of human nature and can be practised by anyone.
Theological virtues are so named because their object is God, and they direct us towards Him. They are infused into a person by God and are not made known to us except through Divine revelation. Faith, as a theological virtue, is not based on evidence but on the sole ground of God's infallible authority. Hope, as a theological virtue, is the trust that God will grant eternal life, leading to a desire for the kingdom of heaven and eternal life. Charity, or love, is the greatest of the theological virtues. It is a gift from God, and we love Him above all else and love others for His sake.
Cardinal virtues, on the other hand, are human virtues that can be developed through practice and habit. They are logical rules that guide interactions with fellow human beings and form the basis of a natural morality governing civilized society. For example, the cardinal virtue of temperance involves recognizing food as a good that sustains life while guarding against the sin of gluttony. It is connected to the theological virtue of charity, as both involve a form of love and self-control.
In conclusion, while the theological virtues of faith, hope, and charity relate directly to God, the cardinal virtues of prudence, justice, fortitude, and temperance are human virtues that guide interactions with fellow humans. The former are gifts from God that draw us towards the divine, while the latter are within the reach of human nature and can be practised by anyone.
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They are not the seven deadly sins
The theological virtues are not the seven deadly sins. They are, in fact, the opposite. The seven deadly sins are a set of vices in Christian theology. The seven deadly sins are:
- Lust
- Gluttony
- Greed
- Sloth
- Wrath
- Envy
- Pride
The seven deadly sins are contrasted with the seven virtues, which are made up of the four cardinal virtues and the three theological virtues. The cardinal virtues are:
- Prudence
- Justice
- Temperance
- Fortitude
The three theological virtues are:
- Faith
- Hope
- Charity (or Love)
Theological virtues are associated with Christian theology and philosophy, and salvation resulting from the grace of God. They are traits or qualities that dispose one to conduct oneself in a morally good manner. They are considered gifts of grace from God, given to us freely and not through any action on our part. They are the most excellent qualities that humans can have, as they come only from God and lead back to God.
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Frequently asked questions
The three theological virtues are faith, hope, and charity (or love).
Faith is the virtue of belief in God and all that he has revealed to us.
Hope is the theological virtue by which we desire the kingdom of heaven and eternal life, placing our trust in Christ's promises.
Charity, or love, is considered the greatest of the theological virtues. It is the virtue of seeking what is best for the loved one and impels us to love God above all else and to love all else in God.
The four cardinal virtues are prudence, justice, fortitude, and temperance. They are human virtues developed by knowledge and making right choices.
