Concept
Charity (Christian virtue)
Overview
theological virtue
Overview adapted from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0; see the article history for authors).
In the original texts
Passages from public-domain books where Charity (Christian virtue) is discussed.
Augustine says that "God is worshipped by faith, hope, and charity." 2. Those are called theological virtues which have God for their object. But religion has God for its object, for it directs us to God alone. Therefore it is a theological virtue. But religion directs man to God, not indeed as towards its object, but as towards its goal. 3. Lastly, every virtue is either theological or intellectual or moral.
Aquinas Thomas, On prayer and the contemplative life
commentary markers; states what it is; names the idea; author linked in the graph; opens on it
This of all virtues, and dignities of the mind, is the greatest; being the character of the Deity: and without it, man is a busy, mischievous, wretched thing; no better than a kind of vermin. Goodness answers to the theological virtue, charity, and admits no excess, but error. The desire of power in excess, caused the angels to fall; the desire of knowledge in excess, caused man to fall: but in charity there is no…
Francis Bacon, The Essays or Counsels, Civil and Moral
names the idea
Reply Obj. 3: This reason is verified of the will as compared with what is above the soul. For charity is the virtue by which we love God. _______________________ FOURTH ARTICLE [I, Q. 82, Art. 4] Whether the Will Moves the Intellect? Objection 1: It would seem that the will does not move the intellect.
Aquinas Thomas, Summa Theologica, Part I
states what it is; author linked in the graph; names the idea
True Christians are more ready to believe in men than the children of this world. Such charitable confidence is the fruit of the Spirit. Paul had such trust in the Galatians although they had forsaken his doctrine. He trusts them “through the Lord,” insofar as they were in Christ and Christ in them.
Martin Luther, Commentary on the Epistle to the Galatians
names the idea; states what it is; opens on it
She used tenderly to complain of this to God. ‘I cannot support it,’ she used to say. ‘Bear gently with my weakness, or I shall expire under the violence of your love.’ ”(160) ‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐ Let me pass next to the Charity and Brotherly Love which are a usual fruit of saintliness, and have always been reckoned essential theological virtues, however limited may have been the kinds of service…
William James, The Varieties of Religious Experience
names the idea
Philosophers who discussed Charity (Christian virtue)
Related ideas
Opposing perspectives
Place in the tradition
Part of Thomism.
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