05/18/2026
(I got this picture from a papist). So he was arguing faith alone doesn't save, but the problem is the fathers taught this, this is where Luther got his faith alone doctrine from.
Were the fathers promoting the devil's doctrine of faith alone or sola fide?
Faith alone doesn't save?
"all his former life in vain and wicked actions should afterwards be saved by his faith alone” (John Chrysostom, Homilies on 1 Timothy, on 1 Timothy 1:15-16 [PG 62.520-521]).
“A man is not justified by the works of the law but through faith and the faith of Jesus Christ . . . It is faith alone that gives justification and sanctification” (Marius Victorinus, Commentary on Galatians 2:15-16 [PL 8.1164]).
“It disturbed the scribes that sin was forgiven by a man (for they considered that Jesus Christ was only a man) and that sin was forgiven by Him whereas the Law was not able to absolve it, since faith alone justifies” (Hilary of Poitiers, Commentary on Matthew, 8.6 [PL 9.961]).
“Because faith alone justifies . . . publicans and prostitutes will be first in the kingdom of heaven” (Hilary of Poitiers, Commentary on Matthew, 21.15 [PL 9.1041]).
“For the mercy of God had been given for this reason, that the law should cease, as I have often said, because God, taking pity on our weaknesses, decreed that the human race would be saved by faith alone” (Ambrosiaster, On Romans, Commentary on Romans 1:11 [PL 17.53]).
“They are justified freely because, while doing nothing or providing any repayment, they are justified by faith alone as a gift of God” (Ambrosiaster, On Romans, Commentary on Romans 3:24 [PL 17.79])
“Everywhere he places the Gentiles on an equal footing. ‘And he made no distinction between us and them but cleansed their hearts by faith.’ From faith alone, he says, they obtained the same gifts. This is also meant as a lesson to those (objectors); this is able to teach them that faith alone is necessary, and not works or circumcision” (John Chrysostom, Homilies on Acts, Homily 32 on Acts 15 [PG 60.235]).
“Abraham believed in God: and it was imputed unto him for righteousness. Thus likewise to you faith alone is sufficient for righteousness” [Abraham credidit Deo, et reputatum est illi ad justitiam. Ita et vobis ad justitiam sola sufficit fides] (Jerome, Commentary on Galatians 3:6 [PL 30.812A]. As cited in George Stanley Faber, The Primitive Doctrine of Justification, p. 122).
“The righteousness of God is not revealed to everyone but only to those with the eyes of faith. . . . Paul quoted Habakkuk for the benefit of the Jews, because he wanted to teach them not to cling to the provisions of the law but to follow [their own] prophets. For many centuries before they had predicted that one day there would be salvation by faith alone” (Theodoret of Cyrus, Interpretation of the Letter to the Romans, on Romans 1:17 [PG 82.57, 60]).
“Therefore let the man, who through sorrow for sin hungers and thirsts for righteousness, trust in the One who changes the sinner into a righteous man, and judged righteous in terms of faith alone, he will have peace with God” (Bernard of Clairvaux, Sermons on the Song of Songs, 22.8 [PL 183.881]. As cited in Franz Posset, Pater Bernhardus: Martin Luther and Bernard of Clairvaux, p. 186).
