His Holiness Pope Shenouda addresses the topic of faith in its kinds, degrees and meanings, defining faith in God and His attributes and in all the truths of salvation, and clarifying the difference between the believer and the non-believer.

The spiritual ordering of faith

He states that repentance precedes faith (“Repent and believe in the gospel”) and that the fruits of faith appear after it, meaning that faith is a spiritual process linked to repentance and fruits.

Theoretical faith versus practical faith

He distinguishes between theoretical faith (a purely intellectual mental faith) that does not save — as clarified from the Epistle of James — and the practical faith that appears in works of love and their fruits.

Faith working through love

He indicates that true faith is “faith working through love” (Galatians), and that love produces many works as in First Corinthians (chapter 13).

The definition of faith in Scripture

He cites the definition of faith in Hebrews 11: the assurance of things hoped for and the conviction of things not seen, including belief in angels and spirits and the heavens and God’s promises and miracles.

Degrees of faith

He explains that faith has degrees: a strong faith that can move mountains, and a weak faith as in the incident of Peter when he was rebuked saying “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?”, and that faith can be strengthened by asking and saying (“I believe, Lord; help my unbelief”).

Correct faith

He concludes with the attribute called “correct faith” and refers to Paul’s admonition that each one should speak to what is to him with correct faith, stressing the necessity that faith be practical, sound, and rooted in truth.

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