Fathers

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What the Fathers say

1 Corinthians 12:9

Eastern Fathers

Cyril of Jerusalem

This faith which is given by the Spirit as a grace is not just doctrinal faith but a faith which empowers activities surpassing human nature, a faith which moves mountains.… For just as a grain of mustard seed is of little bulk but of explosive energy, taking a trifling space for its planting and then sending out great branches all around, so that when it is grown it can give shelter to the birds, so in like manner the faith present in one's soul achieves the greatest things by the most summary decision. …

Catechetical Lecture 5.11 ↗

Theophylact of Ohrid

Faith not in dogmas, but wonder-working faith, which even moves mountains (Matt. 17:20).

Commentary on 1 Corinthians ↗

Western Saints

Augustine of Hippo

Without the spirit of faith no one will rightly believe. Without the spirit of prayer no one will profitably pray. It is not that there are so many spirits, "but in all things one and the same Spirit works, who apportions to each one individually as he wills."

LETTER 191, To Sixtus ↗

Thomas Aquinas

Now, the principles of the doctrine of salvation are the articles of faith, and in regard to this he adds: to another is given faith by the same Spirit. It is not taken here for the virtue of faith, because this is common to all members of Christ, according to Heb (11:6): "Without faith it is impossible to please God." But it is taken for the utterance of faith in the sense that a man is able rightly to propose matters of faith, or for the certainty of faith someone has in an excellent way, as in Matt (15:28): "Woman, great is your …

Commentary on 1 Corinthians ↗