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How Do Faith and Reason Relate in the Christian Life?

The Role of Reason in Faith


The relationship between faith and reason is a significant topic for believers who seek to understand how these aspects of personhood coexist. The tension between faith and reason has been addressed by Christian thinkers from the early apologists to medieval theologians. Among them, Thomas Aquinas provided a comprehensive framework for understanding this relationship, affirming that while faith and reason are distinct, they are not in opposition. Faith uses reason, and reason is illuminated by faith.



Reason Cannot Produce Faith


Aquinas asserted that while reason can accompany faith, it cannot produce faith. Faith is not the result of human inquiry or investigation; rather, it is a gift from God. Ephesians 2:8-9 clearly states, "For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast." Aquinas emphasized that faith’s assent is not caused by human reasoning but by the divine work of God within the soul. Human free will alone is insufficient to bring about faith because the truths of faith surpass human reason.


Nevertheless, Aquinas recognized that faith is not entirely divorced from reason. Reason can support faith, providing discursive thought and reflection on the truths that faith accepts. While reason cannot compel faith, it can accompany the believer’s journey, aiding in the understanding and application of faith in daily life.


Aquinas explained that human reason has limits, particularly when it comes to understanding divine truths. Some truths about God, such as the doctrine of the Trinity or the Incarnation, are beyond human comprehension. These mysteries cannot be fully grasped by reason alone and must be accepted by faith. Hebrews 11:1 defines faith as "the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen." Faith, therefore, reaches beyond what reason can prove and holds firmly to the truths revealed by God.



The Interdependence of Faith and Reason


Aquinas taught that faith and reason are interdependent, with each playing a crucial role in the believer's life. Reason can lead a person to the threshold of faith by demonstrating the existence of God and by refuting false beliefs. For instance, Romans 1:20 asserts, "For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse." This verse indicates that reason, through observation of the natural world, can lead to an acknowledgment of God’s existence.


However, reason alone is insufficient to bring someone to a saving faith. Faith is necessary to accept the divine truths that surpass reason. The mysteries of the Christian faith, such as the nature of God and the work of Christ, are known not through reason but through divine revelation. Romans 10:17 states, "So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ." It is through the Word of God, revealed by the Holy Spirit, that faith is born and nurtured in the believer’s heart.


Aquinas also emphasized that while faith surpasses reason, it does not contradict it. The truths of faith are in harmony with reason, even if they go beyond what reason can fully comprehend. As Proverbs 3:5-6 advises, "Trust in Jehovah with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths." This passage highlights the importance of trusting in God’s wisdom, which transcends human understanding, while also recognizing that faith is not irrational.



The Uses of Reason in Theology


Aquinas identified three primary ways in which reason can be used in theology:


  1. Demonstrating the Preambles of Faith: Reason can demonstrate the existence of God and certain truths about His nature. These truths, such as the existence of a single, all-powerful Creator, can be known through natural reason and form the foundation upon which faith builds.

  2. Analyzing Philosophical Concepts: Reason can help to analyze and explain Christian doctrines by drawing upon philosophical concepts. For example, the doctrine of the Trinity has been explained in part through philosophical terms and analogies, which help to make this mystery more comprehensible, though it remains ultimately beyond full human understanding.

  3. Defending the Faith Against Objections: Reason is also used to defend the faith against objections and misunderstandings. Apologetics, the rational defense of the Christian faith, employs reason to refute arguments against the truth of Christianity and to demonstrate the coherence and rationality of the Christian worldview.


1 Peter 3:15 exhorts believers to "always be prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you." This defense involves reasoned arguments that explain and justify the faith, though the ultimate basis of faith is the authority of God and His Word, confirmed by miracles and the testimony of the Holy Spirit.



The Necessity of Divine Revelation


While reason can support and defend the faith, Aquinas taught that divine revelation is necessary because some truths exceed the capacity of human reason. These truths include the mysteries of God’s nature and His plan of salvation. Isaiah 55:8-9 reveals, "For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares Jehovah. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts." This passage underscores the transcendence of God’s wisdom and the limitations of human understanding.


Revelation provides the knowledge that reason alone cannot attain. Through the Scriptures, God reveals His character, His will, and His redemptive plan for humanity. Revelation is necessary because, without it, human beings would remain in ignorance of these divine truths. 2 Timothy 3:16-17 affirms, "All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work." Scripture, as the divinely inspired Word of God, is the ultimate source of truth for the believer.


Revelation also addresses the limitations of reason caused by sin. Aquinas acknowledged that sin has affected the human mind, making it prone to error and confusion, particularly in spiritual matters. Romans 1:21 describes how humanity’s rejection of God has led to futile thinking and darkened hearts: "For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened." Revelation, therefore, is necessary to correct the errors of human reason and to illuminate the path to truth.



Faith Beyond Reason


Aquinas distinguished between truths that can be known by reason and those that are known only by faith. While reason can demonstrate the existence of God and certain aspects of His nature, there are divine truths that go beyond human reason. These truths, such as the doctrines of the Trinity and the Incarnation, are mysteries that can only be accepted by faith.


Faith, according to Aquinas, is not opposed to reason but goes beyond it. Faith is necessary because human reason is limited and cannot fully comprehend the infinite nature of God. Hebrews 11:3 states, "By faith we understand that the universe was created by the word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things that are visible." This verse illustrates how faith allows the believer to accept truths that reason cannot fully explain.


Faith, then, is a free act of the will, prompted by grace, by which the believer assents to divine truth. It is an act of trust in God, who has revealed Himself and His will through Scripture and the person of Jesus Christ. Faith involves a commitment to believe what God has revealed, even when it transcends human understanding.



The Holy Spirit’s Guidance Through Scripture


The Holy Spirit plays a crucial role in guiding believers through the inspired Word of God. As we pray and seek God's direction, it is essential to immerse ourselves in the Scriptures to understand His will. For example, in Psalm 119:105, we read, "Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path." This verse emphasizes the importance of Scripture in providing guidance and clarity in our lives. Just as praying for a job requires taking action by filling out applications, seeking God's guidance through the Holy Spirit involves diligently studying His Word and applying its truths to our circumstances.


The Holy Spirit’s Role in Teaching and Reminding


The Holy Spirit teaches and reminds us of God's commands, as illustrated in the Old Testament. Nehemiah 9:20 says, "You gave your good Spirit to instruct them and did not withhold your manna from their mouth and gave them water for their thirst." This verse highlights the instructional role of the Holy Spirit in guiding God's people. By immersing ourselves in Scripture, we allow the Holy Spirit to teach and remind us of God's truths, leading us to live in obedience.



Emphasizing the Role of the Holy Spirit


Understanding how we receive illumination and guidance from God is rooted in the inspired, inerrant Word of God. According to 1 Corinthians 2:12-14, the process involves more than merely acquiring a mental grasp of biblical truths; it requires embracing these truths as divinely revealed. The expressions "does not accept," "folly," and "not able to understand" highlight how unbelievers critique and reject divine revelation. This passage does not imply that unbelievers are incapable of understanding the Bible's content; rather, they view it as foolishness. Christians, however, are guided by having the mind of Christ (1 Corinthians 2:16), achieved through being biblically minded. This necessitates a careful analysis of the Bible's genres, historical context, and language, employing the conservative, objective historical-grammatical method of interpretation while avoiding the speculative fallacies of modern biblical criticism.


John 14:16-17; 16:13 Fallacy


The Holy Spirit plays a crucial role in counseling, providing guidance, comfort, and conviction through the Spirit-inspired Word of God. We are guided when we act on behalf of our prayers by digging into the Scriptures and determining what the authors meant by the words they used. To illustrate, if we were praying for a job but never went out and filled out job applications, how would God feel about our prayers? If we were praying about the shame we feel over something, yet we never investigated what the Scriptures had to say about shame so as to apply them, how would Gold feel about our prayer?



The Meritorious Nature of Faith


Aquinas also taught that faith is meritorious, meaning that it is worthy of reward. Faith is meritorious not because it is a work of human effort, but because it involves a free and willing response to God’s grace. Hebrews 11:6 states, "And without faith, it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him." Faith pleases God because it reflects a trust in His promises and a reliance on His grace.


The merit of faith is rooted in the will’s assent to divine truth, an assent that is made possible by God’s grace. This merit is not earned by human effort but is a gift from God, who rewards those who trust in Him. James 2:26 reminds us, "For as the body apart from the spirit is dead, so also faith apart from works is dead." True faith is evidenced by a life of obedience and good works, which flow from the believer’s trust in God.



The Limitations of Reason in Understanding Faith


While reason plays a vital role in supporting and defending the faith, Aquinas recognized that reason has limitations. Human reason is finite and cannot fully comprehend the infinite nature of God or the mysteries of the faith. 1 Corinthians 2:14 declares, "The natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him, and he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned." This verse highlights the limitations of human reason in grasping spiritual truths, which are discerned through the Spirit.


Aquinas argued that while reason can lead a person to acknowledge the existence of God and the truth of the Christian faith, it cannot compel belief. Faith ultimately requires a free response to God’s grace, a response that goes beyond the capabilities of reason alone. This is why divine revelation is necessary—to reveal truths that reason cannot discover on its own and to provide the foundation for faith.


Reason, therefore, serves as a handmaid to faith, supporting and defending it, but never replacing it. Faith goes beyond reason, accepting divine truths that surpass human understanding. Romans 11:33-34 exclaims, "Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways! For who has known the mind of Jehovah, or who has been his counselor?" These verses capture the awe-inspiring mystery of God’s wisdom, which transcends human comprehension.



The Relationship Between Faith and Knowledge


Aquinas made a clear distinction between faith and knowledge, emphasizing that they are different ways of apprehending truth. Knowledge is based on evidence and reason, while faith is based on divine revelation. While knowledge can lead to faith, it cannot replace it. Faith involves trusting in God’s Word and promises, even when they cannot be fully understood or proven by reason.


Faith and knowledge, however, are not opposed to one another. Rather, they complement each other. Knowledge can support faith by providing reasons for belief and by helping to explain and defend the truths of the faith. But faith goes beyond knowledge, accepting truths that are revealed by God and that surpass human understanding.


1 Corinthians 13:12 illustrates this relationship: "For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I have been fully known." This verse points to the partial knowledge we have in this life and the fullness of understanding that will come in eternity. Faith bridges the gap between our limited knowledge and the full revelation of God that we will one day experience.



The Unity of Faith and Reason


In conclusion, Aquinas taught that faith and reason are united in the pursuit of truth. While they operate in different ways, they are both gifts from God and are intended to work together in the believer’s life. Faith seeks understanding, and reason supports and defends faith. Together, they lead the believer to a deeper knowledge of God and a closer relationship with Him.


Aquinas’s teachings remind us that faith is not blind or irrational. It is a reasonable response to the divine revelation given to us in Scripture and through the person of Jesus Christ. Faith goes beyond reason, accepting truths that reason cannot fully comprehend, but it is never in conflict with reason. As believers, we are called to love God with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength (Mark 12:30), engaging both our faith and reason in the pursuit of His truth.


Faith is ultimately a gift from God, enabled by His grace and sustained by His Spirit. It is through faith that we are justified, sanctified, and ultimately glorified. Romans 5:1-2 proclaims, "Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God." Faith is the foundation of the Christian life, and it is by faith that we live in the hope of eternal life with God.


About the Author


EDWARD D. ANDREWS (AS in Criminal Justice, BS in Religion, MA in Biblical Studies, and MDiv in Theology) is CEO and President of Christian Publishing House. He has authored over 220 books. In addition, Andrews is the Chief Translator of the Updated American Standard Version (UASV).


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