What is the Catholic teaching on 1 Cor. 1:8?

[Todd_Easton]

“He will also keep you firm to the end, so that you will be blameless on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.” (ESV)

The Calvinist claims that because God “will keep you firm to the end,” any ability for personal apostasy based on free will is precluded.

[God] will sustain you to the end, guiltless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is faithful… (1 Cor 1:8-9a, RSVCE)

God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your strength, but with the temptation will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it. (1 Cor 10:13, RSVCE)

Because of the similarities of 1 Cor 1:8-9a and 10:13, I think, the later passage explains the former.
In other words, rather than the perseverance of the saints, what St Paul means in 1:8 is that, because God is faithful, he will sustain you to the end by never letting you be tempted beyond your strength but with each temptation providing a way of escape so that, if you choose to escape, you may be able to endure the every temptation and be guiltless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.

 

[Genesis315]

The fact that the Church of Corinth had various evils in it which this letter addresses shows it doesn’t mean all Christians will be kept absolutely free from sin or necessarily persevere to the end, but the grace of Christ is sufficient for this if they desire it. St. Paul is exhorting them to live the Gospel to the end, and reassuring them that Christ is sufficient for this.

St. John Chyrsostom explains the context of the epistle here. And here is his commentary on this particular verse:

7.Who shall also confirm you unto the end, that you may be unreprovable. Here he seems to court them, but the saying is free from all flattery; for he knows also how to press them home; as when he says, 1 Corinthians 4:18-21 Now some are puffed up as though I would not come to you: and again, What will you? Shall I come unto you with a rod, or in love, and in the spirit of meekness? And, 2 Corinthians 13:3 Since you seek a proof of Christ speaking in me. But he is also covertly accusing them: for, to say, He shall confirm, and the word unreprovable marks them out as still wavering, and liable to reproof.

But do thou consider how he always fastens them as with nails to the Name of Christ. And not any man nor teacher, but continually the Desired One Himself is remembered by him: setting himself, as it were to arouse those who were heavy-headed after some debauch. For no where in any other Epistle does the Name of Christ occur so continually. But here it is, many times in a few verses; and by means of it he weaves together, one may say, the whole of the proem. Look at it from the beginning. Paul called [to be] an Apostle of Jesus Christ, to them that have been sanctified in Jesus Christ, who call upon the Name of our Lord Jesus Christ, grace [be] unto you and peace from God the Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ. I thank my God for the grace which has been given you by Jesus Christ, even as the testimony of Christ has been confirmed in you, waiting for the revelation of our Lord Jesus Christ, who shall confirm you unreprovable in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is faithful, by whom you have been called into the fellowship of His Son Jesus Christ our Lord. And I beseech you by the Name of our Lord Jesus Christ. Do you see the constant repetition of the Name of Christ? From whence it is plain even to the most unobservant, that not by chance nor unwittingly he does this, but in order that by incessant application of that glorious Name he may foment their inflammation, and purge out the corruption of the disease.

https://www.newadvent.org/fathers/220102.htm

 

[fhansen]

St. John Chyrsostom explains the context of the epistle here. And here is his commentary on this particular verse:

Thank you, that was great. It always sort of amazes me how some, by insisting on this idea of absolute assurance, can miss all of the passages that balance that concept out with warnings, admonitions, encouragements to keep walking the right path, with loss of place in the Kingdom at stake. Similarly they focus on anything that supports sola fide while finding ways to disregard all the biblical instruction that supports the necessity of doing/having more that faith alone.

 

[fhansen]

As I’ve said before we’re judged based on what we do with what we’re given. If Baptism would’ve been the normal formal protocol, there certainly was no opportunity for that. But without knowing what was in the thief’s heart, I’d assume that he possessed the three theological virtues of faith, hope, and love. And his justice/righteousness was therefore accounted to be complete.

Had he been suddenly given a reprieve and allowed down from his cross, much more would’ve been expected and demanded of him after such an encounter as he’d had with the Lord. If, for whatever reason and at whatever point in his life, he failed to walk in a holy manner, returning to his old ways perhaps, not following God’s will and commands, then he would’ve lost his state of righteousness and eternal life.

 

[Julius_Caesar]

He rebuked the other thief and confessed his sins.

 

[Julius_Caesar]

24 To him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you before his glorious presence without fault and with great joy— 25 to the only God our Savior be glory, majesty, power and authority, through Jesus Christ our Lord, before all ages, now and forevermore! Amen.

You therefore, beloved, since you are forewarned, beware that you are not carried away with the error of the lawless and lose your own stability. But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be the glory both now and to the day of eternity. Amen.
2 Peter 3:17‭-‬18 NRSV-CI

 

[fhansen]

So…was the thief saved by faith alone?

No, I wouldn’t believe so. But whether he was or not, it would’ve been like a death bed conversion-and God would take into account all circumstances involved. What would’ve been allowable parameters for the thief wouldn’t necessarily at all be sufficient for you or me, based on what we should know and what we have opportunity to do.

 

[Julius_Caesar]

He acknowledge Jesus was God. He acknowledged he was a sinner.

And acknowledgement is an act of the will is it not?

 

[Julius_Caesar]

And for the record faith has to be understood as belief in God AND full resignation to His will. So more like loyalty.

 

[fhansen]

Like I said, if that was the only thing he could do, then that may’ve been enough. God judges by the heart according to Scripture, which He alone, knows. But he’s also given us instruction, as to what is required of us-and that’s what we must do. if He’s pleased with faith alone for someone who has no recourse other than that, then so be it. But the thief also revealed sorrow/contrition for sins as another poster stated, a requirement that would not be met by demons, I’m sure, who also believe and acknowledge Jesus as God. I’m sure the thief also loved Jesus, and obviously placed his hope in Him. And as Paul tells us in 1 Cor 13 those three virtues are not the same, but separable.

 

[fhansen]

Sure, read the Parable of the Talents-it sheds much light on this, and consider what happened to the wicked and lazy servant, originally a member of the master’s fold. And consider what might’ve happened to the thief if he wasn’t executed after all but later buried his “talents”. Fruit is demanded, with more expected from those given more, a principle outlined in Luke 12:48. Or think of it this way, Christianity and it’s gospel is meaningless, empty, unless the following teaching of the Christian Church is true:

"At the evening of life we shall be judged on our love."

Properly understood, that sums up the New Covenant message in a nutshell. To the extent that we understand that, we’ve understood the gospel.

 

[fhansen]

In Catholicism, BTW, if a person were to die right afterwards, nothing besides baptism (the sacrament of faith) is necessary to gain entrance to heaven for a properly disposed person, meaning one who possesses faith first of all, as that’s the primary right response to God’s calling us. But other things are required, such as contrition for sin and a resolve to obey the commandments, etc. Either way from that justified state, a state of being where the Church teaches real justice or righteousness is infused into us, being made new creations, we’re expected to continue to walk in that justice, and in God’s grace, which we can depart from at any time. In any case, God has all of this figured out, knowing the heart as he does. We’re just to do the best we can at what He tells us to do, which, for the vast majority certainly includes more than faith alone.

 

[fhansen]

I must say that is a first for me in my Christian walk.

People are saved differently.

From the human perspective, there are several things that Scripture instructs for salvation, never faith alone even if the walk begins with faith. And I gave you the only real, super-simple parameter that sums up all the rest that we need to keep foremost in mind:
"At the evening of life we shall be judged on our love"-all of us.

 

[fhansen]

Abraham was also saved by what he did. And no, Scripture never tells us that we’re saved by faith alone. Just the opposite in fact, as I’m sure you know.

"At the evening of life we shall be judged on our love"

 

[Julius_Caesar]

And the Bible also recognizes that people can lose their stability, as the verse from 2nd Peter says.

You therefore, beloved, since you are forewarned, beware that you are not carried away with the error of the lawless and lose your own stability. But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be the glory both now and to the day of eternity. Amen.
2 Peter 3:17‭-‬18 NRSV-CI

 

[Julius_Caesar]

And Scripture says saved by faith. Alone is an addition.

 

[Julius_Caesar]

And when he sacrificed Isaac as well.

 

[fhansen]

Abraham was declared righteous because of his faith in God.

Before Issac was born. So no, I don’t know.

And James, speaking of Abraham, says “You see that a person is considered righteous by what they do and not by faith alone.” And what we do, BTW, is motivated by love when done according to God’s will. That’s the full revelation that Jesus’ gospel makes known.

"… if I have a faith that can move mountains but have not love, I am nothing." 1 Cor 13

 

[fhansen]

He was showing his righteousness

Yes, showing his love as that’s what defines mans’ righteousness- which is why the Greatest Commandments happen to be what they are. Faith isn’t enough.

 

[PSUCath]

And Scripture says saved by faith. Alone is an addition.

Well, let’s be careful here not to misrepresent the Catholic position. We need to define what faith is. When Martin Luther proposed sola fide, he intended “faith” to mean a purely intellectual belief that God exists, He sent his son Jesus to die for our sins, and as a result we are saved from eternal damnation. Modern Protestantism also lines up with this sentiment, claiming that all we need to do to reach heaven is “accept Jesus Christ as our personal Lord and Savior.” Sola fide is unbiblical in this sense because, as we learn from James 2 that faith without works is dead. In fact, the only time the words “faith alone” appear in the Bible is in James 2:24 -

You see that a person is justified by works and not by faith alone.

However, Benny12 was correct when he said:

Abraham was declared righteous because of his faith in God.

This is because Abraham’s faith was not a mere cognitive belief in God, but rather a faith that was active in good works that complied with God’s expectations of him. James 2:21-22 reads:

Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered up his son Isaac on the altar? You see that faith was active along with his works, and faith was completed by his works;

We know that faith must be active in order for it to be a saving faith. For this reason, Catholics emphasize the necessity of good works, because without them, faith is dead (James 2:17). That being said, faith cannot be alone, and neither can works. St. Paul describes what matters in Galatians 5:6:

The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love.

Pope Benedict XVI sums it up nicely:

“Luther’s expression sola fide is true if faith is not opposed to charity, to love” (Wednesday Audience, Nov. 19, 2008)