Clement of Rome (c. 35–99): “We are not justified by ourselves…or works which we have wrought in holiness of heart; but by that faith through which…Almighty God has justified.” (First Epistle of Clement to the Corinthians, ch. 32)
https://www.ccel.org/ccel/schaff/anf01.ii.ii.xxxii.html
Anonymous author of the Epistle to Diognetus (2nd century): “For what other thing was capable of covering our sins than His righteousness? … the righteousness of One should justify many transgressors!” (Epistle to Diognetus, ch. 9)
https://www.newadvent.org/fathers/0101.htm
Irenaeus of Lyons (c. 130–202): “In like manner we also are justified not by the law, but by faith, which is witnessed to in the law and in the prophets.” (Demonstration of the Apostolic Preaching, ch. 35)
https://ccel.org/ccel/irenaeus/demonstr.preaching_the_demonstration_of_the_apostolic_preaching.html
Clement of Alexandria (c. 150–c. 215): “Abraham was not justified by works, but by faith. It is therefore of no advantage…if they do good works…if they have not faith.” (Stromata, Book I, ch. 7).
https://ccel.org/ccel/clement_alex/stromata/anf02.vi.iv.i.vii.html
Tertullian (c. 155–c. 220): “Let the apostle proceed, with his statement that by the works of the law a man is not justified, but only by faith.” (Against Marcion, Book V).
https://www.tertullian.org/articles/evans_marc/evans_marc_12book5_eng.htm
Eusebius of Caesarea (c. 260–339): “Abraham by his faith in Almighty God attained righteousness…this added nothing at all to his justification.” (Proof of the Gospel, Book I, on Genesis 15:6).
https://www.tertullian.org/fathers/eusebius_de_03_book1.htm
Marius Victorinus (c. 290–c. 364): “Faith itself alone grants justification and sanctification. Thus any flesh whatsoever…is justified on the basis of faith, not works or observance.” (Commentary on Galatians, on Galatians 2:15–16, trans. Stephen Andrew Cooper, pp. 152–153)
https://web.archive.org/web/20160323095944/http://ixoyc.net/data/Fathers/612.pdf
Hilary of Poitiers (c. 310–367): “The Law was not able to grant absolution, since faith alone justifies…For truly no one is able to forgive sins except God alone.” (Commentary on Matthew, 8.6, PL 9:961)
https://greenbaggins.wordpress.com/2017/10/25/hilary-of-poitiers-on-justification
Didymus the Blind (c. 313–398): “Works can[not] be put before faith, because a person is saved by grace, not by works but by faith.” (Commentary on James, on James 2:26).
https://catenabible.com/com/5879d137dd1bb6dd3dba9f30
Basil of Caesarea (329–379): “One does not exult in his own righteousness, but recognizing oneself as lacking true righteousness to be justified by faith alone in Christ.” (Homily on Humility, 20.3, PG 31:532)
https://www.freedxfaith.org/patriarchs/basil-of-ceasarea-329-379
Ambrose of Milan (c. 339–397): “Wherefore let no man glory in works, for by his works no man shall be justified…It is faith then which delivers.” (Letter 73, §§10–11)
https://www.tertullian.org/fathers/ambrose_letters_08_letters71_80.htm
Ambrosiaster (fl. c. 366–384): [1] “They have not done anything nor given anything in return, but by faith alone they have been made holy by the gift of God.” (Commentary on Paul’s Epistles, on Romans 3:24)
https://catenabible.com/com/584b75329ac03ecd4b8e4e36
[2] “God has decreed that a person who believes in Christ can be saved without works. By faith alone he receives the forgiveness of sins.” (Commentary on First Corinthians, on I Corinthians 1:4, PL 17:185).
https://www.freedxfaith.org/patriarchs/ambrosiaster-c-4th-c
[3] “Those are blessed…who, without work or any keeping of the law, are justified before God by faith alone.” (Commentary on Romans, on Romans 4:6, PL 17:83).
https://jamesattebury.wordpress.com/2015/01/08/the-church-fathers-on-justification/
[4] “Abraham was not justified by the works of the law but by faith alone…[the] ungodly is justified before God by faith alone.” (Commentary on Romans, on Romans 4:5, PL 17:82–83).
https://jamesattebury.wordpress.com/2015/01/08/the-church-fathers-on-justification/
John Chrysostom (c. 347–407): [1] “He has not only saved, but has even justified…and this too without needing works, but looking for faith only.” (Homily 7 on Romans, on Romans 3:27–28)
https://www.newadvent.org/fathers/210207.htm
[2] “If you believe the Faith, why do you add other things, as if the faith were not sufficient to justify?” (Homily 3 on Titus, on Titus 1:14).
https://www.newadvent.org/fathers/23083.htm
[3] “They said that he who adhered to Faith alone was cursed, but he shows that he who adhered to Faith alone, is blessed.” (Homily 3 on Galatians, on Galatians 3:8–10).
https://www.newadvent.org/fathers/23103.htm
[4] “Faith suffices to obtain for us the Spirit, and by Him righteousness, and many and great benefits.” (Homilies on Galatians, on Galatians 4).
[5] “Men are justified in this case, not by labors, but by the gift of God.” (Homily 17 on Romans, on Romans 10:3).
https://www.ccel.org/ccel/schaff/npnf111.vii.xix.html
[6] “No one…is justified by works, precisely in order that the grace and benevolence of God may become apparent.” (Homily on Ephesians, on Ephesians 2:8–9).
https://www.freedxfaith.org/patriarchs/chrysostom-347-407
[7] “From faith alone, he says, they obtained the same gifts…faith alone is necessary, and not works or circumcision.” (Homily 32 on Acts, on Acts 15).
https://jamesattebury.wordpress.com/2015/01/08/the-church-fathers-on-justification/
Paulinus of Nola (c. 354–431): “Taken up not by our own merit but by the grace of God…not from the prerogative of works but by…faith.” (Letter to Severus of Aquileia, c. AD 400).
https://romanletters.org/letters/paulinus_nola/11/
Augustine of Hippo (354–430): [1] “A man is not justified by the precepts of a holy life, but by faith in Jesus Christ…not by the merits of deeds.” (On the Spirit and the Letter, ch. 22)
https://www.newadvent.org/fathers/1502.htm
[2] “Of whatever virtue…nothing saved them but the belief in the Mediator who shed His blood for the remission of their sins.” (Against Two Letters of the Pelagians, Book I, ch. 21 [39]).
https://www.newadvent.org/fathers/15091.htm
[3] “The righteousness of faith, preceded by no good works, but with good works as its consequence.” (Exposition of Psalm 31, §7)
https://jamesattebury.wordpress.com/2015/01/08/the-church-fathers-on-justification/
Cyril of Alexandria (c. 376–444): “For we are justified by faith, not by works of the law…Is it not in one Lord Jesus Christ?” (Against Nestorius, Book III)
https://www.freedxfaith.org/patriarchs/cyril-of-alexandria-378-444
Prosper of Aquitaine (c. 390–c. 455): “Would not God’s mercy be made secondary to human works, if justification, which is through grace, were owed in view of preceding merits?” (The Call of All Nations, Book I, ch. 17)
https://www.modernreformation.org/resources/articles/patristric-texts-on-justification
Theodoret of Cyrus (c. 393–c. 458): [1] “He did not require of us purity of life, but approving mere faith, He bestowed on us forgiveness of sins.” (Interpretation of the Fourteen Epistles of Paul, on Ephesians 2:8)
https://4marksofthechurch.com/theodoret-of-cyr/
Theodoret of Cyrus (c. 393–466): [2] “I am guilty of many errors. Through faith alone I look for finding some mercy in the day of the Lord’s appearing.” (Letter 83 to Dioscorus of Alexandria).
https://www.newadvent.org/fathers/2707083.htm
Pseudo-Jerome (4th–5th century; exact dates unknown): [1] “God justifies the ungodly through faith alone, not by good works, which he did not have.” (Commentary on Romans, on Romans 4, PL 30:688C).
https://jamesattebury.wordpress.com/2015/01/08/the-church-fathers-on-justification/
[2] “No one is justified from works, but all from faith…faith alone makes sons of Abraham, who from faith alone was first justified.” (Commentary on Romans, on Romans 5, PL 30:665D–666A).
https://jamesattebury.wordpress.com/2015/01/08/the-church-fathers-on-justification/
Leo the Great (c. 400–461): “No one is debarred by sin…where justification is not paid for deserts, but simply given as a free gift.” (Sermon 49, §3)
https://www.newadvent.org/fathers/360349.htm
Mark the Ascetic (5th century; exact dates unknown): “Thus the kingdom of heaven is not a reward for works, but a gift of grace prepared by the Master for his faithful servants.” (On Those Who Think They Are Made Righteous by Works, §2).
https://silouanthompson.net/2024/07/those-who-think-they-are-justified-by-works/
Fulgentius of Ruspe (c. 467–533): “They may begin to belong to the people of God, not by the merit of preceding works, but by the free gift of justification.” (First Letter, in Correspondence on Christology and Grace, p. 91).
Oecumenius (6th century; exact dates uncertain): “Abraham is the image of someone who is justified by faith alone, since what he believed was credited to him as righteousness.” (Commentary on James, on James 2:23).
https://thedouayrheims.com/fathers/james/2
Bede the Venerable (c. 673–735): “No one obtains the gift of justification on the basis of merit derived from works performed beforehand…the gift of justification comes only from faith.” (Commentary on the Seven Catholic Epistles, on James 2:20)
https://catenabible.com/jas/2/20
Paschasius Radbertus (c. 785–865): “We are made righteous from the ungodly through faith, without any preceding merits of good works; we are freely justified without works.” (De Fide, Spe et Charitate, Book I, ch. 11; translation from the Latin)
https://la.wikisource.org/wiki/De_fide_spe_et_charitate_%28Paschasius_Radbertus%29
Photius of Constantinople (c. 810–893): “Because by faith alone he saves us and gives life to us who were already dead, not having previously shown works.” (Fragments on the Epistle to the Romans, on Romans 1:17).
Claudius of Turin (birth unknown–c. 827): “Man is not justified by works of the law but by faith…all the ancient fathers who were justified were justified by faith alone.” (Commentary on Galatians, cited in George E. McCracken, ed., Early Medieval Theology, p. 233)
https://jamesattebury.wordpress.com/2023/10/20/reformers-before-martin-luther-claudius-of-turin/
Sedulius Scotus (9th century; fl. c. 840–860): “Here he speaks of one who, coming to Christ, when he believes, is saved by faith alone.” (Collectanea in Omnes B. Pauli Epistolas, on Romans 3:28; translation from the Latin).
https://la.wikisource.org/wiki/Collectanea_in_omnes_B._Pauli_epistolas
Atto of Vercelli (c. 885–961): “We believe most firmly that man is justified by faith without works of the law.…[Paul] says that man is justified by faith alone.” (Exposition of the Epistles of St Paul, on Romans 3:28; translation from the Latin).
https://la.wikisource.org/wiki/Expositio_epistolarum_S._Pauli_%28Atto_Vercellensis%29
Bruno the Carthusian (c. 1030–1101): “Faith alone justifies without a work of the Law.” (Exposition on Romans, on Romans 3:28; “Fides sola justificat sine opere Legis”).
Theophylact of Ohrid (c. 1055–after 1107): “The righteousness of God…saves us, not our own righteousness.…God justified us not by works, but by faith.” (Commentary on Romans, on Romans 1:17).
https://historicalchristian.faith/romans/1/all
Hervaeus of Bourg-Dieu (c. 1080–1150): “He is speaking of works that follow faith. Paul, by contrast, said that a man can be justified by faith alone, without preceding works.” (Commentary on Romans, on Romans 4:3, PL 181:644–645)
https://scripturalmormonism.blogspot.com/2026/05/hervaeus-burgidolensis-ca-1080-1150-on.html
Bernard of Clairvaux (1090–1153): “Let him believe in you who justifies the ungodly; and thus, justified by faith alone, he will have peace with you.” (Sermon 22 on the Song of Songs, §8).
https://reformedbooksonline.com/on-a-twofold-justification/
Robert Grosseteste (c. 1175–1253): “By works of law no one at any time is justified.…Therefore no works of law, nor even other works, namely moral, justify a sinner.” (Expositio in Epistolam Sancti Pauli ad Galatas, CCCM 130:62–64).
Peter Lombard (c. 1096–1160): “Works follow the justified; they do not precede the one to be justified, but by faith alone, without preceding works, a man is made righteous.” (Glossa in Epistolas B. Pauli, on Romans 3:28; translation from the Latin)
https://www.magistersententiarum.com/en/works/lombardus/glossa-in-epistolas-pauli/ad-romanos-iii
Thomas Aquinas (1225–1274): “The Apostle seems to be speaking of the moral precepts…Therefore, the hope of justification must not be placed in them, but in faith alone.” (Commentary on the First Epistle to Timothy, ch. 1, lect. 3)
https://aquinas.cc/la/en/~1Tim.C1.L3.v1.10
Thomas Bradwardine (c. 1290–1349): “Faith alone can make us justified: works have no part to play in achieving that which comes from Him alone.” (De Causa Dei, as cited in Gordon Leff, Bradwardine and the Pelagians, p. 83)
https://sb.rfpa.org/thomas-bradwardine-defender-of-gods-sovereignty/
Nicholas of Cusa (1401–1464): “Do you mean to say, therefore, that this faith alone justifies and enables us to attain of eternal life? … I do.” (De Pace Fidei [On the Peace of Faith], 1453, in Unity and Reform, pp. 227–229)
https://evangelicalcatholicity.wordpress.com/2008/10/01/
Girolamo Savonarola (1452–1498): “For none are saved by their own works…Therefore, O God, do I seek thy mercy, and I bring not unto thee my own righteousness.” (Meditations on the Psalms, quoted in J. H. Merle d’Aubigné, History of the Reformation, Book I)
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