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Objection 1: It would seem that there was faith in Christ. For
faith is a nobler virtue than the moral virtues, e.g. temperance and
liberality. Now these were in Christ, as stated above (Article
2). Much more, therefore, was there faith in Him.
Objection 2: Further, Christ did not teach virtues which He had
not Himself, according to Acts 1:1: "Jesus began to do and to
teach." But of Christ it is said (Heb. 12:2) that He is
"the author and finisher of our faith." Therefore there was faith in
Him before all others.
Objection 3: Further, everything imperfect is excluded from the
blessed. But in the blessed there is faith; for on Rm. 1:17,
"the justice of God is revealed therein from faith to faith," a
gloss says: "From the faith of words and hope to the faith of things
and sight." Therefore it would seem that in Christ also there was
faith, since it implies nothing imperfect.
On the contrary, It is written (Heb. 11:1): "Faith is the
evidence of things that appear not." But there was nothing that did
not appear to Christ, according to what Peter said to Him (Jn.
21:17): "Thou knowest all things." Therefore there was no
faith in Christ.
I answer that, As was said above (SS, Question 1, Article
4), the object of faith is a Divine thing not seen. Now the habit
of virtue, as every other habit, takes its species from the object.
Hence, if we deny that the Divine thing was not seen, we exclude the
very essence of faith. Now from the first moment of His conception
Christ saw God's Essence fully, as will be made clear (Question
34, Article 1). Hence there could be no faith in Him.
Reply to Objection 1: Faith is a nobler virtue than the moral
virtues, seeing that it has to do with nobler matter; nevertheless,
it implies a certain defect with regard to that matter; and this defect
was not in Christ. And hence there could be no faith in Him,
although the moral virtues were in Him, since in their nature they
imply no defect with regard to their matter.
Reply to Objection 2: The merit of faith consists in this---that
man through obedience assents to what things he does not see, according
to Rm. 1:5: "For obedience to the faith in all nations for His
name." Now Christ had most perfect obedience to God, according to
Phil. 2:8: "Becoming obedient unto death." And hence He
taught nothing pertaining to merit which He did not fulfil more
perfectly Himself.
Reply to Objection 3: As a gloss says in the same place, faith is
that "whereby such things as are not seen are believed." But faith
in things seen is improperly so called, and only after a certain
similitude with regard to the certainty and firmness of the assent.
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