The motto “faith seeking understanding” expresses the important connection between faith and reason in Christian theology. It conveys the idea that faith in God leads believers to seek greater understanding of God and spiritual truth. This motto is most closely associated with St. Augustine of Hippo, one of the most influential theologians in Christian history.
The key aspects of this motto are:
- Faith comes first – Faith in God is the starting point. Augustine taught that faith is a gift from God that allows people to believe in spiritual realities they cannot yet fully comprehend.
- Faith prompts seeking – Genuine faith propels the believer to ask questions, read scripture, study theology, and pursue greater understanding of God. Faith is not passive intellectual assent but sparks an active search for truth.
- The goal is greater understanding – The search for understanding is aimed at deepening knowledge of biblical truth and gaining wisdom about God, His nature and His workings in the world.
- Faith and reason work together – Faith provides the groundwork for reason to explore theological truths revealed in scripture and tradition. Reason enhances faith through study, discourse and contemplation.
This motto originated with Anselm of Canterbury, an 11th century archbishop and theologian, who wrote in his work Proslogion, “I do not seek to understand that I may believe, but I believe in order to understand.” Anselm was expanding on the ideas of Augustine, his theological predecessor. Augustine wrote extensively on the interplay between faith and reason, arguing that faith lays the foundation for rational inquiry into divine truth.
Augustine taught that true understanding comes from God enlightening the mind. So faith, which allows people to believe divinely revealed truths, opens the way for God to illuminate their minds with greater understanding. As Augustine wrote in a prayer to God: “Unless you believe, you will not understand.” At the same time, Augustine argued that reason helps articulate and defend the faith. Faith seeks understanding, and understanding strengthens faith in return.
This motto encapsulates some key elements of Christian thought:
- Human reason alone has limits – Unaided reason cannot fully comprehend God’s infinite mysteries and truths. People need God’s help and revelation to grasp spiritual realities.
- Divine revelation provides a starting point – God has revealed Himself and His plan of salvation, especially through Scripture and the person of Jesus Christ. This gives believers key truths to start from.
- Faith is relational – Faith involves trusting in the God who has revealed Himself. It goes beyond intellectual assent to doctrines.
- Growth in understanding – Through prayer, study and contemplation, aided by the Holy Spirit, believers can continually grow in understanding divine truths.
- Theological inquiry – Systematic and philosophical exploration of the faith using reason has a valued place in Christian tradition.
In summary, the motto “faith seeking understanding” expresses the perspective that faith in God ignites a search for truth that uses reason to explore, articulate and defend theological doctrines. It emphasizes the interdependence between believing and thinking in the Christian spiritual life. This motto has shaped how many Christian theologians approach their vocation as an intellectual pursuit guided by faith.
Here are some key Bible passages that relate to this motto:
Faith Comes Before Understanding
“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.” (Ephesians 2:8-9)
“Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.” (Hebrews 11:1)
“But these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.” (John 20:31)
God Enlightens Minds to Understand Truth
“In him was life, and the life was the light of men…The true light, which gives light to everyone, was coming into the world.” (John 1:4,9)
“For God, who said, ‘Let light shine out of darkness,’ has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.” (2 Corinthians 4:6)
“Jesus answered him, ‘Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God…unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God.'” (John 3:3,5)
Revelation and Scripture Open Understanding
“In the past God spoke to our ancestors through the prophets at many times and in various ways, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom also he made the universe.” (Hebrews 1:1-2)
“Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path.” (Psalm 119:105)
“The unfolding of your words gives light; it gives understanding to the simple.” (Psalm 119:130)
“These are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.” (John 20:31)
“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 competent, equipped for every good work.” (2 Timothy 3:16-17)
Faith Seeks Understanding
“Take care, brothers, lest there be in any of you an evil, unbelieving heart, leading you to fall away from the living God. But exhort one another every day, as long as it is called ‘today,’ that none of you may be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin.” (Hebrews 3:12-13)
“Like newborn infants, long for the pure spiritual milk, that by it you may grow up into salvation— if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is good. As you come to him, a living stone rejected by men but in the sight of God chosen and precious, you yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.” (1 Peter 2:2-5)
“Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.” (Romans 12:2)
Understanding Strengthens Faith
“Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him, rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving.” (Colossians 2:6-7)
“For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness, and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love. For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they keep you from being ineffective or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.” (2 Peter 1:5-8)
“Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God.” (Colossians 3:16)
In conclusion, the motto “faith seeking understanding” expresses the perspective that Christian faith propels deeper inquiry to grow in knowledge of God and His truth as revealed in Scripture. Faith is the starting point and driver of seeking greater understanding, which in turn strengthens and nourishes faith. This integration of faith and reason has been a defining mark of Christian theology since Augustine.