Charity (Christian virtue)
Charity is the theological virtue of love for God and neighbor.
Charity (Latin: *caritas*) is a theological virtue in Christian theology, considered one of the seven virtues. It is understood as the love of God and neighbor, and is held by Thomas Aquinas to be the most excellent of the virtues, uniting humans to God. Aquinas defined charity as the friendship of man for God, a habit that extends not only to the love of God but also to the love of one’s neighbor. He distinguished charity from love as a passion, which he did not consider a virtue. The Catechism of the Catholic Church describes charity as the theological virtue by which God is loved above all things for His own sake, and one’s neighbor is loved as oneself for the love of God. In biblical usage, the Greek term *agape* is sometimes translated as "charity" in English versions such as the King James Bible, while other translations use "love" for the same concept. Charity is held to be the ultimate perfection of the human spirit, glorifying and reflecting the nature of God. As a divinely infused virtue residing in the will, it is considered an absolute requirement for happiness, which Aquinas identified as humanity’s final goal. Charity has two parts: love of God and love of man, including love of one’s neighbor and oneself. The Apostle Paul emphasized charity above faith and hope, stating that the greatest of these is love. The fruits of charity are joy, peace, and mercy. Based on the Parable of the Sheep and the Goats, the early Church regarded love of the poor as the crown jewel of the virtues. Saint Gregory of Nazianzus, a Cappadocian Father, wrote that after considering many Christian virtues, charity stands as the foremost. Pope Benedict XVI’s 2005 encyclical *Deus caritas est* discussed the love God gives to humanity and the obligation to share that love with others.
- field
- Christian theology
- known_for
- Theological virtue of love of God and neighbor
- key_texts
- 1 John 4:8, 1 Corinthians 13, 1 Peter 4:8
- theologian
- Thomas Aquinas
Lore & Background
In Christian theology, charity is one of the seven virtues. Thomas Aquinas defined it as the friendship of man for God, a bond that unites the believer to God, and he considered it the most excellent of all virtues. He taught that the habit of charity extends to both the love of God and the love of one’s neighbor. The Catechism of the Catholic Church describes charity as the theological virtue by which God is loved above all things for His own sake, and one’s neighbor is loved as oneself for the love of God. Aquinas distinguished charity from ordinary love, which he regarded as a passion rather than a virtue. In English Bible translations, the word charity often refers to the love of God—a spiritual love that originates from God, is reflected by humanity made in God’s image, and is then directed back to God and toward others. This practice of charity leads one to act toward oneself and others out of love alone, recognizing the dignity of each person as a beloved child of God. Charity is considered the ultimate perfection of the human spirit, as it glorifies and reflects the nature of God. It is divinely infused into the soul and resides in the will. According to Aquinas, charity is an absolute requirement for happiness, which is humanity’s final goal. The virtue has two parts: love of God and love of man, including both neighbor and self. The Apostle Paul emphasized charity above faith and hope, stating that the greatest of these is love. The fruits of charity are joy, peace, and mercy. The early Church, drawing from the Parable of the Sheep and the Goats, regarded love for the poor as the crown jewel of the virtues.
Reader's Guide
Charity is held to be the ultimate perfection of the human spirit because it both glorifies and reflects the nature of God. As with other theological virtues, charity is divinely infused into the soul and resides in the will. According to Aquinas, charity is an absolute requirement for happiness, which he holds as man's last goal. Charity has two parts: love of God and love of man, which includes both love of one's neighbor and one's self. In 1 Corinthians 13, Paul places the greatest emphasis on charity, stating that 'faith, hope, love remain, these three; but the greatest of these is love.' The fruits of charity are joy, peace, and mercy. Based on Matthew 25's Parable of The Sheep and the Goats, the early Church saw the love of the poor as the crown jewel of the virtues. Cappadocian father St. Gregory of Nazianzus regarded charity as the first and greatest of the commandments, and its most vital part as the love of the poor.
Did You Know?
- Thomas Aquinas understood charity as 'the friendship of man for God' and held it as 'the most excellent of the virtues.'
- The Catechism of the Catholic Church defines charity as 'the theological virtue by which we love God above all things for His own sake, and our neighbor as ourselves for the love of God.'
- In 1 Corinthians 13, Paul writes that 'faith, hope, love remain, these three; but the greatest of these is love.'
- The fruits of charity are joy, peace, and mercy.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Charity (Christian virtue) in Christian theology?
Charity, from the Latin caritas, is one of the three theological virtues and is defined as the self-giving love directed first toward God and then extended to one's neighbor. Unlike ordinary affection, it is understood as a grace-infused disposition rather than something a person simply produces on their own.
How does Charity relate to Faith and Hope?
Charity, Faith, and Hope form the trio of theological virtues, but Charity is traditionally called the greatest of the three. Aquinas argued that Charity is the 'form' that perfects the other virtues by orienting them toward their ultimate end, which is union with God.
Which Bible passages are central to the doctrine of Charity?
1 Corinthians 13, often called the 'Love Chapter,' is the most widely cited text describing the qualities and permanence of caritas. 1 John 4:8 grounds the virtue in divine nature by equating God with love, while 1 Peter 4:8 urges believers to keep such love fervent, especially in the final days.
Why did Thomas Aquinas rank Charity above all other virtues?
Aquinas held that Charity alone directly unites the human will to God, making it the form that gives proper shape to every other moral quality. Without it, even outwardly good acts are misdirected because they lack the right final end, so he called it the most excellent of all virtues.
How is theological Charity different from everyday kindness or compassion?
Ordinary compassion is a natural emotion that can arise without any special grace, whereas Charity is a supernatural virtue infused by God into the soul. It persists even when feelings fade because it is rooted in the will's alignment with God's love rather than in transient sentiment.
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