Perseverance (theology)

Perseverance (Latin: perseverantia ) in the sense of Christian theology means, on the one hand, the perseverance of what is justified until the end of life, and on the other hand, perseverance as a virtue in the spiritual life. For information on perseverance as a (Christian) virtue, see: Perseverance (Psychology) # Persistence as a virtue . This is about perseverance in grace until the end of life (perseverantia finalis) .

General

According to Christian belief, from birth man is in a disturbed relationship to God (and thus to himself and to others) ( original sin ). He needs redemption and experiences it through Jesus Christ . This justification is through grace . Persistence means to be (still / again) justified at the end of life.

Augustine

Augustine emphasized, among other things, in his writings De praedestinatione sanctorum (On the predestination of the saints) and De dono perseverantiae (On the gift of perseverance) the “gift of the grace of Christ” for the perseverance of the justified until the end of his life.

Martin Luther

Luther taught that the essence of trusting faith also includes the unshakable certainty of being justified.

Catholic Church

The Tridentine Council , on the other hand, placed confident hope in ultimate salvation. Based on this, the Catechism of the Catholic Church says: “The children of our Mother, the Holy Church, hope for the grace of perseverance to the end and the reward of God their Father for the good works that they have done thanks to His grace Have accomplished fellowship with Jesus ”(CCC 2016).

literature

Josef Weismayer: Perseverance. In: Walter Kasper (Ed.): Lexicon for Theology and Church . 3. Edition. tape 2 . Herder, Freiburg im Breisgau 1994, Sp. 151 .

Individual evidence

^ De praedestinatione sanctorum
↑ De dono perseverantiae
↑ Josef Weismayer: Perseverance. In: Walter Kasper (Ed.): Lexicon for Theology and Church . 3. Edition. tape 2 . Herder, Freiburg im Breisgau 1994, Sp. 151 .
^ So Josef Weismayer: Perseverance. In: Walter Kasper (Ed.): Lexicon for Theology and Church . 3. Edition. tape 2 . Herder, Freiburg im Breisgau 1994, Sp. 151 .
↑ See Council of Trent: DS 1576

[1] De praedestinatione sanctorum

[2] De dono perseverantiae

[3] Josef Weismayer: Perseverance. In: Walter Kasper (Ed.): Lexicon for Theology and Church . 3. Edition. tape 2 . Herder, Freiburg im Breisgau 1994, Sp. 151 .

[4] So Josef Weismayer: Perseverance. In: Walter Kasper (Ed.): Lexicon for Theology and Church . 3. Edition. tape 2 . Herder, Freiburg im Breisgau 1994, Sp. 151 .

[5] See Council of Trent: DS 1576