theological virtue
1
9.9
- noun
- /θiˈɑlədʒɪkəl ˈvɜrtju/
- Specialized
:
virtud teológica
- Charity is a theological virtue, divine in origin, and supernatural in its demands on us.
Examples
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The theological virtues thus produce in the soul a kind of wisdom—graced to be sure, but short of the ecstatic knowledge that is the perfection of created wisdom.
Academic text (2008) -
In Christian doctrine, the theological virtues help believers strive toward a closer relationship with God.
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Charity is one of the three theological virtues.
Blog text (24) -
The theological virtues speak to our heavenly end.
Blog text (29) -
The problem: Unlike moral virtues, which the Catechism says are acquired by human effort, faith is a theological virtue and a pure gift from God.
Blog text (3) -
According to Aquinas, faith, like the other theological virtues, orders human beings toward the future beatific vision.
Academic text (1992) -
Still, by indicating that the theological virtues necessarily result in and are displayed by social action, Benedict carries on the characteristic Roman Catholic tradition that saving grace entails sanctification and the regeneration of the moral life.
Academic text (2010) -
Charity is one of the three theological virtues mentioned in Christian teachings.
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The three theological virtues—faith, hope, and charity—are essential for salvation.
Synonyms
A good moral quality given by God, for example faith or love
Surface Forms
Morphology
The phrase is compositionally clear: a B1 learner who knows 'theological' (relating to religion) and 'virtue' (a moral quality) can infer it refers to a virtue connected to theology or religion. However, the MWE has a narrower, technical meaning in Christian doctrine (the specific God‑given virtues: faith, hope, charity) that is not predictable from the constituents alone, so the transparency is partial.
Etymology
Theological virtue comes from Christian writers who used theological to mean 'about God' and virtue to mean a good habit, so they spoke of gifts like 'faith', 'hope' and 'charity' as being 'given by God'. So today theological virtue means a moral quality believed to come from God and needed for being 'saved'.