1. Which is first
in order, knowledge or faith? I reply that generally, in the case
of disciples, faith precedes knowledge. But, in our teaching, if
any one asserts knowledge to come before faith, I make no
objection;
understanding knowledge so far as is within the bounds of human
comprehension. In our lessons we must first believe that the
letter a is said to us; then we learn the characters and their
pronunciation, and last of all we get the distinct idea of the force of
the letter. But in our belief about God, first comes the idea
that God is. This we gather from His works. For, as we
perceive His wisdom, His goodness, and all His invisible things from
the creation of the world, cf.
Rom. i. 20. so we know
Him. So, too, we accept Him as our Lord. For since God is
the Creator of the whole world, and we are a part of the world, God is
our Creator. This knowledge is followed by faith, and this faith
by worship.