“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Against such things there is no law.” – Galatians 5:22–23 (BSB)
“For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith virtue; and to virtue, knowledge… For if you possess these qualities and continue to grow in them, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.” – 2 Peter 1:5, 8 (BSB)
“And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that you may be able to discern what is best, and be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.” – Philippians 1:9–11 (BSB)
“For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all men. It instructs us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live sensible, upright, and godly lives in the present age.” – Titus 2:11–12 (BSB)
Virtues not only shape our character but also enable us to resist sin and walk in freedom. Fr. Thomas Buchan (Anglican Union, St. Mark’s Anglican Church, VA) writes, “Without virtue, the soul becomes vulnerable to every passion. But where virtue grows, sin is weakened, and peace takes root.” (The Life Formed by Grace, 2022)
Virtues also reflect God to the world. Bishop David Epps (CEEC – Anglican, Diocese of the Mid-South) observes, “The world does not need louder Christians—it needs holier ones. The witness of a virtuous life is unshakable and radiant. It tells the truth about Christ without needing many words.” (The Witness of Character, 2020)
Anglican tradition regards the pursuit of virtue as central to spiritual formation. Canon George Grant (ACNA, Parish Presbyterian Church, TN) says, “Virtue does not save us, but it shows that we are saved. It is the lifelong fruit of grace working deeply and quietly, reshaping what we love and how we live.” (Recovering Anglican Piety, 2019)
Bishop Dan Gifford (ANiC, Diocese of Western Canada and Alaska) adds, “Virtue prepares us for glory. Each act of faithfulness is a step toward our eternal inheritance. The virtues do not make us worthy of heaven—but they make us ready for it.” (Sanctification and the Journey Home, 2023)
“The virtues are the training of the saints. Through them, the soul is strengthened, the passions are tamed, and Christ is made visible.” – Basil the Great, On the Rule of Monks, c. 375 AD
“He who seeks heaven must walk the path of virtue. It is the road that Christ Himself has walked and now calls us to follow.” – Augustine of Hippo, On Christian Living, c. 400 AD
“Let no man say virtue is natural. It is the work of grace and the fruit of obedience, grown in the garden of the Church.” – Cyprian of Carthage, On the Unity of the Church, c. 250 AD
An Anglican Catechism (Expanded) offers over 350+ Scripture-based answers to the core truths of the Christian faith. Each entry includes biblical texts, theological insight, and reflections from historic and contemporary Anglican voices. Rooted in the classical tradition, it is designed for teaching, discipleship, and spiritual formation.
An Ancient Worship Movement invites readers into the rich, historic worship of the early Church rediscovered through the Anglican tradition. This book calls believers into a deeper, Spirit-filled encounter with Christ through timeless practices.
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St. Thomas Church is a Church planting movement in ancient tradition.
