--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: A Christian receives divine wisdom in…" description: "\"A Christian receives divine wisdom in three ways: by the commandments, teachings, and faith. The commandments free the mind from passions. Teachings le..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f24/maximus-the-confessor-7435_christian_a-christian-receives-divine-wisdom-in-th_321874.jpg" --- # A Christian receives divine wisdom in three ways: by the… ![“A Christian receives divine wisdom in three ways: by the commandments, teachings, and faith. The commandments free the mind from passions. Teachings lead it to true knowledge of nature. Faith leads to the contemplation of the Holy Trinity.” quote by Maximus the Confessor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f24/maximus-the-confessor-7435_christian_a-christian-receives-divine-wisdom-in-th_321874.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f24/maximus-the-confessor-7435_christian_a-christian-receives-divine-wisdom-in-th_321874.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f24/maximus-the-confessor-7435_christian_a-christian-receives-divine-wisdom-in-th_321874.jpg) > “A Christian receives divine wisdom in three ways: by the commandments, teachings, and faith. The commandments free the mind from passions. Teachings lead it to true knowledge of nature. Faith leads to the contemplation of the Holy Trinity.” [Maximus the Confessor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maximus-the-confessor/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Divine wisdom is accessed through commandments (freedom from passion), teachings (knowledge of nature), and faith (contemplation of the Trinity). **In simple terms:** Wisdom comes via law, learning, and faith. Key Takeaway Balance obedience, study, and belief. Themes faith knowledge spiritual discipline Mood contemplative educational Type theological philosophical When to use this quote - moral decision‑making - educational pursuits - prayer life Key Concepts theology philosophy Questions to Reflect On - How do you integrate law, learning, and faith? - Which aspect feels most challenging? A Different Perspective Overemphasis on one path may neglect others. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Christian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/christian/) [Commandments](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/commandments/) [Contemplation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/contemplation/) [Divine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/divine/) [Divine wisdom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/divine-wisdom/) [Education](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/education/) [Faith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/faith/) [Faith Commandments](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/faith-commandments-3031379/) [Holy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/holy/) [Holy trinity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/holy-trinity/) [Inspirational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspirational/) [Mind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mind/) [Orthodox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/orthodox/) [Passion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/passion/) [Religious](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religious/) [Teaching](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/teaching/) [Teachings Faith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/teachings-faith-1689863/) [Three](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/three/) [Three ways](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/three-ways/) [Trinity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/trinity/) [True knowledge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/true-knowledge/) [Way](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/way/) [Ways Commandments](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ways-commandments-3031380/) [Wisdom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wisdom/) ## Related quotes > [“An interesting aspect of Cayce’s teachings on faith is that he perceived virtue as a fruit of faith. (262-18) As one lives in faith,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-van-auken/an-interesting-aspect-of-cayce-s-teachings-on-faith-is-that-he/) [John Van Auken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-van-auken/) > [ Have faith to keep all the commandments of God, knowing that they are given to bless His children and bring them joy. \[You\] will… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-m-nelson/have-faith-to-keep-all-the-commandments-of-god-knowing-that-they-are/) [Russell M. Nelson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-m-nelson/) > [There have always existed three ways of keeping the people loving and loyal. One is to leave them alone, to trust them and not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elbert-hubbard/there-have-always-existed-three-ways-of-keeping-the-people-loving-and/) [Elbert Hubbard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elbert-hubbard/) > [The Sufis say there are three ways to know fire - by hearing it described, by seeing it, or by being burned.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/huston-smith/the-sufis-say-there-are-three-ways-to-know-fire-by-hearing-it/) [Huston Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/huston-smith/) > [Within the Church, sins are forgiven in three ways: by baptism, by prayer, and by the greater humility of penance; yet God does not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saint-augustine/within-the-church-sins-are-forgiven-in-three-ways-by-baptism-by/) [Saint Augustine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saint-augustine/) > [God answers prayer in three ways: yes, no, and wait awhile.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-vincent-peale/god-answers-prayer-in-three-ways-yes-no-and-wait-awhile/) [Norman Vincent Peale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-vincent-peale/) > [There are three ways of trying to win the young. There is persuasion, there is compulsion, and there is attraction. You can preach at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-hahn/there-are-three-ways-of-trying-to-win-the-young-there-is-persuasion/) [Kurt Hahn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-hahn/) > [The goal in blogging/ business/ inspiring non-fiction is to share a truth, or at least a truth as the writer sees it. To not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seth-godin/the-goal-in-blogging-business-inspiring-non-fiction-is-to-share-a/) [Seth Godin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seth-godin/) > [Just for today I will exercise my soul in three ways: I will do somebody a good turn and not get found out. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-james/just-for-today-i-will-exercise-my-soul-in-three-ways-i-will-do/) [William James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-james/) > [There seem to be but three ways for a nation to acquire wealth. The first is by war, as the Romans did, in plundering…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/there-seem-to-be-but-three-ways-for-a-nation-to-acquire-wealth-the/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) > [There are three way of courting ruin -- women, gambling, and calling in technicians.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/georges-pompidou/there-are-three-way-of-courting-ruin-women-gambling-and-calling-in/) [Georges Pompidou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/georges-pompidou/) > [When I do eventually drop, I pray to God that it'll happen in one of three ways. Firstly, on stage or leaving the stage,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/b-b-king/when-i-do-eventually-drop-i-pray-to-god-that-it-ll-happen-in-one-of/) [B. B. King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/b-b-king/) > [Institutionalized rejection of differences is an absolute necessity in a profit economy which needs outsiders as surplus people. As members of such an economy,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/audre-lorde/institutionalized-rejection-of-differences-is-an-absolute-necessity/) [Audre Lorde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/audre-lorde/) > [I'm very encouraged. This is progress. There are two or three ways to combat homophobia - one is through humor. The second is to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leslie-jordan/i-m-very-encouraged-this-is-progress-there-are-two-or-three-ways-to/) [Leslie Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leslie-jordan/) > [There are but three ways for the populace to escape its wretched lot. The first two are by the routes of the wine-shop or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mikhail-bakunin/there-are-but-three-ways-for-the-populace-to-escape-its-wretched-lot/) [Mikhail Bakunin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mikhail-bakunin/) ## More by Maximus the Confessor > [When what has been created in time according to the temporal order has reached maturity, it ceases from natural growth. But when what has…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maximus-the-confessor/when-what-has-been-created-in-time-according-to-the-temporal-order/) [Maximus the Confessor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maximus-the-confessor/) > [There are lots of those who speak but few who do. However, no one should distort the word of God by his own negligence,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maximus-the-confessor/there-are-lots-of-those-who-speak-but-few-who-do-however-no-one/) [Maximus the Confessor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maximus-the-confessor/) > [If you make provision for the desires of the flesh and bear a grudge against your neighbor on account of something transitory, you worship…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maximus-the-confessor/if-you-make-provision-for-the-desires-of-the-flesh-and-bear-a-grudge/) [Maximus the Confessor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maximus-the-confessor/) > [The Logos came down out of love for us. Let us not keep Him down permanently, but let us go up with Him to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maximus-the-confessor/the-logos-came-down-out-of-love-for-us-let-us-not-keep-him-down/) [Maximus the Confessor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maximus-the-confessor/) > [Whatever a man loves he inevitably clings to, and in order not to lose it he rejects everything that keeps him from it. So…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maximus-the-confessor/whatever-a-man-loves-he-inevitably-clings-to-and-in-order-not-to-lose/) [Maximus the Confessor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maximus-the-confessor/) > [A passion is a contranatural movement of the soul or an irrational love, or an blindfold hatred toward any material thing, or because of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maximus-the-confessor/a-passion-is-a-contranatural-movement-of-the-soul-or-an-irrational/) [Maximus the Confessor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maximus-the-confessor/) > [Unclean spirits increase the passions in us, making use of our negligence, and inciting them. But the angels decrease our passions, inciting us to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maximus-the-confessor/unclean-spirits-increase-the-passions-in-us-making-use-of-our/) [Maximus the Confessor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maximus-the-confessor/) > [For him who is perfect in love and has reached the summit of dispassion there is no difference between his own or another's, or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maximus-the-confessor/for-him-who-is-perfect-in-love-and-has-reached-the-summit-of/) [Maximus the Confessor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maximus-the-confessor/) > [Peace is truly the complete and undisturbed possession of what is desired.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maximus-the-confessor/peace-is-truly-the-complete-and-undisturbed-possession-of-what-is/) [Maximus the Confessor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maximus-the-confessor/) > [Whoever sees in himself the traces of hatred toward any man on account of any kind of sin is completely foreign to the love…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maximus-the-confessor/whoever-sees-in-himself-the-traces-of-hatred-toward-any-man-on/) [Maximus the Confessor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maximus-the-confessor/) > [As we have borne the image of the earthy, let us also bear the image of the heavenly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maximus-the-confessor/as-we-have-borne-the-image-of-the-earthy-let-us-also-bear-the-image/) [Maximus the Confessor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maximus-the-confessor/) > ['The long-suffering man abounds in understanding' (Prov. 14:29), because he endures everything to the end and, while awaiting that end, patiently bears his distress.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maximus-the-confessor/the-long-suffering-man-abounds-in-understanding-prov-14-29-because-he/) [Maximus the Confessor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maximus-the-confessor/) > [If everything that exists was made by God and for God, and God is superior to the things made by Him, he who abandons…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maximus-the-confessor/if-everything-that-exists-was-made-by-god-and-for-god-and-god-is/) [Maximus the Confessor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maximus-the-confessor/) > [The person who truly wishes to be healed is he who does not refuse treatment. This treatment consists of the pain and distress brought…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maximus-the-confessor/the-person-who-truly-wishes-to-be-healed-is-he-who-does-not-refuse/) [Maximus the Confessor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maximus-the-confessor/) > [If the divine Logos of God the Father became son of man and man so that He might make men gods and the sons…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maximus-the-confessor/if-the-divine-logos-of-god-the-father-became-son-of-man-and-man-so/) [Maximus the Confessor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maximus-the-confessor/) [Explore all 91 Maximus the Confessor quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maximus-the-confessor/) ## More Christian quotes > [I need a bath." He chuckled. "You smell of smoke, as do I." The duke turned, leaning heavily on his cane. "Jameson, open the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-hawkins/i-need-a-bath-he-chuckled-you-smell-of-smoke-as-do-i-the-duke-turned/) [Karen Hawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-hawkins/) > [I think, here's what I've realized from interviewing people, and I've been very open about my Catholicism and my love of Christ and I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-mohr/i-think-here-s-what-i-ve-realized-from-interviewing-people-and-i-ve/) [Jay Mohr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-mohr/) > [The truth is, of course, that the curtness of the Ten Commandments is an evidence, not of the gloom and narrowness of a religion,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-truth-is-of-course-that-the-curtness-of-the-ten-commandments-is/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Why do Christians sing when they are together? The reason is, quite simply, because in singing together it is possible for them to speak…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dietrich-bonhoeffer/why-do-christians-sing-when-they-are-together-the-reason-is-quite/) [Dietrich Bonhoeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dietrich-bonhoeffer/) > [I'm very used to working with first time actors - you can just look back at 'E.T.' with Drew Barrymore, and Christian Bale from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-spielberg/i-m-very-used-to-working-with-first-time-actors-you-can-just-look/) [Steven Spielberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-spielberg/) > [“A question for Christians who accept evolution: When did we gain a "soul"? Did Homo habilis have a soul? Homo ergaster? Did God only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-g-mcafee/a-question-for-christians-who-accept-evolution-when-did-we-gain-a/) [David G. McAfee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-g-mcafee/) > [Always have the fear of God in your heart, and remember that God is always with you, everywhere, whether you are walking or sitting.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gennadius-of-constantinople/always-have-the-fear-of-god-in-your-heart-and-remember-that-god-is/) [Gennadius of Constantinople](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gennadius-of-constantinople/) > [For many, the call to be a Christian can seem demanding, even overwhelming. But we need not be afraid or feel inadequate. The Savior…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-d-hales/for-many-the-call-to-be-a-christian-can-seem-demanding-even/) [Robert D. Hales](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-d-hales/) > [A real Christian in an odd number anyway. He feels supreme love for One whom he has never seen, talks familiarly every day to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/a-real-christian-in-an-odd-number-anyway-he-feels-supreme-love-for/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [When the Lord Jesus Christ became my surety . . . He went to Calvary's cross, and all my guilt was charged against Him.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-allen-ironside/when-the-lord-jesus-christ-became-my-surety-he-went-to-calvary-s/) [Henry Allen Ironside](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-allen-ironside/) > [The world's history is a divine poem, of which the history of every nation is a canto, and every man a word. Its strains…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-a-garfield/the-world-s-history-is-a-divine-poem-of-which-the-history-of-every/) [James A. Garfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-a-garfield/) > [Poor David Hume is dying fast, but with more real cheerfulness and good humor and with more real resignation to the necessary course of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-smith/poor-david-hume-is-dying-fast-but-with-more-real-cheerfulness-and/) [Adam Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-smith/) > [“Is there any holy beings like human beings?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lailah-gifty-akita/is-there-any-holy-beings-like-human-beings/) [Lailah Gifty Akita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lailah-gifty-akita/) > [Jeff Chu's pilgrimage across America to discover his own place as a gay man in the Christian church as well as attitudes about being…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donna-freitas/jeff-chu-s-pilgrimage-across-america-to-discover-his-own-place-as-a/) [Donna Freitas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donna-freitas/) > [We need to discover all over again that worship is natural to the Christian, as it was to the godly Israelites who wrote the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-i-packer/we-need-to-discover-all-over-again-that-worship-is-natural-to-the/) [J. I. Packer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-i-packer/) [Browse all 14,306 Christian quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/christian/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "A Christian receives divine wisdom in three ways: by the commandments, teachings, and faith. The commandments free the mind from passions. Teachings lead it to true knowledge of nature. Faith leads to the contemplation of the Holy Trinity.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Maximus the Confessor" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maximus-the-confessor/a-christian-receives-divine-wisdom-in-three-ways-by-the-commandments/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Christian" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maximus-the-confessor/a-christian-receives-divine-wisdom-in-three-ways-by-the-commandments/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f24/maximus-the-confessor-7435_christian_a-christian-receives-divine-wisdom-in-th_321874.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f24/maximus-the-confessor-7435_christian_a-christian-receives-divine-wisdom-in-th_321874.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f24/maximus-the-confessor-7435_christian_a-christian-receives-divine-wisdom-in-th_321874.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“A Christian receives divine wisdom in three ways: by the commandments, teachings, and faith. The…” — Maximus the Confessor", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Maximus the Confessor", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maximus-the-confessor/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "A Christian receives divine wisdom in...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maximus-the-confessor/a-christian-receives-divine-wisdom-in-three-ways-by-the-commandments/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maximus-the-confessor/a-christian-receives-divine-wisdom-in-three-ways-by-the-commandments/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```