Lines 64-69: “faith is the substance of things hoped for…and then among the arguments.”

· This passage includes the discussion between St. Peter and the pilgrim (Dante) regarding faith. Dante replies with a reference to Hebrews 1:11 which states, “Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.” Dante expresses to Peter here that he does not need physical proof; he only needs his faith, which he confesses to have in abundance.

Lines 82-94: “This breathed forth…is a syllogism that has concluded for me...”

· This continues the discussion of faith over proof. According to Barolini’s observation “By proceeding rationally and logically, he [Dante] finds an extremely effective way to make us think about faith: the essence of faith is the capacity to believe without proof, without the evidence of logic or syllogistic reasoning.” (Paradiso Canto 24, paragraph 6).

Lines 91-96: “…whence did it come to you…every demonstration seems dulled.”

· These lines discuss the importance of the New and Old Testament combined for faith in the Holy Spirit. Moevs discusses Dante’s proof of faith by stating the evidence of the Holy Spirit that lives within him. This presence of the Holy Spirit came through the syllogism of the Old and New Testaments that Dante knows to be true. He states in his piece, “Dante is saying that this syllogism, through which the words of Scripture result in faith, in a belief in what cannot be seen, has a greater vis conseuentiae, a. greater force of persuasion or conclusion, than any rational demonstration: than any syllogism.” (72).

Lines 124-126 “O holy father and spirit who you see now…feet toward the tomb.”

· Here Dante is affirming his faith to St. Peter. He begins by telling Peter that he will believe his faith just like he believed when he saw Jesus’ empty tomb. This is in reference to Jesus’ resurrection on Easter Sunday as described in John 20:3-8. Durling’s notes mention that Dante may have misread this scripture (497). One can understand this stance if they were to read John 20:9 “They still did not understand from Scripture that Jesus had to rise from the dead.” Furthermore, Jesus sends word of his resurrection to the Disciples through Mary Magdalene after appearing to her in person in John 20:17-18 and then in person directly to the disciples showing them proof in his crucifixion scars in John 20:19-20. These verses following John 20:8 make it clear that the disciples were not yet convinced of Christ’s resurrection and believe his body to have been stolen. In truth, Peter did eventually believe in Jesus’ resurrection when he was presented with enough proof, which is the same sentiment that Dante is trying to make when proving his faith to Peter.

Lines 130-154 “And I reply: I believe in one God…in my speech I pleased him!”

· Dante begins his proof of faith by reciting the parts of the Nicene Creed (Durling 498). Though not directly biblical, Dante uses this tool because it was (and currently is) a commonly practiced confession of the church as a statement of faith. He also emphasizes his faith by confessing the existence of the Holy Trinity: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit in lines 139-141 when he mentions “…three Persons eternal, and these I believe to be an Essence so one and so trine that it supports both are and is” (485). This confession is made more clear by the capitalization of the proper nouns “Persons” and “Essence” in referring to God. Dante ends his confession with the mention of the Gospel since it is the fulfillment of the Old Testament that contains the means of salvation.