The seven capital virtues (also known as the contrary or remedial virtues) are those thought to stand in opposition to the seven capital vices (or deadly sins). Thomas Aquinas believed that while the cardinal virtues could be formed through habitual practice, the theological virtues could only be practised by divine grace. The traditional understanding of the difference between cardinal and theological virtues is that the latter are not fully accessible to humans in their natural state without assistance from God. The theological virtues are those named by Paul the Apostle in 1 Corinthians 13: 'And now faith, hope, and love abide, these three and the greatest of these is love.' The third virtue is also commonly referred to as 'charity', as this is how the influential King James Bible translated the Greek word agape.
