Person And Analogy
According to Boethius' precise definition of its features, the person signifies 'that which is most perfect perfectissimum in all of nature' and thus the name person is eminently applicable to God.i7 Like most other theologians,is Thomas recognizes that the name person is a term which is applied analogously, in diverse modalities, to human beings, to angels, and to God. As with all analogous attribution, one has to be aware of the fact that one is in the presence of a perfection which God...
The Problems Of Arianism And Of Sabellianism
Trinitarian theology is looking for an analogy which gives due respect to its subject, and which enables it to bring an authentic procession within God to light. Refining on what the analogy must do, St Thomas adds that it must enable one to grasp an 'immanent procession'. The starting-point of the Trinitarian treatise is the idea of 'immanent procession'. Thomas' reflection is based on an interpretation of the problems of Arianism and Sabellianism because they conceive procession like a...
Biblical Exegesis And Trinitarian Theology
The previous chapter brought to our attention some fundamental features of Thomas' reading of Scripture Written in the faith of the Church, Scripture 1 Thus, for instance, the question of our knowledge of God 'How can we know God ' and that of our language for God the 'divine names' are not placed at the beginning of the treatise on God, but in the middle of it ST I, qq. 12-13 , after the discussions of the existence of God and of the attributes of God's being. directs us to the divinity of the...
The Revelation Of The Trinity Through Its Works
We must distinguish the pathway by which we discover the Trinity the Trinity's self-revelation by acting in the world from the way in which theological understanding lays out the revealed mystery the processions and the eternal properties of the persons , illuminating their action in the world. On the path giving us access to the Trinitarian mystery, the manifestation of the Trinity through the action of the Son and the Holy Spirit takes precedence. According to the Apostolic witness, the...
Thomas Exposition of Speculative Trinitarian Theology
In order correctly to understand Thomas' treatise on Trinitarian theology in the Summa Theologiae, one has to begin by paying attention to the broad underlying intention in his presentation of the treatise. Thomas does not launch his treatise with epistemological and methodological prologues, describing his intention. He refines it in the course of his research, when particular questions come up, following the procedure which one can see in other parts of the Summa the epistemological elements...