Translator'S Foreword
TRANSLATOR'S FOREWORD
The purpose of the present translation is to make available to an English-speaking audience a text of trinitarian theology which is unique in the history of Christian thought. The distinctiveness of the text lies in the fact that it carries out an analysis of the interrelationship between philosophical metaphysics and trinitarian doctrine with an explicitness and thoroughness seldom if ever found elsewhere.
A quick glance at the text reveals the fact that it is a highly specialized treatise which makes no pretense of presenting the basic trinitarian issues. For this reason, the text published without an adequate introduction would be useable only for those who are already thoroughly familiar with the trinitarian thought of the Seraphic Doctor and have some awareness of its place in the history of theology. Since English readings in this area are virtually nonexistent, it was felt necessary to include a rather lengthy introduction.
After locating Bonaventure's thought historically, we have presented a detailed statement of his approach to the major trinitarian questions. Because of the nature of this material, these two chapters have been heavily documented. The third chapter is an essay-introduction to the content of the Questions on the Trinity presented in this volume. Since the first of the questions deals with genuine foundational issues, it was felt advisable to treat this with considerable completeness with a fully documented text that works out the relation between the materials treated here and the other writings of Bonaventure. Beginning with the second question, the nature of the materials seemed to exclude the necessity of such an approach.
Since there is no other place in his works where Bonaventure carries out the project which he here undertakes, it was felt advisable to limit the introductory remarks to an analysis of the Questions themselves. The relation between the introduction and the Questions from here to the end seems too self-evident to warrant any further documentation.
It is our hope that the inclusion of such an introduction, lengthy as it is, will serve to make the publication of this translation all the more serviceable to the reader.
ZACHARY Hayes, O.F.M.
Catholic Theological Union Chicago, Illinois December 21, 1977
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