Index
active power, 138
Adam and Eve, 352–356, 380–384. See also Original Sin
agent causation
creation and, 139, 142
effect of, 72, 79
ends and, 198–202, 214
evil and, 207
existence of God and, 40, 47, 53–54
God’s life and, 118
intellect and, 183
penance and, 371
providence and, 246, 263
Trinity and, 322
Alexander of Aphrodisias, 186, 234
Alston, William, 33
Ambrose (Saint), 353
angels
evil and, 204
existence of, 170, 190–192, 196
Incarnation and, 357
intellect of, 170, 179, 181, 190–192, 196–197
as spiritual, 253
will of, 361
Antioch, 328
Apollinarius, 328
Apostles’ Creed, 6, 12, 169, 298
Aquinas, Thomas. See also specific works and topics
biblical commentaries by, 5
canonization of, 3
on efficient causation, 53–54
on existence and nonexistence, 54–55
on knowledge, 99–102
life of, 3–5
on motion, 49–52
on Summa Contra Gentiles, 10–16
writings of, 5–8
Aristotle
on acting for an end, 215
on animate vs. inanimate, 120
Aquinas commentaries on, 5–6
on causes, 17
on demonstration, 11, 25
on efficient causation, 53
on essence, 60
on existence, 23
on goodness, 86
on happiness, 239
influence on Aquinas, 36, 115
on intellect, 103
language of, 368, 370
on motion, 42
on necessity of creatures, 152–153
philosophy of, 371
on substances, 368–371
on temporal measurements, 56
on truth, 46–47
on virtues, 96
articles of faith, 14, 16. See also faith
Athanasius (Saint), 353
Augustine (Saint)
on goodness of God, 28, 90
on human understanding of incorporeal substances, 234–235
influence of, 3
on Original Sin, 353, 380
on Trinity, 315
Avempace, 234
Ayer, A. J., 26
baptism, 353, 356, 364, 366–367, 371–372
Basel, 364
Basel, Council of (1431–1435), 364
beatific vision
blessedness and, 120–121, 134
Christ’s knowledge of, 348
God’s love shown through, 274
grace and, 287, 293
happiness and, 240–243
Incarnation and, 359, 364
mortal sin and, 284
resurrection and, 378–379, 389–390
sin and, 371
beatitude. See also blessedness
as divine nature, 132–133
grace and, 286–287, 293–294
Incarnation and, 357, 359–360
ultimate felicity and, 236–240
biblical references
Genesis 1, 166
Genesis 3, 353
Exodus 20, 274
Exodus 33:23, 63
Job 19:25–27, 375
Job 26:145, 299
Psalm 2:7, 305
Psalm 19:1, 171
Psalm 136, 85
Proverbs 8:7, 7
Proverbs 8:24–30, 305
Proverbs 30:4, 305
Isaiah 40:25, 64
Isaiah 65:17–18, 390
Matthew 11:27, 305
Matthew 16:19, 371
Matthew 18:18, 371
Matthew 19:16–22, 281
Matthew 19:28, 379
Matthew 22:30, 378
Matthew 26:26, 367
Matthew 26:38, 327, 329
Matthew 28:19, 312
Mark 14:22, 367
Luke 1:35, 338
Luke 22:19, 367
Luke 24:36–50, 384
Luke 24:37–39, 328
John 1:1–14, 300
John 1:3, 305
John 1:14, 302, 328
John 3:13, 305
John 3:35, 305
John 4:24, 63
John 5:25–28, 375
John 5:27, 379
John 6:56, 367
John 10:30, 327
John 14:28, 327
John 15:26, 300, 312
John 16:1, 300
John 16:15, 327
John 20:19, 384
John 20:21–23, 371
Acts 17, 30
Romans 1:1–3, 305
Romans 1:3, 328
Romans 1:18, 31
Romans 1:19–20, 31
Romans 1:19–23, 31
Romans 1:20, 25, 31
Romans 1:24–27, 31
Romans 1:28–32, 31
Romans 5:12–21, 353
Romans 5:19, 352
Romans 9:5, 306
1 Corinthians 7:31, 380
1 Corinthians 11:21, 369
1 Corinthians 12:8–10, 288
1 Corinthians 13:12, 235
1 Corinthians 15:4–9, 384
1 Corinthians 15:12–18, 375, 384
1 Corinthians 15:22, 353
1 Corinthians 15:35–36, 385
1 Corinthians 15:37–38, 385
2 Corinthians 12, 33
Galatians 4:4, 328
Ephesians 4:10, 328
Philippians 2:6, 305
Philippians 2:6–7, 327
Philippians 2:6–9, 328
Colossians 1:15, 63
Colossians 2:9, 306
1 Timothy 1:17, 63
Hebrews 1:5, 306
Hebrews 1:6, 305
James 5:14, 372
James 5:16, 371
2 Peter 3:7, 380
1 John 5:7, 312
1 John 5:16–17, 283
1 John 5:20, 306
Apocalypse/Revelation 21:1, 390
Biddle, John, 65
big bang theory, 166
blessedness, 116–121, 123, 125, 127, 129–133, 135. See also beatitude; ultimate felicity
bodily pleasure, 227–229, 239, 242, 390
Butler, Joseph, 387
capital punishment, 285
Cassino, Monte, 3
Catechism of the Catholic Church (1994), 380
Categories (Aristotle), 301
Catholic Church, 3, 166, 168, 298, 374, 380, 382
causation
agents and, 201
of being, 246
creation and, 146
direct, 213, 255
efficient, 52–54
intellect and, 194
knowledge and, 109, 111
providence and, 263
secondary, 252–253
universal, 365
Cerinthus, 305
Chalcedon, Council of (451), 298, 318, 326, 341, 350–351
Chesterton, G. K., 381
choice
desire and, 173–174
freedom of, 121, 128–129, 255, 263, 289–290
intellect and, 173–175
providence and, 250–251, 263–265
Christ. See Incarnation; Jesus Christ
Christian doctrine, 65, 150, 239, 357, 368, 384
Chronicle of the King of Aragon, James I (Marsilio), 9
church councils, 12, 318. See also specific councils by name
Cistercian Abbey, 3
Compendium Theologiae (Aquinas), 6
confirmation as sacrament, 366–367
Constantinople, Fourth Council of (869–870), 48
contingency, 127, 151, 249–250
Contra Impugnantes Dei Cultum et Religionem (Against Opponents of the Worship of God and Religion) (Aquinas), 4
corruption, 57, 87, 178, 209, 249, 376, 379, 385
Council of Basel (1431–1435), 364
Council of Chalcedon (451), 298, 318, 326, 341, 350–351
Council of Florence (1439), 315
Council of Lyons (1274), 315
Council of Trent (1545–1563), 364, 380, 382
Craig, William Lane, 266, 323–324
creation
aiming at God, 222–227
distinctions among, 160–166
divine nature and, 155–156
eternity and, 158–160
existence of, 136, 138, 152–157, 172
making of, 155, 157–158
nature of, 137, 306
necessity in, 151–152
operations of, 246–247
arguments for, 140–142
bringing forth things into being, 137–138
creation “from nothing,” 142
omnipotence and, 144–146, 149–150
power of, 138
Creel, Richard, 390
Cutler, John, 386
Darwin, Charles, 161
Davis, Stephen T., 388
De Aeternitate Mundi (On the Eternity of the World) (Aquinas), 41
De Anima (On the Soul) (Aristotle), 5
De Ente et Essentia (On Being and Essence) (Aquinas), 5
De Malo (On Evil) (Aquinas), 6
De Potentia (On the Power of God) (Aquinas), 6
De Principiis Naturae (On the Principles of Nature) (Aquinas), 4, 5, 18–19, 214
Descartes, René, 175–176, 179–180, 183, 193
desire
choice and, 173–174
contingency and, 249
in creatures, 156
ends and, 200, 224, 226
evil and, 202
fornication and, 278
for goodness, 87
grace and, 288
Incarnation and, 329, 363
knowledge and, 103
penance and, 371
providence and, 257–258
Trinity and, 312–313
ultimate felicity and, 228, 233, 237–240, 242
will and, 117–118, 122, 125
De Trinitate (On the Trinity) (Augustine), 4, 6, 8, 90
De Veritate (Disputed Questions of Truth) (Aquinas), 6
discursive knowledge, 107
divine essence
beatitude and, 238
existence of God and, 22–23
God’s knowledge and, 104–106, 111
God’s will and, 121–123, 126
Incarnation and, 332, 334, 339, 341–342, 346, 360
omnipotence and, 146, 150
resurrection and, 389
Trinity and, 307–312, 322
The Divine Names (Pseudo-Dionysius), 5
divine nature. See also Trinity
existence of God and, 25, 31
goodness, 122, 125, 130, 171, 198, 225, 244, 258
grace in, 288–290
Incarnation and, 327, 331–334, 339, 341, 344–345, 347–350, 358–360, 362
intellect in, 105, 107, 109, 146, 157, 172, 238, 309
knowledge, 107, 113, 116, 226
law in, 270, 272–275, 277, 280–283, 285, 293–294
omnipotence, 149–150, 291
oneness of, 92
power in, 238, 245, 247, 260–261, 286, 328, 366, 368, 377
simplicity of, 59, 61
Trinity and, 300–301, 303–304, 306–307, 309–311, 322, 325
truth in, 136, 288, 299, 361
divine revelation
blessedness and, 120
faith vs. demonstration, 22–23
grace and, 288, 294
knowledge of God outside, 7, 17
miracles and, 268
natural theology and, 26, 30
reason harmonized with, 13
reason without, 7, 11
resurrection and, 384
Trinity and, 298–299, 309, 319, 321
ultimate felicity and, 240–242
divorce, 278
Dominic Guzman, 4
Donatists, 367
dualism, 193
Ebionites, 305
Eden, 63
election, 293
emotions, 54, 121, 129–130, 145, 371
Empedocles, 163
ends
acting for, 213–214
agents and, 198–202
desire and, 200, 224, 226
essence. See also divine essence
beatitude and, 237–238
causation and, 163
evil and, 206–207, 210–213, 219
existence and, 20, 22–23, 25
goodness and, 88–89, 92
grace and, 287
Incarnation and, 330–331, 333, 346
intellect and, 177, 181, 188–189
knowledge and, 102, 104–109
miracles and, 260
omnipotence and, 138, 144–146
resurrection and, 376, 385
simplicity and, 59–61, 63, 65, 68
Trinity and, 306–309, 311–313, 320, 324
ultimate felicity and, 233, 235
will and, 121–122, 126, 128
divine eternity, 56–57
matter and, 57–58
noncomposite nature of God and, 58–59
passive potency and, 57–58
Eutyches, 328
Eve. See Adam and Eve
agents and, 198–199
beatitude and, 236
existence of God and, 27–28
God’s will and, 121, 131
grace and, 291–292
highest, 213
Incarnation and, 354
knowledge and, 102, 109, 112
not present in God, 89–90, 93–94, 97
privation and, 215–221
providence and, 248–249
punishments for, 284–285
reality of, 28, 206
resurrection and, 374, 379
sexual intercourse and, 279
ultimate felicity and, 229
approaching question of, 17–35
arguments for, 36–45
efficient causation and, 53–54
existence and nonexistence, 54–55
faith vs. demonstration, 22–25
motion and, 49–53
natural theology and, 17–22, 26–32, 45–55
as self-evident, 32–35
Expositio Libri Perihermeneias (Aquinas), 5
Expositio Libri Posteriorum (Aquinas), 5
extreme unction, 372
faith
articles of, 14, 16
blessedness and, 120
distinction among creatures and, 168
Eucharist and, 367
grace and, 287–288
Incarnation and, 340, 348, 359, 361, 363
intellect and, 190
natural theology and, 22, 29
necessity in creatures and, 153
omnipotence and, 137
Original Sin and, 382
resurrection and, 375
Trinity and, 298–299
ultimate felicity and, 232–233, 240
worship of God and, 275
felicity. See happiness; ultimate felicity
first mover, 41–43, 91, 98, 103, 109, 146–147
First Vatican Council (1869–1870), 30, 48
Florence, Council of (1439), 315
food, 280
Fourth Council of Constantinople (869–870), 48
Fourth Lateran Council (1215), 48, 166, 371
Francis of Paris, 268
Franciscans, 4
Frederick II (emperor), 3
freedom of choice, 121, 128–129, 255, 263, 289–290
Frege, Gottlob, 67
Galen, 186
Gauthier, René-Antoine, 8, 9, 10
Geach, Peter
on God’s knowledge, 115
on goodness, 95
on Incarnation, 345
on real change vs. Cambridge change, 147–148
on resurrection, 385–386
on Trinity, 321, 324
God. See also divine essence; divine nature
blessedness of, 120–121, 132–133
as eternal and simple, 56–71
existence of, 17–55
goodness of, 65–66, 74–75, 81–82, 85–87, 93–94, 97
incarnation of, 326–351
as intelligent, 103–104
knowledge of, 30–31, 34, 81, 99–115, 232–237, 299, 301, 321
life of, 118–120, 132
as noncomposite, 58–59
as omnipotent creator, 137–150
passive vs. active power in, 138
as simple, 59–62
talking about, 72–84
will of, 116–118, 121–131
worship of, 275–276
Gödel, Kurt, 343
creation and, 154, 156, 163
defining, 74–75, 77–78, 81–83
ends and, 222–226
evil and, 89–90, 93–94, 203–207, 211–213, 216, 218–221
existence of God and, 47
God’s will and, 118, 121–131, 133, 135
grace and, 286, 289
Incarnation and, 354–355, 360
intellect and, 170–171
miracles and, 260
omnipotence and, 137–138
providence and, 244–245, 249, 257–258
simplicity of divine nature and, 67
grace
existence of God and, 34
Incarnation and, 355–356, 358, 363
love and, 273
ordination and, 373–374
penance and, 371
providence and, 270, 286–293
resurrection and, 377, 380
sacraments and, 365–367, 373–374
sanctifying, 286–287
Gregory IX (Pope), 3
Gregory the Great (Saint), 6
happiness, 228–233, 235–236, 239, 241–243, 389. See also blessedness; ultimate felicity
Hellenistic Judaism, 31
Hick, John, 342
Holy Spirit
as divine, 312–317
Incarnation and, 330, 336, 338, 355, 362
in Trinity, 12, 298–301, 303–305, 307, 309, 311–312, 319–323, 325
Homer, 26
Humani Generis (Pius XII), 382
human nature
goodness and, 88–89
Incarnation and, 327–328, 330–334, 336–340, 344–345, 348, 357–363
omnipotence and, 144
Original Sin and, 354–355
providence and, 281
resurrection and, 376
ultimate felicity and, 240
Humbert of Romans, 9
Hume, David, 26, 53–54, 63, 268–269
hypostasis, 329–333, 338–341, 343, 348, 349
Ibn Rushd, 10
idealism, 113
arguments against belief in, 332–333
heresy and, 328–330
Original Sin and, 353–355, 383
reasoning on, 330–339
resurrection and, 374–375, 380
suitability of, 352–363
Trinity and, 297–300
understanding, 333–336
act and potency of, 177
freedom of choice of, 173–175
immateriality of, 175
as incorruptible, 178–179
noncorporeal, 190–192
as not divine, 177
purpose of, 170–172
soul and body, 179–190
substance and material form of, 175, 176–177
will of, 173
Iolanthe (Gilbert & Sullivan), 221
Islam, 9–12, 48, 246, 273, 282
Jacobins, 3
Jerome (Saint), 6
Jesus Christ. See also Incarnation; Trinity
authority and power of, 373
body and blood of, 328, 368–370
divine nature of, 341, 343, 349, 357, 361
human nature of, 334, 336–337, 339, 341, 343
teaching of, 366, 373
John XXII (Pope), 3
John Paul II (Pope), 382
joy, 129, 241. See also ultimate felicity
Judaism, 48
justice
creation and, 146, 165
divine counsels and, 282
divorce and, 278
evil and, 249
grace and, 289–290, 360
human relations and, 280
peace and, 231
penance and, 371
rewards and punishments, 285
as virtue, 86, 96, 130–131
knowledge
Aquinas on, 99–102
discursive, 107
divine, 107, 113, 116, 226
of God, 30–31, 34, 81, 99–115, 232–237, 299, 301, 321
ultimate felicity and, 231
Lateran Council, Fourth (1215), 48, 166, 371
Leonine Commission, 8
Leo XIII (Pope), 8
Liber de Causis (The Book of Causes), 5
love
creation and, 137, 147, 163
existence of God and, 37
in God, 76, 129–130
God’s will and, 118, 121, 123
goodness and, 93
grace and, 287–288, 290–291
Incarnation and, 338, 359, 361–363
loving our neighbor, 274
providence and, 249, 257, 272–274, 276, 279–281, 287–288, 290–291, 295
sacraments and, 365, 383
simplicity of divine nature and, 62
Trinity and, 301, 303–304, 313–314, 316
ultimate felicity and, 221, 225, 228
Luther, Martin, 370
Lyons, Council of (1274), 315
Macarius of Antioch, 328
Mackie, J. L., 167
Malcolm, Norman, 115
Manicheans, 328
marriage
fornication and, 270, 273, 277–280
as sacrament, 365, 374
same-sex marriage, 296
Mary and Incarnation, 326, 338, 349
McCabe, Herbert
on evolutionary theory, 383
on God as ultimate maker, 224–225
on Incarnation, 346–347
on intellect, 195
on Original Sin, 383–384
on reason and will, 117
on transubstantiation, 371
on Trinity, 314–315, 317
on words used to describe God, 79, 82
Metaphysics (Aristotle), 5, 46
miracles
beatitude as, 237
efficient causation and, 54
evil and, 206
grace and, 288, 292
Incarnation as, 337, 357, 361
of Jesus, 12
providence and, 259–262, 267–269
moral virtues, 86, 97, 121, 130, 227–231, 348. See also virtues
Morreall, John, 389
Moses, 63
Muslims, 9–12, 48, 246, 273, 282
natural laws, 214, 269, 274, 296
natural theology
creation and, 135, 161, 168
criticisms of, 13
defined, 7
existence of God and, 19, 22–23, 26–31, 45
reason and, 15–17
Trinity and, 304, 319, 321
Nestorius, 328
New Testament, 11, 63, 85, 259, 298, 305, 315, 341–342, 368, 378, 384, 388. See also biblical references
Nicene Creed, 6, 12, 298, 315, 318
Nicene-Constantinopolitan Creed, 298, 304, 315, 318
Nicomachean Ethics (Aristotle), 5, 86
nonbeing, 145, 152, 163, 164, 178, 212
noncomposite nature of God, 58–59
Odyssey (Homer), 26
Old Testament, 11, 14, 31, 63, 273, 341, 362, 366. See also biblical references
omnipotence, 47, 146–147, 149–150
On Interpretation (Aristotle), 5
Orange, Second Council of (529), 353
Order of Preachers. See Dominicans
Original Sin, 352–358, 363, 366, 380–384
passions, 54, 121, 129–130, 145, 371
Paul
Aquinas commentaries on letters of, 5
on essence of God, 33–34, 235
on Eucharist, 369
on God’s power and divine nature, 25
on Incarnation, 327, 352
on knowledge of God, 30–31
on Last Judgment, 379
on resurrection, 384, 385, 388
Paul of Samosata, 305
perfection
in creation, 137, 138, 152, 165
divine, 48, 76–79, 86, 198
of God’s knowledge, 108, 111–112
in God’s will, 122, 123, 125, 132, 133
goodness and, 90, 92, 93, 202
grace and, 287, 292
in Incarnation, 337, 361
infinity and, 92
intellect and, 171
providence and, 246, 250, 258, 271, 282, 284, 287
resurrection and, 378, 379
in Trinity, 308
truth and, 236
virtue as, 85
physical pleasure. See bodily pleasure
Physics (Aristotle), 4, 5, 36, 56
Pius XII (Pope), 382
Plato
on mind and body, 193
on nature of human beings, 175–176
on reason, 294
on soul and body, 186, 385
on substance, 88
pleasure. See bodily pleasure
Posterior Analytics (Aristotle), 5
potentiality
creation and, 152, 162
evil and, 202, 211
existence of God and, 19, 37, 39, 46, 49, 55, 77
God’s will and, 126, 130
goodness and, 86
infinity and, 92
intellect and, 177–178
knowledge and, 106–107, 112–113
omnipotence and, 138, 143
simplicity of divine nature and, 61
Trinity and, 307, 311
predestination, 293
privation, 90, 112, 145, 163, 205, 208–221, 226, 249
Proslogion (Anselm of Canterbury), 32
causality and, 263–265
chance not excluded, 251
contingency not excluded, 249–250
demons and, 262
divine counsels and, 281–282
evil not excluded, 248–249
existence of God and, 45
fortune not excluded, 251
freedom of choice not excluded, 250–251, 263–265
God as acting in all things, 245–247
grace and, 286–293
Incarnation and, 355
laws and, 271–273
magic and, 262
miracles and, 259–262, 267–269
objections to belief in, 254–256
order of, 245, 255
prayer and, 256–259
rational creatures and, 270–297
rewards and punishments, 283–286
secondary causes and, 252–254
singulars and, 251–252
prudence, 86, 96, 130–131, 231
Pseudo-Dionysius, 5
reason
causation and, 200
creation and, 156, 159–160, 162, 164, 166–167
divine will and, 117, 121, 127–128
evil and, 203, 212, 218
existence of God and, 30–31, 33, 38, 47–50, 53, 79–83
faith and, 6–7, 24
goodness and, 93
grace and, 292, 286–293
Incarnation and, 327–329, 331, 336, 351, 354, 359
infinity and, 90
intellect and, 174, 182, 189
knowledge and, 107, 111, 114
natural theology and, 11–15, 17
omnipotence and, 140
providence and, 250, 258, 266, 270–274, 276–282, 285–286, 292, 294–297
resurrection and, 376, 379–380, 384
sacraments and, 366, 370
simplicity of divine nature and, 58
Trinity and, 302, 304, 310, 314, 316, 319–323
ultimate felicity and, 227, 239, 241
Rebaptizers, 367
Reid, Thomas, 387
reprobation, 293
resurrection, 242, 273, 297–300, 352, 362, 366, 374–380, 384–390
revelation. See divine revelation
right faith, 274–275. See also faith
baptism, 366–367
confirmation, 366–367
Eucharist, 367–371
extreme unction, 372
matrimony, 374
need for, 365–366
of Old Law and New Law, 366
ordination, 372–374
penance, 371–372
Trinity and, 298–299
salvation, 289, 326, 361, 363, 365–366
same-sex marriage, 296
Samosata, 305
Scripture. See also biblical references
on divine law, 273
on grace, 293
on Incarnation, 327–329, 337, 351, 361–362
on resurrection, 375–376, 378–379
on Trinity, 298, 300, 305–306, 312, 318
Second Council of Orange (529), 353
Second Vatican Council (1962–1965), 3, 373
Sententia Libri De Anima (Aquinas), 5
Sententia Libri Ethicorum (Aquinas), 5
Sententia Super Metaphysicam (Aquinas), 5
Sententia Super Physicam (Aquinas), 5
sexual intercourse, 277–280, 295. See also bodily pleasure
simplicity as divine nature, 59–71
Sīnā, Ibn, 10
sins
beatitude and, 360
grace and, 286–293
mortal, 283–284
original, 380–382
penance and, 371–372
venial, 283–284
Smith, Joe, 349
Socrates, 339
Sorabji, Richard, 266
souls
blessedness and, 120
body and, 180, 182, 186–188, 193, 196, 276, 277, 332, 336–337, 376
creation and, 159
God’s knowledge and, 110
grace and, 286, 288
Incarnation and, 327, 329, 332–337, 339–340
intellect and, 179–183, 186–191, 193
resurrection and, 375–379, 384, 389–390
Trinity and, 300
ultimate felicity and, 231, 234–240, 242
substance dualism, 193
suffering
evil and, 203–204, 211, 217, 220
Incarnation and, 330–331, 349–350, 358, 363
resurrection and, 378–379
sacraments and, 366
Summa Contra Gentiles (Aquinas). See also specific topics
context for, 3–16
on creation, 151–168
on Creator role of God, 137–150
on existence of God, 17–55
on God’s knowledge, 99–115
on God’s will, 116–136
on good and evil, 85–98, 202–221
on Incarnation, 326–364
on intellect, 169–197
on providence, 244–297
on resurrection, 374–390
on sacraments, 364–374
on simplicity of divine nature, 56–71
as theological synthesis, 6
on Trinity, 298–325
on ultimate felicity, 227–243
when and why written, 8–10
Summa Theologiae (Aquinas)
on angels, 170
on animate vs. inanimate, 120
on ecstacy, 33
on efficient causes, 214
on emotion, 220
in Eucharist, 367
on existence of God, 24–25, 28, 47–48
on faith, 287
on human nature, 296
on Incarnation, 344, 348
on Old Law vs. New Law, 272–273
on resurrection, 389
on sacraments, 364–365
on simplicity of divine nature, 59
on Trinity, 317, 319, 321
writing of, 5
Super Boethium De Trinitate (Boethius), 4
Swinburne, Richard, 166
Ten Commandments, 274
Tertullian, 353
Theodore of Mopsuestia, 328
Torrell, Jean-Pierre, 6
transubstantiation, 371. See also Eucharist
Trent, Council of (1545–1563), 364, 380, 382
faith and, 12
Holy Spirit as divine, 312–317
Incarnation and, 329, 333, 335–340, 344, 348–350, 361
oneness and, 90
resurrection and, 383
Scripture on, 298, 300, 305–306, 312, 318
simplicity of divine nature and, 65
truth
creation and, 137, 139, 148, 155, 157–158, 168
existence of God and, 22–26, 28, 30, 32, 35, 48–49, 54
God’s will and, 130–131, 134, 136
goodness and, 85, 88
Incarnation and, 327, 345, 347, 359, 363
intellect and, 169
knowledge and, 101–102, 107–108
natural theology and, 11–15
providence and, 263, 266, 275, 286, 288
reason and, 7
resurrection and, 382–383, 387
sacraments and, 368
simplicity of divine nature and, 66
Trinity and, 298, 300, 305–306, 312, 315, 319–321, 323, 325
ultimate felicity and, 231–232, 236, 239, 241
beatitude and, 236–239
happiness and, 227–228, 230–231, 233–237, 240–243, 270
Valenciennes, 8
Valentinus, 328
Vatican II (1962–1965), 3, 5, 353, 373
virtues. See also specific virtues
ascribed to God, 22, 24, 33, 39, 130–131
creation and, 141, 145, 148
efficient causation and, 52–54
evil and, 209–210
God’s will and, 119, 121, 124
goodness as, 85–86, 96
Incarnation and, 339, 344, 359–360, 362
intellect and, 183
knowledge and, 101
providence and, 245–246, 252, 263, 277, 282, 284, 286, 288, 295
resurrection and, 390
sacraments and, 367, 371
Trinity and, 321, 325
ultimate felicity and, 223, 228–229, 231
well-being, 207–208, 210, 217, 242
Wiles, Maurice, 346
Wittgenstein, Ludwig, 18, 28, 78
Wright, N. T., 342
Table of Contents
1. The Summa Contra Gentiles and Its Context
1.1 Aquinas’s Life
1.2 Aquinas’s Writings
1.3 When and Why Did Aquinas Write the Summa Contra Gentiles?
1.4 Aquinas Explains Himself
2. Approaching the Question of God’s Existence (SCG 1,10–12)
2.1 Kinds of Natural Theology (SCG 1,10–11)
2.2 Faith versus Demonstration (SCG 1,12)
2.3 Comments on the Above
3. Arguing for God’s Existence (SCG 1,13)
3.1 Argument One
3.2 Argument Two
3.3 Three More Arguments
3.4 What Has Aquinas Achieved in the Natural Theology Offered in SCG 1,13?
4. God as Eternal and Simple (SCG 1,14–27)
4.1 Divine Eternity (SCG 1,15)
4.2 God as Lacking Passive Potency and Matter (SCG 1,16 and 17)
4.3 God as Noncomposite (SCG 1,18)
4.4 God as Simple (SCG 1,20–27)
4.5 Comments on Aquinas on Divine Simplicity
5. Talking about God (SCG 1,28–36)
5.1 The General Picture
5.2 SCG 1,28–36: Details
5.3 How to Assess SCG 1,28–36?
6. Goodness, Oneness, and Infinity (SCG 1,37–43)
6.1 Why Is It True That God Is Good? (SCG 1,37)
6.2 Is God Goodness Itself? (SCG 1,38)
6.3 Is there Evil in God? (SCG 1,39)
6.4 God as the Good of Every Good and as the Highest Good (SCG 1,40–41)
6.5 Oneness and Infinity (SCG 1,42–43)
6.6 A Note on Aquinas’s “God Is Good” and “There Is No Evil in God”
6.7 Moving On
7. God’s Knowledge (SCG 1, 44–71)
7.1 Aquinas on Knowledge
7.2 Aquinas on God’s Knowledge (SCG 1, 44–71)
7.3 Thinking about SCG 1,44–71
8. God’s Will, Life, and Blessedness (SCG 1,72–102)
8.1 Aquinas on Will
8.2 Aquinas on Life
8.3 Aquinas on Blessedness
8.4 Aquinas on Will in God (SCG 1,72–96)
8.5 Aquinas on God’s Life (SCG 1,97–99)
8.6 God’s Blessedness (SCG 1,100–102)
8.7 Some Comments on SCG 1,72–102
8.8 Moving on to SCG 2
9. God as Omnipotent Creator (SCG 2,1–29)
9.1 The Bringing Forth of Things into Being (SCG 2,6)
9.2 Power in God (SCG 2,7–10)
9.3 God and Relations (SCG 2,11–14)
9.4 God as Creator (SCG 2,15–21)
9.5 Creation “from Nothing” (SCG 2,16)
9.6 Creation Is Not a Motion or a Change (SCG 2,17–19)
9.7 What Can Create? (SCG 2,20–21)
9.8 God as Omnipotent (SCG 2,22–29)
9.9 Some Comments on SCG 2,1–29
10.1 Can There Be Created Yet Necessary Things? (SCG 2,30)
10.2 Must Creatures Always Have Existed? (SCG 2,31–38)
10.3 Proving That the World Is Not Eternal (SCG 2,38)
10.4 Distinction among Creatures (SCG 2,39–45)
10.5 Some Comments on SCG 2,30–45
11. Intellectual Creatures (SCG 2,46–101)
11.1 Why Intellectual Creatures? (SCG 2,46)
11.2 What Can Be Said of Intellectual Substances in General? (SCG 2,47–55)
11.3 Soul and Body in People (SCG 2,56–90)
11.4 Created Intellects That Are Not United to Bodies (SCG 2,91–101)
11.5 Reflecting on SCG 2,46–101
11.6 Moving On
12. Agents, Ends, Evil, and Good (SCG 3,1–15)
12.1 Agents and Ends (SCG 3,2–3)
12.2 Evil (SCG 3,4–15)
12.3 Some Comments on SCG 3,1–15
13. The End of All Things and of People in Particular (SCG 3,16–63)
13.1 Creatures Aiming at God (SCG 3,16–25)
13.2 Ultimate Felicity for Humans (SCG 3,26–63)
13.3 The Value of SCG 3,16–63
14. Providence at Work (SCG 3,64–110)
14.1 God as Acting in All Things (SCG 3,65–70)
14.2 What Divine Providence Does Not Exclude (SCG 3,71–74)
14.3 Providence and Singulars (SCG 3,75–76)
14.4 Providence and Secondary Causes (SCG 3,77–83)
14.5 Providence and Prayer (SCG 3,95–96)
14.6 Miracles (SCG 3,98–102)
14.7 Magic and Demons (SCG 3,104–110)
14.8 Is Aquinas Right about Divine Providence?
15. Providence in Relation to Rational Creatures (SCG 3,111–163)
15.1 Rational Creatures and Providence (SCG 3,111–113)
15.2 People and Laws: The General Picture (SCG 3,114–116)
15.3 Love of Neighbor, Right Faith, Worship of God, Marriage, Sex, Food, and Nature (SCG 3,117–129)
15.4 Divine Counsels (SCG 3,130–138)
15.5 Rewards and Punishments (SCG 3,142–146)
15.6 Grace (SCG 3,147–163)
15.7 Some Reflections on SCG 3,111–163
16. Father, Son, and Holy Spirit (SCG 4,2–26)
16.1 Aquinas’s General Approach to the Trinity in SCG 4,2–26
16.2 SCG 4,2–26: Some Details
16.3 Is Aquinas Right on the Trinity?
17. God Incarnate (SCG 4,27–49)
17.1 The Incarnation and Heresy (SCG 4,28–39)
17.2 Reasoning Concerning the Incarnation (SCG 4,40–49)
17.3 Some Comments on SCG 4,27–49
18.1 The Suitability of the Incarnation (SCG 4,50–55)
18.2 Sacraments (SCG 4,56–78)
18.3 Resurrection, the Life to Come, and the End of the World (SCG 4,79–97)
18.4 Some Comments on SCG 4,79–97
Preface
Chapter 1. The Summa Contra Gentiles and Its Context
Chapter 2. Approaching the Question of God’s Existence (SCG 1,10–12)
Chapter 3. Arguing for God’s Existence (SCG 1,13)
Chapter 4. God as Eternal and Simple (SCG 1,14–27)
Chapter 5. Talking about God (SCG 1,28–36)
Chapter 6. Goodness, Oneness, and Infinity (SCG 1,37–43)
Chapter 7. God’s Knowledge (SCG 1,44–71)
Chapter 8. God’s Will, Life, and Blessedness (SCG 1,72–102)
Chapter 9. God as Omnipotent Creator (SCG 2,1–29)
Chapter 10. Necessity in Creatures, the Eternity of the World, and Distinctions among Creatures (SCG 2,30–45)
Chapter 11. Intellectual Creatures (SCG 2,46–101)
Chapter 12. Agents, Ends, Evil, and Good (SCG 3,1–15)
Chapter 13. The End of All Things and of People in Particular (SCG 3,16–63)
Chapter 14. Providence at Work (SCG 3,64–110)
Chapter 15. Providence in Relation to Rational Creatures (SCG 3,111–163)
Chapter 16. Father, Son, and Holy Spirit (SCG 4,2–26)
Chapter 17. God Incarnate (SCG 4,27–49)
Chapter 18. The Fittingness of the Incarnation, the Sacraments, the Resurrection, and the Final State of People and of the World (SCG 4,50–97)