Holy Teaching: Introducing the Summa Theologiae of St. Thomas Aquinas. By Frederick Christian Bauerschmidt. Pp. 320. Grand Rapids, MI: Brazos Press (a division of Baker Publishing Group), 2005. isbn 1 58743 035 5. Paper $27.99.

This is a study of the two letters of Thomas More to Nicholas Wilson writ-ten while the two men were imprisoned in the Tower of London. The Dialogue of Comfort against Tribulation illuminates the role of comfort and counsel in the two letters. An article of Thomas Aquinas’ Summa theologiae is used to probe More’s understanding of conscience in the letters.

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Grace Presupposes Nature: The Structure of the Summa and an Illustration by the Virtue of Patience in Light of Christ

European Journal for the Study of Thomas Aquinas ◽

10.2478/ejsta-2021-0004 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 39 (1) ◽

pp. 61-78

Author(s):

Tyler Pellegrin

Keyword(s):

Human Nature ◽

Thomas Aquinas ◽

Summa Theologiae ◽

Christian Life ◽

Natural Virtues

Abstract The first part of this essay argues that the very structure and ordering of Thomas Aquinas’ Summa Theologiae manifests a departure from the typical theological position of his time regarding natural acquired virtues. Resting on a conviction that grace presupposes nature, Aquinas uniquely holds that natural virtues perfective of human nature can be acquired prior to grace, which can be elevated and incorporated by grace into the properly Christian life. The second part of this essay offers a case study of the virtue of patience that illustrates the argument of the first part of the paper.

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The Contemporary Reception of Aquinas on the Natural Knowledge of God

The Oxford Handbook of the Reception of Aquinas ◽

10.1093/oxfordhb/9780198798026.013.37 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 595-611

Author(s):

David VanDrunen

Keyword(s):

Natural Theology ◽

Thomas Aquinas ◽

Christian Faith ◽

Natural Order ◽

Reformed Theology ◽

Summa Theologiae ◽

Human Reason ◽

Natural Knowledge ◽

Knowledge Of God ◽

Attributes Of God

This chapter considers key themes from Thomas Aquinas’ view of the natural knowledge of God, or natural theology, from the opening of his Summa theologiae. It is written from the perspective of Reformed theology, which has traditionally supported natural theology of a certain kind, despite its recent reputation as an opponent of natural theology. According to Thomas, natural theology is insufficient for salvation and is inevitably laden with errors apart from the help of supernatural revelation. But human reason, operating properly, can demonstrate the existence and certain attributes of God from the natural order, and this natural knowledge constitutes preambles to the articles of the Christian faith. The chapter thus engages in a critically sympathetic analysis of these themes and suggests how a contemporary reception of Thomas might appropriate them effectively.

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Báñez, Domingo (1528–1604)

Routledge Encyclopedia of Philosophy ◽

10.4324/9780415249126-c004-1 ◽

2018 ◽

Author(s):

Mauricio Beuchot

Keyword(s):

Free Choice ◽

Thomas Aquinas ◽

Summa Theologiae ◽

Divine Foreknowledge ◽

Teresa Of Avila

Domingo Báñez, once spiritual advisor to St Teresa of Avila, was a prominent Spanish theologian. In his commentaries on the Summa theologiae of Thomas Aquinas, he challenged an essentialist reading of Aquinas, and insisted that esse (being) was an act. He is best known for his opposition to Molina’s attempt to reconcile human free choice with divine foreknowledge, providence and grace. He also wrote on logic, and commented on Aristotle’s On Generation and Corruption.

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