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Summa Theologiæ, Pars secunda, prima pars. (copy by
Peter Schöffer, 1471) The Summa Theologica (Latin: "Summary of
Theology" or "Highest Theology") or the Summa Theologiæ or
simply the Summa, written 1265–1274) is the most famous work of Thomas Aquinas
(c. 1225–1274), although it was never finished. It was intended as a manual for
beginners and a compilation of all of the main theological teachings of the
time. It presents the reasoning for almost all points of Christian theology in
the West by medieval scholastic reckoning. The Summa's topics follow a cycle:
the existence of God; God's creation, Man; Man's purpose; Christ; the Sacraments;
and back to God. It is famous for its five arguments for the existence of God,
the Quinquae viae (Latin: five ways). Throughout his work, Aquinas cites Augustine
of Hippo, Aristotle, and other Christian, Jewish, Muslim and ancient pagan
scholars.
Notable
points made by the Summa
·
Theology is the
greatest and most certain of all the sciences, since its source is divine
knowledge, which cannot be deceived, and because of the higher worth of its
subject-matter, the sublimity of which transcends human reason.
·
When a man knows
an effect, and knows that it has a cause, the natural desire of the intellect
or mind is to understand the essence of that thing, natural because this
understanding results from the perfection of the operation of the intellect or
mind.
·
The existence of
something and its essence are separate (that is, its being and the conception
of being man has or can imagine of it [for example, a mountain of solid gold
would have essence, since it can be imagined, but not existence, as it is not
in the world]) in all things except for God, who is simple.
·
The existence of
God, his total simplicity or lack of composition, his eternal nature
("eternal," in this case, means that he is altogether outside of
time; that is, time is held to be a part of God's created universe), his
knowledge, the way his will operates, and his power can all be proved by human
reasoning alone.
·
All statements
about God are either analogical or metaphorical; one cannot say man is
"good" in exactly the same sense as God, but rather that he imitates
in some way the simple nature of God in being good, just or wise.
·
Unbelief is the
greatest (meaning largest in scope) sin in the realm of morals.
·
The principles of just
war and natural law.
·
The greatest happiness
of all, the ultimate good, consists in the beatific vision.
·
Taking interest on
loans is forbidden, because it is charging people twice for the same thing.
·
In and of itself,
selling a thing for more or less than it is worth is unlawful (the just price
theory).
·
The contemplative
life is greater than the active life, but greater still is the contemplative
life that sometimes takes actions to call others to the contemplative life and
give them the fruits of contemplation. (This actually was the lifestyle of the Dominican
friars, of which Aquinas was a member.)
·
Being a monk is
greater than being married and even greater in many ways than being a priest,
but it is not as good as being a bishop. Both monks and bishops are in a state
of perfection.
·
Although the Jews
delivered Christ to die, it was the Gentiles who killed him, foreshadowing how salvation
would start with the Jews and then would spread to the Gentiles.
·
After the end of
the world, in which all living material will be destroyed, the world will be
composed of non-living matter (such as rocks), but it will be illuminated or
enhanced in beauty by the fires of the apocalypse (but a new heaven and new
earth will be established).
·
Martyrs, teachers
of the faith (doctors), and virgins, in that order, receive special crowns in heaven
for their achievements.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Summa_Theologica