The Summa Theologica, Aquinas's great synthesis of theology, left unfinished at his death in 1274: the theological and cardinal virtues, and the states of life.
Edition: Project Gutenberg eBook 18755 · www.gutenberg.org
Free to read, with no account needed. Public domain or openly licensed, with every source named.
From the opening: Question 1
Question 1
OF FAITH (In Ten Articles)
Having to treat now of the theological virtues, we shall begin with Faith, secondly we shall speak of Hope, and thirdly, of Charity.
The treatise on Faith will be fourfold: (1) Of faith itself; (2) Of the corresponding gifts, knowledge and understanding; (3) Of the opposite vices; (4) Of the precepts pertaining to this virtue.
About faith itself we shall consider: (1) its object; (2) its act; (3) the habit of faith.
Under the first head there are ten points of inquiry:
(1) Whether the object of faith is the First Truth?
(2) Whether the object of faith is something complex or incomplex, i.e. whether it is a thing or a proposition?
(3) Whether anything false can come under faith?
(4) Whether the object of faith can be anything seen?
(5) Whether it can be anything known?
(6) Whether the things to be believed should be divided into a certain number of articles?
(7) Whether the same articles are of faith for all times?
(8) Of the number of articles;
(9) Of the manner of embodying the articles in a symbol;
(10) Who has the right to propose a symbol of faith?
FIRST ARTICLE [II-II, Q. 1, Art. 1]
Whether the Object of Faith Is the First Truth?
Objection 1: It would seem that the object of faith is not the First Truth. For it seems that the object of faith is that which is proposed to us to be believed. Now not only things pertaining to the Godhead, i.e. the First Truth, are proposed to us to be believed, but also things concerning Christ's human nature, and the sacraments of the Church, and the condition of creatures. Therefore the object of faith is not only the First Truth.
Obj. 2: Further, faith and unbelief have the same object since they are opposed to one another. Now unbelief can be about all things contained in Holy Writ, for whichever one of them a man denies, he is considered an unbeliever. Therefore faith also is about all things contained in Holy Writ. But there are many things therein, concerning man and other creatures. Therefore the object of faith is not only the First Truth, but also created truth.
Obj. 3: Further, faith is condivided with charity, as stated above (I-II, Q. 62, A. 3). Now by charity we love not only God, who is the sovereign Good, but also our neighbor. Therefore the object of Faith is not only the First Truth.
_On the contrary,_ Dionysius says (Div. Nom. vii) that "faith is about the simple and everlasting truth." Now this…
Contents (209 sections)
- Opening
- Title page
- Note to This Electronic Edition
- Question
- Treatise on Prudence and Justice
- Treatise on Fortitude and Temperance
- Treatise on Acts Which Pertain Especially to Certain Men
- Question 1
- Question 1 (continued)
- Question 2
- Question 2 (continued)
- Question 4
- Question 5
- Question 6
- Question 7
- Question 9
- Question 10
- Question 10 (continued)
- Question 11
- Question 12
- Question 13
- Question 14
- Question 15
- Question 16
- Question 17
- Question 18
- Question 19
- Question 19 (continued)
- Question 21
- Question 22
- Question 23
- Question 24
- Question 24 (continued)
- Question 25
- Question 25 (continued)
- Question 25 (continued)
- Question 27
- Question 28
- Question 29
- Question 30
- Question 31
- Question 32
- Question 32 (continued)
- Question 33
- Question 34
- Question 35
- Question 36
- Question 37
- Question 38
- Question 39
- Question 40
- Question 41
- Question 42
- Question 42 (continued)
- Question 45
- Question 46
- Question 47
- Question 47 (continued)
- Question 48
- ARTICLE [II-II, Q. 48, Art.]
- Question 49
- Question 50
- Question 51
- Question 52
- Question 53
- Question 54
- Question 55
- Question 56
- Question 58
- Question 58 (continued)
- Question 60
- Question 61
- Question 62
- Question 63
- Question 64
- Question 65
- Question 66
- Question 67
- Question 68
- Question 69
- Question 70
- Question 71
- Question 72
- Question 73
- Question 74
- Question 76
- Question 77
- Question 78
- Question 79
- Question 80
- ARTICLE [II-II, Q. 80, Art.]
- Question 81
- Question 82
- Question 83
- Question 83 (continued)
- Seventeenth Article [Ii-Ii, Q. 83, Art. 17]
- Question 85
- Question 86
- Question 87
- Question 88
- Question 88 (continued)
- Question 89
- Question 89 (continued)
- Question 91
- Question 92
- Question 93
- Question 94
- Question 95
- Question 95 (continued)
- Question 97
- Question 98
- Question 99
- Question 100
- Question 100 (continued)
- Question 102
- Question 103
- Question 104
- Question 105
- Question 106
- Question 107
- Question 108
- Question 109
- Question 110
- Question 111
- Question 112
- Question 113
- Question 114
- Question 115
- Question 116
- Question 118
- Question 119
- Question 120
- Question 121
- Question 123
- Question 123 (continued)
- The Fourth argument is granted
- Question 125
- Question 126
- Question 128
- ARTICLE [II-II, Q. 128, Art.]
- Question 129
- Question 130
- Question 131
- Question 132
- Question 133
- Question 134
- Question 135
- Question 136
- Question 137
- Question 138
- Question 139
- Question 141
- Question 142
- Question 143
- ARTICLE [II-II, Q. 143, Art.]
- Question 145
- Question 146
- Question 147
- Question 148
- Question 149
- Question 150
- Question 151
- Question 152
- Question 153
- Question 154
- Question 154 (continued)
- Question 155
- Question 156
- Question 157
- Question 158
- Question 159
- Question 161
- Question 162
- Question 163
- Question 164
- Question 165
- Question 166
- Question 167
- Question 168
- Question 169
- Question 170
- Question 171
- Question 172
- Question 173
- Question 174
- Question 175
- Question 176
- Question 177
- Question 178
- Question 179
- Question 180
- Question 180 (continued)
- Question 182
- Treatise on the States of Life (Qq. 183-189)
- Question 184
- Question 184 (continued)
- Question 185
- Question 185 (continued)
- Question 186
- Question 186 (continued)
- Question 187
- Question 187 (continued)
- Question 188
- Question 188 (continued)
- Question 189
- Question 189 (continued)
- *** End of the Project Gutenberg Ebook Summa Theologica, Part Ii-Ii (Secunda Secundae) ***
- Please Read This Before You Distribute or Use This Work
- Section 2. Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg
How to cite it
- Chicago
- Thomas Aquinas. Thomas Aquinas: Summa Theologica, Part II-II (Secunda Secundae). Translated by Fathers of the English Dominican Province. Project Gutenberg eBook 18755, 1911–1925. https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/18755
- MLA
- Thomas Aquinas. Thomas Aquinas: Summa Theologica, Part II-II (Secunda Secundae). Translated by Fathers of the English Dominican Province, Project Gutenberg eBook 18755, 1911–1925. https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/18755
- APA
- Thomas Aquinas (1911–1925). Thomas Aquinas: Summa Theologica, Part II-II (Secunda Secundae) (Fathers of the English Dominican Province, Trans.). Project Gutenberg eBook 18755. https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/18755
More from Devotional and Medieval Classics
- Proslogium; Monologium; Cur Deus Homo — Anselm of Canterbury
- The Imitation of Christ — Thomas à Kempis
- The Holy Rule of St. Benedict — Benedict of Nursia
- The Cloud of Unknowing — Anonymous (14th-century English)
- Revelations of Divine Love — Julian of Norwich
- The Consolation of Philosophy — Boethius
- Thomas Aquinas: Summa Theologica, Part I (Prima Pars) — Thomas Aquinas
- Thomas Aquinas: Summa Theologica, Part I-II (Prima Secundae) — Thomas Aquinas