The Summa Theologica, Part I, Vol. 1 by Thomas Aquinas

Author:Thomas Aquinas
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Publisher: Liberty Fund, Inc.
Published: 2010-09-07T23:00:00+00:00

WHETHER THIS NAME GOD IS A NAME OF THE NATURE?

We proceed thus to the Eighth Article:—

Objection 1. It seems that this name, God, is not a name of the nature. For Damascene says (De Fid. Orth. i.) that God ({#x0398}ε{#x03cc}ς) is so called from θεεɩ̑ν which means to take care of, and to cherish all things; or from α{#x1f34}θειν, that is, to burn, for our God is a fire consuming all malice; or from θεα̑σθαι, which means to consider all things. But all these names belong to operation. Therefore this name God signifies His operation and not His nature.

Obj. 2. Further, a thing is named by us as we know it. But the divine nature is unknown to us. Therefore this name God does not signify the divine nature.

On the contrary, Ambrose says (De Fide i.) that God is a name of the nature.

I answer that, Whence a name is imposed, and what the name signifies are not always the same thing. For as we know substance from its properties and operations, so we name substance sometimes from its operation, or its property: e.g., we name the substance of a stone from its act, as for instance that it hurts the foot (lædit pedem); but still this name is not meant to signify the particular action, but the stone’s substance. The things, on the other hand, known to us in themselves, such as heat, cold, whiteness, and the like, are not named from other things. Hence as regards such things the meaning of the name and its source are the same.

Because therefore God is not known to us in His nature, but is made known to us from His operations or effects, we can name Him from these, as said in A. 1; hence this name God is a name of operation so far as relates to the source of its meaning. For this name is imposed from His universal providence over all things; since all who speak of God intend to name God as exercising providence over all: hence Dionysius says (Div. Nom. xii.), The Deity watches over all with perfect providence and goodness. But taken from this operation, this name God is imposed to signify the divine nature.

Reply Obj. 1. All that Damascene says refers to providence; which is the source of the signification of the name God.

Reply Obj. 2. We can name a thing according to the knowledge we have of its nature from its properties and effects. Hence because we can know what stone is in itself from its property, this name stone signifies the nature of stone in itself; for it signifies the definition of stone, by which we know what it is, for the idea which the name signifies is the definition, as is said in Metaph. iv. Now from the divine effects we cannot know the divine nature in itself, so as to know what it is; but only by way of eminence, and by way of causality, and of negation as stated above (Q.

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