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(5) How it is compared with other sciences? |
(6) Whether it is the same as wisdom? |
(7) Whether God is its subject-matter? |
(8) Whether it is a matter of argument? |
(9) Whether it rightly employs metaphors and similes? |
(10) Whether the Sacred Scripture of this doctrine may be expounded |
in different senses? |
_______________________ |
FIRST ARTICLE [I, Q. 1, Art. 1] |
Whether, besides Philosophy, any Further Doctrine Is Required? |
Objection 1: It seems that, besides philosophical science, we have no |
need of any further knowledge. For man should not seek to know what is |
above reason: "Seek not the things that are too high for thee" |
(Ecclus. 3:22). But whatever is not above reason is fully treated of |
in philosophical science. Therefore any other knowledge besides |
philosophical science is superfluous. |
Objection 2: Further, knowledge can be concerned only with being, for |
nothing can be known, save what is true; and all that is, is true. But |
everything that is, is treated of in philosophical science--even God |
Himself; so that there is a part of philosophy called theology, or the |
divine science, as Aristotle has proved (Metaph. vi). Therefore, |
besides philosophical science, there is no need of any further |
knowledge. |
Contrary: It is written (2 Tim. 3:16): "All Scripture inspired |
of God is profitable to teach, to reprove, to correct, to instruct in |
justice." Now Scripture, inspired of God, is no part of philosophical |
science, which has been built up by human reason. Therefore it is |
useful that besides philosophical science, there should be other |
knowledge, i.e. inspired of God. |
Response: It was necessary for man's salvation that there should |
be a knowledge revealed by God besides philosophical science built up |
by human reason. Firstly, indeed, because man is directed to God, as |
to an end that surpasses the grasp of his reason: "The eye hath not |
seen, O God, besides Thee, what things Thou hast prepared for them |
that wait for Thee" (Isa. 66:4). But the end must first be known by men |
who are to direct their thoughts and actions to the end. Hence it was |
necessary for the salvation of man that certain truths which exceed |
human reason should be made known to him by divine revelation. Even as |
regards those truths about God which human reason could have |
discovered, it was necessary that man should be taught by a divine |
revelation; because the truth about God such as reason could discover, |
would only be known by a few, and that after a long time, and with the |
admixture of many errors. Whereas man's whole salvation, which is in |
God, depends upon the knowledge of this truth. Therefore, in order |
that the salvation of men might be brought about more fitly and more |
surely, it was necessary that they should be taught divine truths by |
divine revelation. It was therefore necessary that besides |
philosophical science built up by reason, there should be a sacred |
science learned through revelation. |
Reply Objection 1: Although those things which are beyond man's |
knowledge may not be sought for by man through his reason, |
nevertheless, once they are revealed by God, they must be accepted by |
faith. Hence the sacred text continues, "For many things are shown to |
thee above the understanding of man" (Ecclus. 3:25). And in this, the |
sacred science consists. |
Reply Objection 2: Sciences are differentiated according to the |
various means through which knowledge is obtained. For the astronomer |
and the physicist both may prove the same conclusion: that the earth, |
for instance, is round: the astronomer by means of mathematics (i.e. |
abstracting from matter), but the physicist by means of matter itself. |
Hence there is no reason why those things which may be learned from |
philosophical science, so far as they can be known by natural reason, |
may not also be taught us by another science so far as they fall |
within revelation. Hence theology included in sacred doctrine differs |
in kind from that theology which is part of philosophy. |
_______________________ |
SECOND ARTICLE [I, Q. 1, Art. 2] |
Whether Sacred Doctrine Is a Science? |
Objection 1: It seems that sacred doctrine is not a science. For every |
science proceeds from self-evident principles. But sacred doctrine |
proceeds from articles of faith which are not self-evident, since |
their truth is not admitted by all: "For all men have not faith" (2 |
Thess. 3:2). Therefore sacred doctrine is not a science. |
Objection 2: Further, no science deals with individual facts. But this |
sacred science treats of individual facts, such as the deeds of |
Abraham, Isaac and Jacob and such like. Therefore sacred doctrine is |
not a science. |
Contrary: Augustine says (De Trin. xiv, 1) "to this science |
alone belongs that whereby saving faith is begotten, nourished, |
protected and strengthened." But this can be said of no science except |
sacred doctrine. Therefore sacred doctrine is a science. |