SAINT THOMAS AQUINAS' THE PERSON OF THE SON

9/14/2024

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Whether Word in God is a personal name?

The name of “Word” in God is a personal name and not an absolutely necessary name we must use to describe God, even though it does indeed describe Him (John 1:14). Now, there is a nature of personal terms in God which signify real relations; just as a Father is identified between the real opposite relations of paternity and filiation, or the Son is identified between the real opposite relations of filiation and paternity, so in a similar way, Son is also identified by the concept of the intellect which proceeds from another - from Father to Son, who is the Word Proceeding and Word Made Flesh. So, when we say that the Son is the Word, we distinguish His personhood personally and not essentially, because there are many ways to describe God through use of words in relation to other words; some which are closer to the truth and others that are further from the truth.

Whether “Word” is the Son’s proper name?

The Son alone is properly called Word in God. This is because when we use the term “Word” to describe the Son (Second Person of the Holy Trinity), we are speaking of the scriptures to which the Son was made manifest in the flesh. Furthermore, the Son as Word (when described in this way) is also known as an abstract but perceptible thing which originates from a source intellect which we know as the The First Principle (First Person of the Holy Trinity), whose will and intellect are one in the same because of His divine simplicity which is known by the real relation of paternity (property of innascibility and being unbegotten). This procession of the intellect from Father to Son by the real relation of filiation (Father to Son) is known as procession of the Word, which is also a procession of the intellect, and is also called generation (means something which springs forth from another with its likeness and similar attributes). Now, some abuse the literal Word in many ways; throwing out bibles, cherry picking scripture to justify sinfulness, being irreverent with the Word of the Living God, using Holy Writ as an object for their earthly pursuits in politics and in business, and staged public mockeries like reenacting the last supper with drag queens posing as apostles in the midst of children being sexualized. They also carried out such blasphemies in the presence of actors posing as pagan gods prancing themselves around in such a way they believe they are going to get away with it (they won't). This is just one example of an abuse of The Word which occurred during the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris (tell us you want nuclear war without telling us you want nuclear war). So, in like manner, just as many abuse the Eucharist (which is the real presence of Christ in material matter), so many overlook Christ being present in The Word in like manner! In fact, in modern day babylon, there are activists in the street who openly eat pages of The Word in public in open defiance to Christ and Christendom while their supporters boast of it! Not even Sodom committed such a most grievous offense and they were punished for less.

Whether the name “Word” imports relation to creatures?

The “Word” of God implies relations to creatures because every creature comes from His Word. Simply put; He says it, it comes to be, and since everything comes from God who is The First Principle, there is nothing He does not know or have not known, because by one act of knowing, God knows all things that could have been, will be, and ever shall be - including creatures who come forth from this knowing which belongs to Him supremely. For He is Knowledge to the Highest Degree. In another way; the source of knowledge knows all knowledge, so if the source says it then the knowledge which comes from that source must also understand and agree with itself and it so happens that God fully understands Himself and knows Himself through His divine simplicity. Finally, in the Word it is implied the effect and function of what He creates; thus the universe, the stars, the light and the darkness, the Heavens, the seas, and the spiritual and bodily creatures (good and evil) who dwell in them who came forth from His ideas and words as described through The Word (Son and scripture).

I am blessed to be a Third Order Lay Dominican. However, the ideas expressed in this post are my own and do not represent the endorsement of or position of the Order of Preachers as a whole.

Commentary regarding Saint Thomas Aquinas’ Summa Theologiae derived from: ST part (I), Q. 27-49 from newadvent.org with permission.

Scripture texts in this work are taken from the New American Bible, revised edition © 2010, 1991, 1986, 1970 Confraternity of Christian Doctrine, Washington, D.C. and are used by permission of the copyright owner. All Rights Reserved. No part of the New American Bible may be reproduced in any form without permission in writing from the copyright owner.

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