Dist. 20, Divisio Textus
Book I: On the Mystery of the Trinity · Distinction 20
COMMENTARIUS IN DISTINCTIONEM XX.
De trium personarum aequalitate quantum ad potentiam et virtutem.
Nunc ostendere restat, quomodo aliqua harum personarum etc.
DIVISIO TEXTUS.
Supra ostendit Magister aequalitatem personarum quantum ad magnitudinem, hic ostendit aequalitatem1 quantum ad potentiam et virtutem. Et habet haec pars tres partes. In prima proponit quod intendit2. In secunda probat, ibi: Nihil, inquit, Patre minus habet etc. In tertia dubium sive obiectionem in contrarium dissolvit, ibi: Sed forte dices, eo ipso maior est etc.
Prima et ultima parte remanentibus indivisis, media dividitur in tres, secundum tres probationes sive rationes, quarum prima sumta est ab auctoritate Domini, Ioannis decimo sexto3: Omnia, quae habet Pater, mea sunt. Secunda sumta est per deductionem ad impossibile, quia si non genuit aequalem, aut potuit et noluit, et ita fuit invidus; aut voluit et non potuit, et ita fuit impotens; et haec ponitur4 ibi: Item alio modo probat Filium aequalem Patri. Tertia ratio est ostensiva, sumta per simile in generatione creata et ponitur ibi: Hoc autem per similitudinem humanam.
TRACTATIO QUAESTIONUM.
Ad intelligentiam eorum, quae dicuntur in praesenti distinctione, duo principaliter quaeruntur.
Primo quaeritur, utrum in divinis sit ponere potentiae adaequationem.
Secundo, utrum in divinis sit ponere ordinem.
Quantum ad primum quaeruntur duo.
Primo quaeritur, utrum in divinis sit ponere potentiae5 adaequationem quantum ad extensionem possibilium.
Secundo, utrum sit ibi aequatio6 quantum ad intensionem potentiae.
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COMMENTARY ON DISTINCTION XX.
On the equality of the three persons with respect to power and virtue.
Now it remains to show, how any of these persons etc.
DIVISION OF THE TEXT.
Above the Master showed the equality of the persons with respect to magnitude; here he shows the equality1 with respect to power and virtue. And this part has three parts. In the first he proposes what he intends2. In the second he proves it, at: Nothing, he says, less than the Father has etc. In the third he dissolves a doubt or objection to the contrary, at: But perhaps you will say, by this very fact greater is etc.
The first and last parts remaining undivided, the middle one is divided into three, according to three proofs or reasons, of which the first is taken from the authority of the Lord, John the sixteenth3: All things which the Father has are mine. The second is taken by deduction to the impossible, since if He did not beget an equal, either He could and would not, and so was envious; or He willed and could not, and so was impotent; and this is placed4 at: Likewise in another way he proves the Son equal to the Father. The third reason is ostensive, taken by likeness from created generation, and is placed at: This, however, by a human likeness.
TREATMENT OF THE QUESTIONS.
For the understanding of the things which are said in the present distinction, two things are principally asked.
First it is asked whether in divine matters an equation of power is to be posited.
Secondly, whether in divine matters an order is to be posited.
As to the first, two things are asked.
First it is asked whether in divine matters an equation of power5 is to be posited with respect to the extension of possibles.
Secondly, whether there is there an equation6 with respect to the intension of power.
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- In Vat. et paucis codd. deest aequalitatem.In the Vatican edition and a few codices the word aequalitatem is missing.
- Vat. praeter fidem mss. et ed. 1 intenditur, scilicet quod alia persona non excedit aliam potentia.The Vatican edition, against the authority of the manuscripts and edition 1, reads intenditur — namely, that one person does not exceed another in power.
- Vers. 15, in quo textu Vulgata habet quaecumque pro quae.Verse 15, in which text the Vulgate has quaecumque in place of quae.
- Cod. T hoc ponit.Codex T reads hoc ponit ("places this").
- Supplevimus ex plurimis mss. et edd. 1, 2, 3 potentiae.We have supplied potentiae ("of power") from very many manuscripts and editions 1, 2, 3.
- Cod. V adaequatio.Codex V reads adaequatio.