Bonaventure

## Commentarius in Distinctionem XLIII.

De potentia divina quoad immensitatem.

Quidam tamen de sensu suo gloriantes.

Divisio textus.

The numbered footnotes below correspond to markers in both the Latin body above and the English translation that follows. Each note is given first in Latin (`La.`), then in literal English (`En.`).

Supra ostendit Magister, quid Deus possit; in hac parte intendit ostendere, quantum possit. Et quoniam quidam Dei potentiam limitabant, ideo intendit Magister ostendere huius opinionis falsitatem, et huius positionis falsitate ostensa, reperitur¹ Dei potentia esse infinita. Et habet haec pars tres partes.

In prima proponit sive narrat eorum erroneam opinionem^NC. In secunda dissolvit eorum multiplicem rationem, ibi: Istamque suam opinionem verisi- p. 764milibus argumentis. In tertia concludit et confirmat veritatis assertionem, quae est in huius opinionis contraria positione², ibi: Fateamur ergo, Deum multa posse facere etc.

Prima et ultima parte remanentibus indivisis, media pars dividitur secundum numerum rationum quas adducit. Prima sumta est a ratione boni et iusti. Et hanc format duobus modis, et ponitur ibi: Non potest Deus, nisi quod bonum est et iustum. Secunda sumta est a ratione debiti, et hanc ponit ibi: Addunt quoque alia di- cendum, si possit etc. Tertia sumta est a ratione faciendi et dimittendi, et hanc format duobus modis, ibi: Adiiciunt quoque illi dicentes etc. Quarta sumta est ex ratione praescientiae Dei, et haec ponitur ibi: Item aliud adiungunt dicentes etc. Quinta sumta est ab auctoritate Augustini, et hoc a duplici auctoritate, et ponitur ibi: His autem illi scrutatores. Et in qualibet harum partium Magister ponit primo obiectiones, secundo vero ponit solutionem; et partes manifestae sunt.

Tractatio quaestionum.

Ad intelligentiam praesentis distinctionis quaeritur de quantitate divinae potentiae sive de infinitate. Et circa hoc quaeruntur quatuor.

Primo quaeritur, utrum potentia Dei sit infinita.

Secundo, dato quod sic, quaeritur, utrum ipsa essentia divina sit infinita, sicut potentia.

Tertio quaeritur, utrum Deus possit producere opus infinitum.

Quarto, utrum ratio operandi sit infinita.

Prima quaestio respicit infinitatem in possendo, secunda in essendo, tertia in operando, quarta in ratione operandi.

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## Commentary on Distinction XLIII.

On the divine power as to its immensity.

"Some however, glorying in their own sense."

Division of the text.

Above the Master showed what God can [do]; in this part he intends to show how much he can [do]. And since certain men have limited the power of God, the Master accordingly intends to show the falsity of this opinion; and once the falsity of this position has been shown, God's¹ power is found to be infinite. And this part has three parts.

In the first he sets forth or narrates their erroneous opinion^NC. In the second he dissolves their manifold reasoning, there: "Yet this their opinion with verisi-" p. 764"milar arguments." In the third he concludes and confirms the assertion of the truth, which lies in the position contrary to² this opinion, there: "Let us therefore confess that God can do many things," etc.

The first and last parts remaining undivided, the middle part is divided according to the number of reasons which he adduces. The first is taken from the account of the good and the just. And this he forms in two modes, and it is set there: "God cannot [do anything] except what is good and just." The second is taken from the account of what is due, and this he places there: "They add also other [things] to be said, if he can," etc. The third is taken from the account of doing and omitting, and this he forms in two modes, there: "Those men also add, saying," etc. The fourth is taken from the account of God's foreknowledge, and this is set there: "Likewise they adjoin another, saying," etc. The fifth is taken from the authority of Augustine, and this from a twofold authority, and it is set there: "To these things however those searchers." And in each of these parts the Master first sets forth the objections, second he sets forth the solution; and the parts are manifest.

Treatment of the questions.

For the understanding of the present distinction, [the question] is asked concerning the quantity of the divine power, or concerning its infinity. And on this point four [questions] are asked.

First, it is asked whether the power of God is infinite.

Second, granted that it is so, it is asked whether the divine essence itself is infinite, as is the power.

Third, it is asked whether God can produce an infinite work.

Fourth, whether the ground of operating is infinite.

The first question regards infinity in being-able, the second in being, the third in operating, the fourth in the ground of operating.

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