Dist. 13, Divisio Textus
Book II: On the Creation of Things · Distinction 13
## COMMENTARIUS IN DISTINCTIONEM XIII
De generali informatione materiae per formam communem lucis.
Prima autem distinctionis operatio etc.
DIVISIO TEXTUS.
Supra egit Magister de productione naturae quantum ad principium materiale; in hac vero parte intendit agere de eius completione sive formatione quantum ad principium formale. Et quoniam duplex est informatio materiae corporalis, quaedam generalis, quaedam specialis — generalis per formam communem omnibus corporalibus, et haec est forma lucis; specialis vero per alias formas, sive elementares sive mixtionis — ideo Magister primo agit de formatione sive productione lucis, in hac scilicet distinctione. Secundo vero agit de productione cuiuslibet alterius formae corporalis, infra distinctione decima quarta: Dixit quoque Deus, fiat firmamentum etc. Vel aliter, ut primo agat de eo quod est generale principium distinguendi in corporibus1, hoc est de luce; secundo vero de specialibus formis distinguentibus. Primum spectat ad opus primae diei, secundum vero ad opera dierum consequentium.
Dividitur autem pars ista in tres. In prima determinat de lucis productione in se. In secunda, in comparatione ad eius effectum, scilicet diem, quem faciebat, ibi: Hic notandum est, quod dies diversimode accipitur. In tertia, in comparatione ad eius principium, scilicet ad Verbum, per quod fiebat, ibi: Praeterea investigandum est, quomodo accipiendum sit etc.
Prima pars habet tres particulas. In prima determinat, quando sit lux illa facta, quia ante omnia alia. In secunda, qualis fuerit, ibi: Si quaeritur, qualis illa lux. In tertia vero, ubi posita2 fuerit, ibi: Si autem quaeritur, ubi facta est lux.
Similiter secunda pars principalis tres habet particulas. In prima determinat de ipso effectu lucis, sive de die quantum ad spatium. In secunda, quantum ad distinguendi modum, ibi: Hic est naturalis ordo distinctionis dierum. In tertia, quantum ad complementum, ibi: Solet autem quaeri, quare factus est sol.
Similiter tertia pars, in qua determinat de lucis formatione per comparationem ad suum principium, quod quidem est Pater operans per Verbum, habet tres partes. In prima parte explanat, qualiter intelligendum sit, quod Deus dicendo fecit, ibi: Praeterea investigandum est etc. In secunda explanat illud quod dicit Scriptura, scilicet Patrem in Filio et per Filium operari, ibi: Hic quaeri solet, quomodo accipiendum sit. In tertia vero removet opinionem haeretici, insinuans, aliam etiam esse expositionem verbi praedicti: et hoc facit ibi: Sed dicit haereticus, hac ratione posse etc.
TRACTATIO QUAESTIONUM.
Ad intelligentiam huius partis, in qua agitur de formatione lucis, quae est opus primae diei, quaeruntur tria.
Primum est de ipsa lucis productione.
Secundum est de ipsius lucis essentia et natura in se.
Tertium est de ipsius lucis effectu et illustratione.
Circa primum duo quaeruntur.
Primo quaeritur, utrum per illam lucem, quae dicitur esse opus primae diei, intelligat Scriptura lucem corporalem, vel spiritualem.
Secundo, dato quod intelligat corporalem, est quaestio, qualiter faciebat diem et noctem.
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## COMMENTARY ON DISTINCTION XIII
On the general informing of matter through the common form of light.
Now the first operation of distinction etc.
DIVISION OF THE TEXT.
Above the Master treated of the production of nature as regards its material principle; but in this part he intends to treat of its completion or formation as regards the formal principle. And since the informing of corporeal matter is twofold — one general, the other special (general through a form common to all corporeal things, and this is the form of light; but special through other forms, whether elementary or [forms] of mixture) — therefore the Master first treats of the formation or production of light, namely in this distinction. But secondly he treats of the production of any other corporeal form, below in the fourteenth distinction: God also said, Let there be a firmament, etc. Or, alternatively, [the order is] that he treats first of that which is the general principle of distinguishing in bodies1, that is, of light; but secondly of the special forms which distinguish [them]. The first looks to the work of the first day, but the second to the works of the following days.
Now this part is divided into three. In the first he determines concerning the production of light in itself. In the second, in comparison with its effect, namely the day, which it was making, there: Here it must be noted that "day" is taken in diverse modes. In the third, in comparison with its principle, namely with the Word, through which it was being made, there: Furthermore it must be investigated, how it is to be taken, etc.
The first part has three particulae. In the first he determines when that light was made — namely before all other things. In the second, of what sort it was, there: If it is asked, of what sort that light [was]. In the third, where it was placed2, there: But if it is asked, where the light was made.
Likewise the second principal part has three particulae. In the first he determines about the very effect of light, or about the day as regards its extent. In the second, as regards the mode of distinguishing, there: This is the natural order of the distinction of days. In the third, as regards its completion, there: It is wont, however, to be asked why the sun was made.
Likewise the third part, in which he determines about the formation of light by comparison with its principle, which indeed is the Father operating through the Word, has three parts. In the first part he explains how it is to be understood that God made [things] by speaking, there: Furthermore it must be investigated, etc. In the second he explains what Scripture says, namely [that] the Father [operates] in the Son and through the Son, there: Here it is wont to be asked, how it is to be taken. In the third he removes the heretic's opinion, intimating that there is also another exposition of the aforesaid word: and this he does there: But the heretic says, on this account it could, etc.
TREATMENT OF THE QUESTIONS.
For the understanding of this part, in which the formation of light — which is the work of the first day — is treated, three [matters] are asked.
The first is about the very production of light.
The second is about the light's essence and nature in itself.
The third is about the light's effect and illumination.
Concerning the first, two [questions] are asked.
First it is asked whether by that light, which is said to be the work of the first day, Scripture understands corporeal or spiritual light.
Secondly, granted that it understands [the corporeal light], the question is, how it was making day and night.
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- Plures codd. cum ed. 1 in corporalibus.Several codices with edition 1 [read] in corporalibus.
- Vat. facta.The Vatican [edition reads] facta.