Dist. 44, Divisio Textus
Book II: On the Creation of Things · Distinction 44
## COMMENTARIUS IN DISTINCTIONEM XLIV. ### Unde habeat ortum potentia peccandi.
Post praedicta consideratione dignum etc.
DIVISIO TEXTUS.
Supra ostendit Magister, qualiter peccatum habet ortum a voluntate in generali et in speciali. In hac vero parte determinat, unde habeat ortum potentia peccandi; et haec pars durat usque ad finem libri.
Dividitur autem pars ista in partes quatuor. In quarum prima quaerit Magister, unde sit potentia peccandi; et determinat, quod potentia peccandi non est a Deo, secundum quorundam opinionem. In secunda vero parte ostendit, quod omnis potentia1 est a Deo, pluribus auctoritatibus, ibi: Sed pluribus Sanctorum testimoniis etc. In tertia vero parte determinat quandam dubitationem, quae ex praecedentibus habet ortum, videlicet, utrum alicui potestati sit resistendum, ibi: Hic oritur quaestio non transilienda; ubi determinat, quod aliquando est obediendum, aliquando resistendum. In quarta vero et ultima continuat Magister dicta dicendis, ut ex hoc libro ad librum tertium transeat, ibi: Iam nunc illis intelligendis atque pertractandis etc. Et posset haec particula ultima dividi contra totum praecedens; sed causa brevitatis non fuit divisa. Huiusmodi enim minutiae divisionum plus habent curiositatis quam utilitatis, et idcirco eas in praecedentibus praetermisi.
TRACTATIO QUAESTIONUM.
Ad intelligentiam autem huius partis incidit hic quaestio circa tria.
Primo quaeritur, unde habeat ortum potestas peccandi.
Secundo vero quaeritur, unde sit in homine potestas praesidendi sive dominandi.
Tertio quaeritur de necessitate subiacendi potentiae praesidendi2.
Circa primum quaeruntur duo.
Primo quaeritur, utrum potentia peccandi sit in homine a Deo, vel a se ipso.
Secundo quaeritur, utrum potentia peccandi, in quantum huiusmodi, sit bona, an mala.
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## COMMENTARY ON DISTINCTION XLIV. ### Whence the power of sinning has its origin.
After the foregoing matters, what next occurs as worthy of consideration, etc.
DIVISION OF THE TEXT.
Above, the Master showed how sin has its origin from the will, in general and in particular. But in this part he determines whence the power of sinning has its origin; and this part lasts until the end of the book.
Now this part is divided into four parts. In the first of these the Master asks whence the power of sinning comes; and he determines that the power of sinning is not from God, according to the opinion of certain persons. In the second part he shows that all power1 is from God, by many authorities, there: But by the many testimonies of the Saints etc. In the third part he determines a certain doubt that arises out of the preceding, namely, whether one ought to resist any power, there: Here arises a question not to be passed over; where he determines that sometimes one must obey, sometimes resist. In the fourth and last part the Master joins what has been said to what is to be said, so that from this book he may pass over to the third book, there: Now then, those things being understood and treated, etc. And this last little portion could be divided over against the whole that precedes; but for the sake of brevity it was not divided. For such minutiae of divisions have more of curiosity than of usefulness, and therefore I have passed them over in what precedes.
TREATMENT OF THE QUESTIONS.
For the understanding of this part there here arises a question concerning three things.
First, it is asked whence the power of sinning has its origin.
Second, it is asked whence there is in man the power of presiding or of ruling.
Third, it is asked concerning the necessity of being subject to the power that presides2.
Concerning the first, two questions are asked.
First, it is asked whether the power of sinning is in man from God, or from himself.
Second, it is asked whether the power of sinning, insofar as it is such, is good or evil.
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- Vat. et edd. 3, 4 supplent peccandi. Paulo ante pro ostendit cod. T substituit ostenditur. Paulo inferius pro utrum alicui Vat. habet utrum aliquando.The Vatican edition and editions 3 and 4 supply peccandi ("of sinning"). A little before, for ostendit ("he showed") codex T substitutes ostenditur ("it is shown"). A little further down, for utrum alicui ("whether to any [power]") the Vatican edition has utrum aliquando ("whether at any time").
- Ita codd. F K bb et alii, sed edd. cum pluribus codd. praesidendi; infra autem in rubrica tertii articuli in omnibus, excepta Vat., legitur praesidendi.So codices F, K, bb and others; but the editions, with several codices, [read] praesidendi; further below, however, in the rubric of the third article, in all [witnesses] except the Vatican edition, praesidendi is read.