Dist. 1, Divisio Textus
Book III: On the Incarnation of the Word · Distinction 1
## COMMENTARIUS IN DISTINCTIONEM I.
De unione naturarum in Christo ex parte personae assumentis.
Cum venit igitur plenitudo temporis etc.
DIVISIO TEXTUS.
Quoniam igitur in hoc libro, qui sic incipit: Cum venit igitur plenitudo temporis etc., intendit Magister determinare, qualiter Deus nos Christo convivificavit; liber iste dividi habet in quatuor partes secundum quatuor, quae praedicta sunt1. In quarum prima Magister determinat de unione naturarum in Christo, per quam dicimur convivificari in Christo. — In secunda vero determinat, qualiter se nostris infirmitatibus conformavit, ex quo dicimur convivificari cum Christo. Et incipit haec secunda pars infra distinctione duodecima: Solet etiam quaeri, utrum alium hominem, vel aliunde etc. — In tertia vero determinat, qualiter per mortem suam nos a morte liberavit, ex quo nos dicimur vivificari per Christum, infra distinctione decima nona: Nunc quaeramus, quomodo per mortem ipsius etc. — In quarta vero et ultima determinat, qualiter habitus virtutum in Christo fuerint, et qualiter esse debeant in eius imitatoribus, ex quo dicitur, quod Deus nos secundum Christum vivificavit, infra distinctione vigesima tertia: Cum vero supra habitum sit, Christum etc.
Vel aliter: quoniam in hoc libro agitur, qualiter Deus nos convivificavit Christo, et Christus nos vivificavit assumendo vitam nostrae naturae et impartiendo2 nobis vitam gratiae; ideo liber iste habet partes duas. In prima agitur de vita, quam pro nobis Christus assumsit; in secunda vero de vita, quam nobis contulit, infra distinctione vigesima tertia: Cum vero supra habitum sit etc., ubi agitur de virtutibus, donis et praeceptis.
Prima pars habet duas, in quarum prima determinat Magister de incarnatione Verbi sive de vitae nostrae assumtione3 facta a Verbo in se sive absolute; in secunda vero, prout ordinatur ad nostram redemptionem, infra distinctione duodecima: Solet etiam quaeri, utrum alium hominem etc.
Prima pars, ubi Magister determinat de unione naturarum in Christo, dividitur in tres partes. In prima ostendit Magister, quod in Christo fuit unio naturarum diversarum. In secunda vero inserit4 uniendi et assumendi modum, infra distinctione quinta: Praeterea inquiri oportet. In tertia vero, qualiter per illam unionem fiat communicatio idio- p. 8 matum et proprietatum, infra distinctione octava: Post praedicta inquiri oportet etc. — Prima pars dividitur in duas. In prima agitur de unione naturarum; in secunda de Christi conceptione, infra distinctione tertia: Quaeritur etiam de carne Verbi. Prima pars dividitur in duas partes. In prima determinat de unione naturarum in Christo ex parte personae assumentis; in secunda ex parte naturae assumtae, infra distinctione secunda: Et quia in homine tota humana natura.
Prima pars, quae continet praesentem distinctionem, dividitur in tres partes. In prima ostendit Magister, incarnationem factam esse in persona Filii, auctoritate Apostoli. Secundo vero inquirit huius rationem in secundo capitulo5, ibi: Diligenter vero annotandum est etc. In tertia vero removet dubitationem, ibi: Si vero quaeritur, utrum Pater et Filius et Spiritus sanctus etc. Subdivisiones autem partium manifestae sunt in littera.
TRACTATIO QUAESTIONUM.
Ad intelligentiam vero huius partis incidit hic quaestio circa incarnationem quantum6 ad duos articulos.
Primo quaeritur de ipsa incarnatione quantum ad unionis possibilitatem.
Secundo quaeritur de incarnatione quantum ad unionis congruitatem.
Circa primum quaeruntur quatuor.
Primo quaeritur, utrum divina natura potuerit uniri cum humana natura.
Secundo quaeritur, utrum una persona potuerit uniri sine alia.
Tertio vero quaeritur, utrum una persona potuerit uniri simul cum alia.
Quarto quaeritur, utrum quaelibet trium personarum potuerit incarnari per se ipsam.
## COMMENTARY ON DISTINCTION I.
On the union of the natures in Christ from the side of the person assuming.
"When therefore the fullness of time came," etc.
DIVISION OF THE TEXT.
Since, therefore, in this book, which begins thus: "When therefore the fullness of time came," etc., the Master intends to determine in what manner God made us alive together with Christ, this book is to be divided into four parts according to the four things which were said above1. In the first of these the Master determines concerning the union of the natures in Christ, through which we are said to be made alive together in Christ. — In the second he determines in what manner He conformed Himself to our infirmities, by which we are said to be made alive together with Christ. And this second part begins below in the twelfth distinction: "It is also wont to be asked, whether another man, or from another source," etc. — In the third he determines in what manner through His death He freed us from death, by which we are said to be made alive through Christ, below in the nineteenth distinction: "Now let us ask, in what manner through His death," etc. — In the fourth and last he determines in what manner the habits of the virtues were in Christ, and in what manner they ought to be in those who imitate Him, by which it is said that God made us alive according to Christ, below in the twenty-third distinction: "But since it has been treated above, that Christ," etc.
Or otherwise: since in this book it is treated in what manner God made us alive together with Christ, and Christ made us alive by assuming the life of our nature and by imparting2 to us the life of grace; therefore this book has two parts. In the first it is treated of the life which Christ assumed for us; in the second, however, of the life which He conferred upon us, below in the twenty-third distinction: "But since it has been treated above," etc., where it is treated of the virtues, gifts, and precepts.
The first part has two, in the first of which the Master determines concerning the incarnation of the Word, that is, concerning the assumption3 of our life made by the Word in itself or absolutely; in the second, however, insofar as it is ordered to our redemption, below in the twelfth distinction: "It is also wont to be asked, whether another man," etc.
The first part, where the Master determines concerning the union of the natures in Christ, is divided into three parts. In the first the Master shows that in Christ there was a union of diverse natures. In the second, however, he inserts4 the mode of uniting and of assuming, below in the fifth distinction: "Moreover, it must be inquired." In the third, however, in what manner through that union there comes to be a communication of idi- omata and of properties, below in the eighth distinction: "After the foregoing it must be inquired," etc. — The first part is divided into two. In the first it is treated of the union of the natures; in the second of the conception of Christ, below in the third distinction: "It is also asked concerning the flesh of the Word." The first part is divided into two parts. In the first he determines concerning the union of the natures in Christ from the side of the person assuming; in the second from the side of the nature assumed, below in the second distinction: "And since in man the whole human nature."
The first part, which contains the present distinction, is divided into three parts. In the first the Master shows that the incarnation was made in the person of the Son, by the authority of the Apostle. Secondly, however, he inquires the reason of this in the second chapter5, there: "But it must be diligently noted," etc. In the third, however, he removes a doubt, there: "But if it is asked, whether the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit," etc. The subdivisions of the parts, however, are manifest in the text.
TREATMENT OF THE QUESTIONS.
Now for the understanding of this part there falls here a question concerning the incarnation with respect6 to two articles.
First it is asked concerning the incarnation itself with respect to the possibility of the union.
Secondly it is asked concerning the incarnation with respect to the fittingness of the union.
Concerning the first, four [questions] are asked.
First it is asked, whether the divine nature could be united with the human nature.
Secondly it is asked, whether one person could be united without another.
Thirdly, however, it is asked, whether one person could be united together with another.
Fourthly it is asked, whether any of the three persons could be incarnated through itself.
- In Prooemio pag. 2.In the Prologue, page 2.
- Edd. participando.The editions read participando (by sharing).
- Cod. K addit sive de unione naturarum.Codex K adds or concerning the union of the natures.
- Codd. HMQS quaerit, edd. ostendit.Codices HMQS read quaerit (he asks); the editions read ostendit (he shows).
- In nostra ed. c. 1.In our edition, chapter 1.
- Cod. P et hoc quantum.Codex P reads and this with respect to.