quaerentes.net

In the very beginning of Thomas Aquinas’ Summa Theologica, he makes an interesting distinction which is very foreign to today’s evangelical thought, but is very apt, I think. The question is whether philosophical science, or tha which we can know throuh unaided human reason, is all the knowledge we can possess as human beings. Since philosophical science treats of the subjects of God and humanity, then what need is there for more? What he calls theology is quite different from what today is called theology, and is more aptly called philosophical theology. What we call theology today he calls the “science of sacred doctrine.” Philosophical theology, then, deals with those things about God which human reason can understand. Later in the Summa he goes through what he believes are all the things which can be explained in this way or proven through logical and intelligible philosophical methods. I’ll try and explain some of these in greater detail as I progress through the book. The other theology, of sacred doctrine, is what is more familiar as being based on faith, and this is necessary because of the limitations of human knowledge, and also because even what we can prove of the nature and existence of God is only truly available to a very few who can completely comprehend all the difficult concepts involved. For most, he says, it was necessary that God reveal the truth so that people can believe and act on something. It was also necessary because much of the doctrine of salvation and Christ is not provable by human reason alone, but faith is necessary. It can certainly be understood in better or worse ways, but the knowledge is something which can only come through revelation. More on this another time.