Dist. 6, Divisio Textus
Book I: On the Mystery of the Trinity · Distinction 6
## Commentarius in Distinctionem VI
«Praeterea quaeri solet» etc.
Divisio Textus
In parte ista ponit Magister dubitationes emergentes ex comparatione actus generandi ad potentiam. Et quoniam contingit comparare actum generandi ad potentiam, et potentiam generandi ad suppositum, et ex utraque comparatione incidit dubitatio circa essentiae unitatem: ideo primo ponit dubitationem ex comparatione actus generandi ad potentiam; secundo ponit dubitationem ex comparatione potentiae generandi ad personam, infra distinctione septima1: Hic solet quaeri a quibusdam, utrum Pater etc.
Item, prima pars, quae continet praesentem distinctionem, habet quatuor particulas. In prima Magister proponit quaestionem, utrum potentia vel virtus generandi sit producens necessitate vel voluntate, et determinat veritatem huius quaestionis. Secundo ad istam quaestionem respondet ad hominem contra arguendo, ibi: Dicamus ergo, Verbum Dei esse Filium Dei. Tertio vero opponit contra praedictam solutionem et respondet, ibi: Sed contra hoc opponitur sic: Voluntas Dei etc. Quarto et ultimo redit ad explanationem primae solutionis, ibi: Praedicta tamen verba, quibus prudenter dictum est, ubi explanat solutionem praehabitam.
Tractatio Quaestionum
Articulus Unicus
De generatione Filii secundum suas conditiones.
Ad evidentiam huius partis tria principaliter quaeruntur.
Primo quaeritur, utrum generatio Filii sit secundum conditionem necessitatis.
Secundo, utrum sit secundum rationem voluntatis.
Tertio, utrum secundum conditionem exemplaritatis2.
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## Commentary on Distinction VI
"Moreover it is customarily asked" etc.
Division of the Text
In this part the Master poses doubts emerging from the comparison of the act of begetting to the power. And since it is possible to compare the act of begetting to the power, and the power of begetting to the supposit, and from either comparison a doubt arises concerning the unity of essence: therefore first he poses the doubt from the comparison of the act of begetting to the power; second, he poses the doubt from the comparison of the power of begetting to the person, below at Distinction VII1: "Here it is customarily asked by some, whether the Father..." etc.
Likewise, the first part, which contains the present distinction, has four particles. In the first, the Master poses the question whether the power or strength of begetting produces by necessity or by will, and determines the truth of this question. Second, he responds to this question by arguing against the heretic (ad hominem), at: "Let us therefore say, that the Word of God is the Son of God." Third, he objects against the aforesaid solution and responds, at: "But against this it is objected thus: the will of God" etc. Fourth and last, he returns to the explanation of the first solution, at: "The aforesaid words, by which it was prudently said" — where he explains the solution already set forth.
Treatment of the Questions
Single Article
On the generation of the Son according to its conditions.
For the understanding of this part, three things are principally asked:
First: whether the generation of the Son is according to the condition of necessity.
Second: whether it is according to the account of will.
Third: whether it is according to the condition of exemplarity2.
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- Cfr. infra hic d. 7, Divisio textus, ubi distinctio inter actum generandi et potentiam generandi in comparatione ad personam clarius ponitur.Cf. below d. 7, Divisio textus, where the distinction between the act of generating and the power of generating in comparison to the person is more clearly set forth.
- Triplex haec divisio quaestionum (necessitas, voluntas, exemplaritas) propria S. Doctoris est et infra in singulis quaestionibus expansive tractatur.This threefold division of the questions (necessity, will, exemplarity) is proper to the Holy Doctor and is treated expansively below in each individual question.