Dist. 8, Part 2, Divisio Textus
Book I: On the Mystery of the Trinity · Distinction 8
## Commentarius in Distinctionem VIII
Pars II
De simplicitate Dei.
«Eademque sola proprie ac vere simplex est» etc.
(Textum Magistri vide supra p. 147.)
Divisio Textus1
Supra ostendit Magister duas proprietates divinae essentiae, scilicet veritatem et incommutabilitatem; hic ostendit simplicitatem divinae essentiae vel naturae. Et habet haec pars tres partes. In prima ostendit, quod proprie est simplex; in secunda, quod vere, ibi: Hic diligenter notandum est cum dicat Augustinus etc.; in tertia, quod summe, ibi: Huius autem sinceritatis et simplicitatis.
Prima iterum pars habet tres partes. Primo proponit, quod proprie est simplex; secundo, ostendit quod non convenit naturae corporali, ibi: Ut autem scias quomodo simplex etc.; in tertia, quod non convenit naturae spirituali, ibi: Creatura quoque spiritualis etc.
Similiter pars, in qua ostendit quod est vere simplex, habet tres partes. In prima ostendit, quod in Deo est pure multiplicitas nominum; in secunda ostendit, quod in eo non est diversitas praedicamentorum, ibi: Quod autem in natura divinitatis nulla sit accidentium etc.; in tertia concludit, quod nomina praedicamentorum in divinis non possunt dici proprie, et etiam nomen primi praedicamenti, ibi: Unde nec proprie dicitur substantia.
Similiter pars, in qua ostendit quod est summe simplex, habet tres. Primo enim ostendit, quod tanta est ibi simplicitas, quod nulla est ibi rerum diversitas; secundo, quod cum hac simplicitate stat personarum pluralitas, ibi: Et cum tantae simplicitatis etc. Tertio vero et ultimo epilogat, quod ostensa est in divina essentia triplex proprietas, ibi: Ecce quanta identitas.
Tractatio Quaestionum
Ad intelligentiam eorum quae dicit Magister in littera, quatuor quaeruntur in parte ista2:
Primo quaeritur, utrum in Deo sit summa simplicitas.
Secundo, utrum simplicitas sit Dei proprietas.
Tertio, propter illud quod dicitur in littera de anima rationali, quaeritur, utrum anima rationalis sit in toto corpore, ita quod in qualibet parte.
Quarto quaeritur, utrum Deus sit in aliquo determinato genere.
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## Commentary on Distinction VIII
Part II
On the simplicity of God.
"And the same essence alone is properly and truly simple" etc.
(For the Master's text, see above p. 147.)
Division of the Text1
Above the Master showed two properties of the divine essence, namely truth and unchangeableness; here he shows the simplicity of the divine essence or nature. And this part has three sub-parts. In the first he shows that [God] is properly simple; in the second, that He is truly [simple], at: "Here it must be carefully noted when Augustine says" etc.; in the third, that He is in the highest degree [simple], at: "Of this sincerity and simplicity."
The first sub-part has in turn three parts. First, he proposes that [God] is properly simple; second, he shows that [simplicity] does not befit corporeal nature, at: "That you may know how simple" etc.; in the third, that it does not befit spiritual nature, at: "The spiritual creature also" etc.
Likewise the part in which he shows that [God] is truly simple has three parts. In the first he shows that in God there is only a multiplicity of names; in the second he shows that in Him there is no diversity of predicaments, at: "But that in the divine nature there is no diversity of accidents" etc.; in the third he concludes that the names of the predicaments cannot be said of God properly — and even the name of the first predicament, at: "Hence neither is He properly called a substance."
Likewise the part in which he shows that [God] is supremely simple has three parts. First he shows that the simplicity there is such that there is no diversity of things; secondly, that with this simplicity stands a plurality of persons, at: "And since the divine nature is of such great simplicity" etc. Third, and lastly, he gives an epilogue that the threefold property has been shown in the divine essence, at: "Behold, how great is the identity."
Treatment of the Questions
For understanding what the Master says in the text, four questions are asked in this part2:
First, whether in God there is supreme simplicity.
Second, whether simplicity is a property of God.
Third, on account of what is said in the text about the rational soul, it is asked whether the rational soul is in the whole body so as to be in every part.
Fourth, it is asked whether God is in any determinate genus.
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- In hac distinctione divisio textus partis II in codd. hoc loco ponitur, dum alibi coniungitur cum divisione partis I. Cfr. ultima verba in divisione partis I p. 150.In this distinction, the division of the text of Part II is placed here in the manuscripts, whereas elsewhere it is joined to the division of Part I. Cf. the final words in the division of Part I on p. 150.
- Fide omnium mss. et ed. 1 restituimus verba in parte ista.With the support of all the manuscripts and edition 1, we have restored the words "in this part."