Why God Became Man

Anselm of Canterbury

Why God Became Man

Anselm of Canterbury (1033–1109)

Cur Deus Homo

First published 1098

Anselm's dialogue with Boso on the fittingness and necessity of the Incarnation and Christ's satisfaction for humanity.


Praefatio I: Preface

Book I

Chapter I

Chapter II

Chapter III

Chapter IV

Chapter V

Chapter VI

Chapter VII

Chapter VIII

Chapter IX

Chapter X

Chapter XI

Chapter XII

Chapter XIII

Chapter XIV

Chapter XV

Chapter XVI

Chapter XVII

Chapter XVIII

Chapter XIX

Chapter XX

Chapter XXI

Chapter XXII

Chapter XXIII

Chapter XXIV

Chapter XXV

Book II

Chapter I

Chapter II

Chapter III

ANS. Unde aperte quandoque futura mortuorum resurrectio probatur. Quippe si homo perfecte restaurandus est; talis debet restitui, qualis futurus erat, si non peccasset.

BOS. Aliter esse non potest.

ANS. Quemadmodum igitur si non peccasset homo, cum eodem quod gerebat corpore in incorruptibilitatem transmutandus erat; ita oportet ut cum restaurabitur, cum suo, in quo vivit in hac vita, corpore restauretur.

BOS. Quid respondebimus, si quis dicat quia hoc fieri oportet de illis, in quibus humanum genus restaurabitur; de reprobis vero non est necesse?

ANS. Nihil justius aut convenientius intelligitur, quam ut sicut homo, si perseverasset in justitia, totus, id est anima et corpore, aeterne beatus esset; ita, si perseverat in injustitia, totus similiter aeterne miser sit.

BOS. Breviter mihi de his satisfecisti.

Chapter IV

Chapter V

Chapter VI

Chapter VII

Chapter VIII

Chapter IX

Chapter X

Chapter XI

Chapter XII

Chapter XIII

Chapter XIV

Chapter XV

Chapter XVI

Chapter XVII

Caput XVIII: Chapter XVIII (a)

Caput XIX: Chapter XVIII (b)

Chapter XIX

Chapter XX

Chapter XXI

Chapter XXII

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