Commentaria in Summam contra Gentiles, Liber II
Francesco Silvestri (1474–1528)
Commentaria in Summam contra Gentiles
First published 1918
In Book II of the Commentaria in Summam contra Gentiles, Francesco Silvestri of Ferrara (Ferrariensis) expounds Aquinas's account of creation, the distinction of creatures, and the human soul. The commentary accompanies the Leonine text in volume XIII (1918). The present digital edition includes the Latin text and an English translation.
Caput I: Continuatio sequentium ad praecedentia
Caput II: Quod consideratio creaturarum utilis est ad fidei instructionem
Caput III: Quod cognoscere naturam creaturarum valet ad destruendum errores qui sunt circa Deum
Caput IV: Quod aliter considerat de creaturis philosophus et theologus
Caput V: Ordo dicendorum
Caput VI: Quod Deo competit ut sit aliis principium essendi
Caput VII: Quod in Deo sit potentia activa
Caput VIII: Quod Dei potentia sit eius substantia
Caput IX: Quod Dei potentia sit eius actio
Caput X: Qualiter potentia in Deo dicatur
Caput XI: Quod de Deo dicitur aliquid relative ad creaturas
Caput XII: Quod relationes dictae de Deo ad creaturas non sunt realiter in Deo
Caput XIII: Quomodo praedictae relationes de Deo dicantur
Caput XIV: Quod Deus sit omnibus causa essendi
Caput XV: Quod Deus ex nihilo produxit res in esse
Caput XVI: Quod creatio non est motus neque mutatio
Caput XVII: Quomodo solvantur ea quae contra creationem obiiciuntur
Caput XVIII: Quod in creatione non sit successio
Caput XIX: Quod nullum corpus potest creare
Caput XX: Quod solius Dei est creare
Caput XXI: Quod Deus omnia possit
Caput XXII: Quod Deus non agat ex necessitate naturae
Caput XXIII: Quod Deus agit secundum suam sapientiam
Caput XXIV: Qualiter omnipotens dicatur quaedam non posse
Caput XXV: Quod divinus intellectus non coartatur ad determinatos effectus
Caput XXVI: Quod divina voluntas ad determinatos effectus non artatur
Caput XXVII: Qualiter in rerum productione debitum inveniatur
Caput XXVIII: Qualiter in rebus creatis esse potest necessitas absoluta
Caput XXIX: Quod non est necessarium creaturas semper fuisse
Caput XXX: Rationes volentium probare aeternitatem mundi ex parte Dei acceptae
Caput XXXI: Rationes volentium probare aeternitatem mundi sumptae ex parte creaturarum
Caput XXXII: Rationes ad probandum aeternitatem mundi ex parte factionis
Third, arguments are set forth taken from the side of the faction adopted 1.
The first is because, since the common opinion holds that from nothing, nothing comes to be; and since there cannot be a process going on to infinity: one must arrive at some first unmade thing, from which all things are first made; and consequently, at something eternal.
Second. Because what newly begins to be does not stand in the same way now and before, and consequently receives esse through motion or change. But before anything made through motion there must pre-exist some material subject, and one must arrive at a first that does not begin to be anew but exists always.
Third. Because, since everything that begins to be anew was previously possible to be, there must pre-exist before each such thing a subject that is a being in potency. And, since there is no regress to infinity, one must posit some first subject, which has not begun to be anew.
Fourth. Because, since there is no persisting subject while a thing is being made, everything that is made has some preexisting subject. And, since there is no regress to infinity, it follows that the first subject is not made.