Scholastica commentaria in Primam Partem Summae Theologicae
Domingo Báñez (1528–1604)
First published 1584
Dominicus Báñez, O.P.'s Scholastica commentaria in primam partem Summae Theologiae is a Salamanca-school commentary on the opening part of Aquinas's Summa. The first printing appeared at Salamanca in 1584, after Báñez's teaching at the Dominican studium and University of Salamanca; later editions and editorial continuations helped make the work a major witness to late sixteenth-century Thomism. Its close exegesis of Aquinas intersects the debates over divine grace, human freedom, predestination, and physical premotion that defined the de auxiliis controversy. Schola presents the Latin text from a 1934 Urbano edition; the catalogue's 1584 year identifies the original work, not the modern reprint.
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Prologus auctoris ad lectorem
PROLOGUE OF THE AUTHOR
TO THE READER.
Concerning this second edition let the reader note that in the earlier commentaries I deliberately did not wish to append the whole text of St. Thomas. For I was writing for Theologians, to all of whom I judged the Theological Summa of the holy Doctor to be at hand. But now, with all Theologians calling for it, I have willingly changed my opinion. For the poor Theologians complain and protest (as do the rich, if any are rich): the former because not everyone has the money to buy separately the parts of St. Thomas's Summa and separately the Commentaries: the latter assert that it is troublesome to them to open and turn over two volumes, one of the text, the other of the commentaries, at once before their eyes. I have surely found a way to satisfy both. I have inserted the whole text of St. Thomas, sparing no expense of my own, composed with such art that, even if I have added many things in the commentaries, this book is nevertheless not sold for more than the earlier edition. Where an addition has been made, it is denoted by this sign †. Furthermore, from each article of St. Thomas I further mark the conclusions corresponding to the title of the question, and for each of them, briefly and in sum, where it can conveniently be done, I intimate the force and nerve of the reasoning, which I have experienced to have pleased disciples very much and profited them very much. But in the course of the disputations I use the name of doubts, lest, when it is necessary to cite things said or to be said, I create some confusion in the reader's mind with the questions of St. Thomas. Finally, since you will see the margins of this book clean, without little notes and citations, know that I have done this not from negligence but on purpose, consulting your utility. For I have left you room, so that you yourself by your own judgment may more conveniently exercise both memory and genius. For I have learned by experience how little such marginal notes, set down and marked at another's pleasure, profit me for the exercise of memory. Add also that, since in Scholastic meditations there always occurs either a new reason for confirming a conclusion, or a new solution of an argument, or an impugning of an author's opinion, all these will nowhere be more aptly at hand for you than if you have written them in the very margins. You have besides a copious Index, which refers you to the columns and letter-characters so distinctly that the marginal notes seem superfluous. Farewell. Given at Salamanca, on the Kalends of November, in the year of the Lord 1585.