Theologicae regulae

Every translation in divine matters is of the name, and not of the thing.

A threefold translation can occur in natural things: for sometimes there is a translation of the name and of the thing, when both the name and the thing are transferred from that to which they belong, to that from which it is, or that according to which it is, as when it is said: The line is long, and this name "long," and the thing of this name, that is, length, is transferred from that to which it belongs, that is, from the lined thing, to that according to which it is, that is, the line, according to which length belongs to the lined thing, and this name, "long." Sometimes there is a translation of the thing, and not of the name, as when I say: The field is joyful, joy is attributed to the field: but not every name that signifies joy, as this name, "rejoicing," or "exulting." Sometimes there is a transfer of the name, and not of the thing; as when it is said: The monk is white, this name "white" is transferred so as to fit the monk, but not the thing of the name. For when the monk is called white, it is not said that he is affected by whiteness, but that he is of white habit. In divine matters, however, there is a translation of the name, and not of the thing; for when it is said: God is just, this name "just" is transferred from its proper signification so as to fit God, but the thing of the name is not attributed to God; but rather divine justice itself is attributed to God, not another, from which this name "just" was given; for one thing is predicated, when it is said: God just, another thing is co-predicated: for divine justice is predicated, the effect of justice in us is co-predicated. Whence when it is said: God is just and strong, is understood an identity of predicate, but a diversity of co-predicate: whence the copulative conjunction there has its place, because it couples the diverse effects which are co-predicated in these propositions, namely the effect of justice, and the effect of strength; sometimes indeed a copulative conjunction couples the things signified; sometimes it couples the things con-signified: things signified, as when it is said, Peter is pious and merciful; things con-signified, as when it is said: God is pious and merciful. Just as a disjunctive conjunction sometimes disjoins things signified, as when it is said: An animal is healthy, or sick; sometimes, however, things con-signified: as when it is said, that is white, or that is white (feminine). Yet it is not to be granted that God is just and pious (as neuters); for there it would rather seem that predicates, rather than co-predicates, are being coupled: and thus, since there is a single predicate, the coupling is inconsistent. But it is asked what is coupled to what, when it is said, God is merciful and compassionate; since "compassionate" pertains to nature, "merciful" to effect. It can be said that the repetition of the conjunction is meant to be understood, so that the sense is: God is compassionate, and is merciful. But perhaps the aptitude for effecting, which is noted by "compassionate," couples the effect of effecting, which is noted by "merciful."