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Part I. On the Trinity of God
- Franciscan Institute Publications
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27 PART I PART I ON THE TRINITY OF GOD CHAPTER 1 A SUMMARY OF THE SEVEN TOPICS OF THEOLOGY 1. In the beginning,1 we should understand that sacred doctrine, namely theology, which deals principally with the First Principle – God, three and one – comprises seven topics in all: first, the Trinity of God; second, the creation of the world; third, the corruption of sin; fourth, the Incarnation of the Word; fifth, the grace of the Holy Spirit; sixth, the healing of the sacraments; and seventh, the repose of the final judgment. 2.The reason for this is as follows. Sacred Scripture or theology is a science that imparts to us wayfarers as much knowledge of the First Principle as we need to be saved.2 1 The Latin word-play in this opening paragraph is virtually impossible to capture in English. Bonaventure begins his summary of theology with the opening words of the book of Genesis and the Gospel of John: ‘in the beginning,’ in principio. However, the Latin word principium does not simply mean ‘beginning,’ but also ‘principle.’ The origin of all things – God – is also their principle, thus the only basis from which to come to understand reality. 2 Bonaventure has already specified the characteristics of this science. It is founded not on “human inquiry, but on divine revelation” (Prol., 2), and has as its purpose “that we might become good and be saved” (Prol., 5.2). Its method is “neither restricted according to the laws of reasoning, defining, or making distinctions, nor is it limited to only one aspect of the universe” (Prol. 3). 27 PART I PART I ON THE TRINITY OF GOD CHAPTER 1 A SUMMARY OF THE SEVEN TOPICS OF THEOLOGY 1. In the beginning,1 we should understand that sacred doctrine, namely theology, which deals principally with the First Principle – God, three and one – comprises seven topics in all: first, the Trinity of God; second, the creation of the world; third, the corruption of sin; fourth, the Incarnation of the Word; fifth, the grace of the Holy Spirit; sixth, the healing of the sacraments; and seventh, the repose of the final judgment. 2.The reason for this is as follows. Sacred Scripture or theology is a science that imparts to us wayfarers as much knowledge of the First Principle as we need to be saved.2 1 The Latin word-play in this opening paragraph is virtually impossible to capture in English. Bonaventure begins his summary of theology with the opening words of the book of Genesis and the Gospel of John: ‘in the beginning,’ in principio. However, the Latin word principium does not simply mean ‘beginning,’ but also ‘principle.’ The origin of all things – God – is also their principle, thus the only basis from which to come to understand reality. 2 Bonaventure has already specified the characteristics of this science. It is founded not on “human inquiry, but on divine revelation” (Prol., 2), and has as its purpose “that we might become good and be saved” (Prol., 5.2). Its method is “neither restricted according to the laws of reasoning, defining, or making distinctions, nor is it limited to only one aspect of the universe” (Prol. 3). [44.220.251.57] Project MUSE (2024-03-29 07:58 GMT) 28 ST. BONAVENTURE’S BREVILOQUIUM Now God is not only the principle and effective exemplar of all things in creation, but also their restorative principle in redemption and their perfecting principle in remuneration .Therefore, theology does not deal simply with God the Creator, but also with the process of creation and creatures themselves. Furthermore, the rational creature, which is in a certain sense the end of all the others, did not stand firm, but fell and hence needed to be restored. It therefore follows that theology must also deal with the corruption of sin, with the physician, with [spiritual] health and its medicine, and finally with that perfect recovery which will be in [the repose of] glory, when the wicked have been cast into their punishment. Thus theology is the only perfect science, for it begins at the very beginning , which is the First Principle, and continues to the very end, which is the everlasting reward; it proceeds from the summit, which is God Most High, the Creator of all things, and reaches even to the abyss, which is the torment of hell. 3. Theology is also the only perfect wisdom, for it begins with the supreme cause as the principle of...