Summa Contra Gentiles, Second Book (On Creation)

Saint Thomas Aquinas (1225 - 1274)
Translated by The Fathers of the English Dominican Province

The Summa Contra Gentiles was composed by Thomas Aquinas between 1259 and 1265, in four books broadly covering teachings on God, on Creation, on Providence, and on tenets specific to Christianity. This Summa is not to be confused with his final Summa, the Summa Theologiae. The latter is specifically "theological" and directed to a Christian audience (hence Summa "Theologica"), whereas the former, as the "Contra Gentiles" indicates, is directed toward "non-Christian" thinkers. Implicitly a defence of the Catholic Christian faith, the first three books constitute a sort of rational apology of Christian thought, where philosophical arguments are deployed to defend Christian beliefs and usually only evoke Scripture in a latter instance to show its concordance with these largely-rational conclusions; the fourth book, however, is theological in character given that its content deals primarily with topics derived from Christian revelation. Although Thomas Aquinas certainly aims to discredit pagan, Jewish, Muslim or Christian-"heretical" positions incompatible with the Catholic Christian religion in this work, at the same time he incorporates whatever is salvageable from their thought, thus often quoting in his favor the very authors he discredits on other positions: therefore the "Contra Gentiles" of this Summa is not to be understood as an outright rejection of non-Christian thought, but rather as a sort of "rational purification" unto its Catholic assimilation, in disposing open minds to revealed Christian truths. (Summary by M.S.C. Lambert, LC)

Genre(s): Christianity - Commentary, Christianity - Other

Language: English

Section Chapter Reader Time
Play 01 I. CONNECTION OF THE FOREGOING WITH THE SEQUEL M.S.C. Lambert, LC
00:04:03
Play 02 II. THAT THE CONSIDERATION OF CREATURES IS USEFUL FOR BUILDING UP OUR FAITH M.S.C. Lambert, LC
00:05:14
Play 03 III. THAT THE KNOWLEDGE OF THE NATURE OF CREATURES AVAILS FOR REFUTING ERRORS AGAINST GOD M.S.C. Lambert, LC
00:05:08
Play 04 IV. THAT THE PHILOSOPHER AND THE THEOLOGIAN TREAT OF CREATURES IN DIFFERENT WAYS M.S.C. Lambert, LC
00:04:07
Play 05 V. ORDER OF THE THINGS TO BE SAID M.S.C. Lambert, LC
00:00:59
Play 06 VI. THAT IT BECOMES GOD TO BE THE SOURCE OF BEING TO OTHER THINGS M.S.C. Lambert, LC
00:04:22
Play 07 VII. THAT IN GOD THERE IS ACTIVE POWER M.S.C. Lambert, LC
00:02:40
Play 08 VIII. THAT GOD'S POWER IS HIS SUBSTANCE M.S.C. Lambert, LC
00:02:45
Play 09 IX. THAT GOD'S POWER IS HIS ACTION M.S.C. Lambert, LC
00:02:19
Play 10 X. IN WHAT WAY POWER IS ASCRIBED TO GOD M.S.C. Lambert, LC
00:02:26
Play 11 XI. THAT SOMETHING IS SAID OF GOD IN RELATION TO CREATURES M.S.C. Lambert, LC
00:02:28
Play 12 XII. THAT RELATIONS SAID OF GOD IN REFERENCE TO CREATURES ARE NOT REALLY IN GOD M.S.C. Lambert, LC
00:03:50
Play 13 XIII. HOW THE AFORESAID RELATIONS ARE PREDICATED OF GOD M.S.C. Lambert, LC
00:03:06
Play 14 XIV. HOW THE AFORESAID RELATIONS ARE PREDICATED OF GOD M.S.C. Lambert, LC
00:01:33
Play 15 XV. THAT GOD IS TO ALL THINGS THE CAUSE OF BEING M.S.C. Lambert, LC
00:08:34
Play 16 XVI. THAT GOD BROUGHT THINGS INTO BEING OUT OF NOTHING M.S.C. Lambert, LC
00:11:37
Play 17 XVII. THAT CREATION IS NEITHER MOVEMENT NOR CHANGE M.S.C. Lambert, LC
00:03:28
Play 18 XVIII. HOW TO SOLVE THE OBJECTIONS AGAINST CREATION M.S.C. Lambert, LC
00:02:47
Play 19 XIX. THAT IN CREATION THERE IS NO SUCCESSION M.S.C. Lambert, LC
00:05:50
Play 20 XX. THAT NO BODY CAN CREATE M.S.C. Lambert, LC
00:05:22
Play 21 XXI. THAT IT BELONGS TO GOD ALONE TO CREATE M.S.C. Lambert, LC
00:10:51
Play 22 XXII. THAT GOD CAN DO ALL THINGS M.S.C. Lambert, LC
00:08:02
Play 23 XXIII. THAT GOD DOES NOT ACT OF NATURAL NECESSITY M.S.C. Lambert, LC
00:08:35
Play 24 XXIV. THAT GOD WORKS ACCORDING TO HIS WISDOM M.S.C. Lambert, LC
00:04:33
Play 25 XXV. HOW THE ALMIGHTY IS SAID TO BE UNABLE TO DO CERTAIN THINGS M.S.C. Lambert, LC
00:09:58
Play 26 XXVI. THAT THE DIVINE INTELLECT IS NOT CONFINED TO CERTAIN DETERMINED EFFECTS M.S.C. Lambert, LC
00:05:14
Play 27 XXVII. THAT THE DIVINE WILL IS NOT CONFINED TO CERTAIN EFFECTS M.S.C. Lambert, LC
00:01:36
Play 28 XXVIII. HOW THERE IS ANYTHING DUE IN THE PRODUCTION OF THINGS M.S.C. Lambert, LC
00:08:28
Play 29 XXIX. HOW THERE IS ANYTHING DUE IN THE PRODUCTION OF THINGS M.S.C. Lambert, LC
00:06:26
Play 30 XXX. HOW THERE CAN BE ABSOLUTE NECESSITY IN CREATED THINGS M.S.C. Lambert, LC
00:16:56
Play 31 XXXI. THAT IT IS NOT NECESSARY FOR CREATURES TO HAVE BEEN ALWAYS M.S.C. Lambert, LC
00:06:09
Play 32 XXXII. ARGUMENTS OF THOSE WHO WISH TO PROVE THE ETERNITY OF THE WORLD FROM GOD'S SIDE OF THE QUESTION M.S.C. Lambert, LC
00:09:56
Play 33 XXXIII. ARGUMENTS OF THOSE WHO WOULD PROVE THE ETERNITY OF THE WORLD FROM THE POINT OF VIEW OF CREATURES M.S.C. Lambert, LC
00:07:39
Play 34 XXXIV. ARGUMENTS TO PROVE THE ETERNITY OF THE WORLD FROM THE POINT OF VIEW OF THE MAKING M.S.C. Lambert, LC
00:05:22
Play 35 XXXV. SOLUTION OF THE FOREGOING ARGUMENTS, AND FIRST OF THOSE THAT WERE TAKEN FROM THE STANDPOINT OF GOD M.S.C. Lambert, LC
00:10:52
Play 36 XXXVI. SOLUTION OF THE ARGUMENTS PRODUCED ON THE PART OF THE THINGS MADE M.S.C. Lambert, LC
00:06:08
Play 37 XXXVII. SOLUTION OF THE ARGUMENTS TAKEN FROM THE MAKING OF THINGS M.S.C. Lambert, LC
00:07:00
Play 38 XXXVIII. ARGUMENTS BY WHICH SOME ENDEAVOUR TO PROVE THAT THE WORLD IS NOT ETERNAL M.S.C. Lambert, LC
00:07:39
Play 39 XXXIX. THAT THE DISTINCTION OF THINGS IS NOT FROM CHANCE M.S.C. Lambert, LC
00:06:59
Play 40 XL. THAT MATTER IS NOT THE FIRST CAUSE OF THE DISTINCTION OF THINGS M.S.C. Lambert, LC
00:05:25
Play 41 XLI. THAT THE DISTINCTION OF THINGS IS NOT ON ACCOUNT OF A CONTRARIETY OF AGENTS M.S.C. Lambert, LC
00:10:49
Play 42 XLII. THAT THE FIRST CAUSE OF THE DISTINCTION OF THINGS IS NOT THE ORDER OF SECONDARY AGENTS M.S.C. Lambert, LC
00:08:46
Play 43 XLIII. THAT THE DISTINCTION AMONG THINGS DOES NOT RESULT FROM SOME SECONDARY AGENT INTRODUCING VARIOUS FORMS INTO MATTER M.S.C. Lambert, LC
00:07:23
Play 44 XLIV. THAT DISTINCTION AMONG THINGS DID NOT RESULT FROM THE DIVERSITY OF MERITS OR DEMERITS M.S.C. Lambert, LC
00:13:32
Play 45 XLV. WHAT IS IN TRUTH THE FIRST CAUSE OF THE DISTINCTION OF THINGS M.S.C. Lambert, LC
00:07:26
Play 46 XLVI. THAT FOR THE PERFECTION OF THE UNIVERSE IT WAS NECESSARY THAT THERE SHOULD BE SOME INTELLECTUAL CREATURES M.S.C. Lambert, LC
00:07:27
Play 47 XLVII. THAT INTELLECTUAL SUBSTANCES ARE CAPABLE OF WILLING M.S.C. Lambert, LC
00:06:24
Play 48 XLVIII. THAT INTELLECTUAL SUBSTANCES ARE OF FREE-WILL IN ACTING M.S.C. Lambert, LC
00:06:08
Play 49 XLIX. THAT THE INTELLECTUAL SUBSTANCE IS NOT A BODY M.S.C. Lambert, LC
00:06:46
Play 50 L. THAT INTELLECTUAL SUBSTANCES ARE IMMATERIAL M.S.C. Lambert, LC
00:06:21
Play 51 LI. THAT THE INTELLECTUAL SUBSTANCE IS NOT A MATERIAL FORM M.S.C. Lambert, LC
00:02:50
Play 52 LII. THAT IN CREATED INTELLECTUAL SUBSTANCES THERE IS A DIFFERENCE BETWEEN BEING AND WHAT IS M.S.C. Lambert, LC
00:08:01
Play 53 LIII. THAT IN CREATED INTELLECTUAL SUBSTANCES THERE IS ACT AND POTENTIALITY M.S.C. Lambert, LC
00:03:28
Play 54 LIV. THAT COMPOSITION OF SUBSTANCE AND BEING IS NOT THE SAME AS COMPOSITION OF MATTER AND FORM M.S.C. Lambert, LC
00:04:53
Play 55 LV. THAT INTELLECTUAL SUBSTANCES ARE INCORRUPTIBLE M.S.C. Lambert, LC
00:16:48
Play 56 LVI. IN WHAT WAY IT IS POSSIBLE FOR AN INTELLECTUAL SUBSTANCE TO BE UNITED TO THE BODY M.S.C. Lambert, LC
00:10:52
Play 57 LVII. THE OPINION OF PLATO CONCERNING THE UNION OF THE INTELLECTUAL SOUL WITH THE BODY M.S.C. Lambert, LC
00:11:16
Play 58 LVIII. THAT THE NUTRITIVE, SENSITIVE, AND INTELLECTIVE FACULTIES IN MAN ARE NOT THREE SOULS M.S.C. Lambert, LC
00:12:11
Play 59 LIX. THAT MAN'S POSSIBLE INTELLECT IS NOT A SEPARATE SUBSTANCE M.S.C. Lambert, LC
00:12:25
Play 60 LX. THAT MAN DERIVES HIS SPECIES NOT FROM THE PASSIVE, BUT FROM THE POSSIBLE INTELLECT M.S.C. Lambert, LC
00:22:44
Play 61 LXI. THAT THE AFORESAID OPINION IS CONTRARY TO THAT OF ARISTOTLE M.S.C. Lambert, LC
00:04:24
Play 62 LXII. AGAINST THE OPINION OF ALEXANDER ABOUT THE POSSIBLE INTELLECT M.S.C. Lambert, LC
00:09:50
Play 63 LXIII. THAT THE SOUL IS NOT A TEMPERAMENT, AS GALEN ASSERTED M.S.C. Lambert, LC
00:03:35
Play 64 LXIV. THAT THE SOUL IS NOT A HARMONY M.S.C. Lambert, LC
00:02:49
Play 65 LXV. THAT THE SOUL IS NOT A BODY M.S.C. Lambert, LC
00:04:36
Play 66 LXVI. AGAINST THOSE WHO SAY THAT INTELLECT AND SENSE ARE THE SAME M.S.C. Lambert, LC
00:03:10
Play 67 LXVII. AGAINST THOSE WHO SAY THAT THE POSSIBLE INTELLECT IS THE IMAGINATION M.S.C. Lambert, LC
00:02:41
Play 68 LXVIII. HOW AN INTELLECTUAL SUBSTANCE CAN BE THE FORM OF THE BODY M.S.C. Lambert, LC
00:08:47
Play 69 LXIX. SOLUTION OF THE ARGUMENTS BY WHICH IT WAS PROVED ABOVE THAT AN INTELLECTUAL SLBSTANCE CANNOT BE UNITED TO THE BODY AS ITS FORM M.S.C. Lambert, LC
00:06:34
Play 70 LXX. THAT ACCORDING TO THE WORDS OF ARISTOTLE WE JUST SAY THAT THE INTELLECT IS UNITED TO THE BODY AS ITS FORM M.S.C. Lambert, LC
00:05:20
Play 71 LXXI. THAT THE SOUL IS UNITED TO THE BODY IMMEDIATELY M.S.C. Lambert, LC
00:02:37
Play 72 LXXII. THAT THE WHOLE SOUL IS IN THE WHOLE BODY AND IN EACH PART THEREOF M.S.C. Lambert, LC
00:05:40
Play 73 LXXIII. THAT THERE IS NOT ONE POSSIBLE INTELLECT IN ALL MEN M.S.C. Lambert, LC
00:30:20
Play 74 LXXIV. OF THE OPINION OF AVICENNA, WHO ASSERTED THAT INTELLIGIBLE FORMS ARE NOT PRESERVED IN THE POSSIBLE INTELLECT M.S.C. Lambert, LC
00:11:56
Play 75 LXXV. SOLUTION OF THE ARGUMENTS WHICH WOULD SEEM TO PROVE THE UNITY OF THE POSSIBLE INTELLECT M.S.C. Lambert, LC
00:18:49
Play 76 LXXVI. THAT THE ACTIVE INTELLECT IS NOT A SEPARATE SUBSTANCE BUT PART OF THE SOUL M.S.C. Lambert, LC
00:17:18
Play 77 LXXVII. THAT IT IS NOT IMPOSSIBLE FOR THE POSSIBLE AND ACTIVE INTELLECT TO CONCUR IN THE ONE SUBSTANCE OF THE SOUL M.S.C. Lambert, LC
00:07:54
Play 78 LXXVIII. THAT ARISTOTLE'S OPINION CONCERNING THE ACTIVE INTELLECT WAS NOT THAT IT IS A SEPARATE SUBSTANCE, BUT RATHER THAT IT IS PART OF THE SOUL M.S.C. Lambert, LC
00:14:01
Play 79 LXXIX. THAT THE HUMAN SOUL IS NOT CORRUPTED WHEN THE BODY IS CORRUPTED M.S.C. Lambert, LC
00:11:54
Play 80 LXXX. ARGUMENTS TO PROVE THAT THE SOUL IS CORRUPTED WHEN THE BODY IS CORRUPTED M.S.C. Lambert, LC
00:06:49
Play 81 LXXXI. ARGUMENTS TO PROVE THAT THE SOUL IS CORRUPTED WHEN THE BODY IS CORRUPTED M.S.C. Lambert, LC
00:13:11
Play 82 LXXXII. THAT THE SOULS OF DUMB ANIMALS ARE NOT IMMORTAL M.S.C. Lambert, LC
00:14:36
Play 83 LXXXIII. THAT THE HUMAN SOUL BEGINS TO EXIST WITH THE BODY M.S.C. Lambert, LC
00:31:27
Play 84 LXXXIV. SOLUTION OF THE FOREGOING ARGUMENTS M.S.C. Lambert, LC
00:06:06
Play 85 LXXXV. THAT THE SOUL IS NOT MADE OF GOD'S SUBSTANCE M.S.C. Lambert, LC
00:07:24
Play 86 LXXXVI. THAT THE HUMAN SOUL IS NOT TRANSMITTED WITH THE SEMEN M.S.C. Lambert, LC
00:07:51
Play 87 LXXXVII. THAT THE HUMAN SOUL IS BROUGHT INTO BEING THROUGH CREATION BY GOD M.S.C. Lambert, LC
00:05:50
Play 88 LXXXVIII. ARGUMENTS FOR PROVING THAT THE HUMAN SOUL IS FORMED FROM THE SEMEN M.S.C. Lambert, LC
00:09:17
Play 89 LXXXIX. SOLUTION OF THE FOREGOING ARGUMENTS M.S.C. Lambert, LC
00:23:44
Play 90 XC. THAT AN INTELLECTUAL SUBSTANCE IS UNITED AS A FORM TO NO OTHER THAN THE HUMAN BODY M.S.C. Lambert, LC
00:10:52
Play 91 XCI. THAT THERE ARE SOME INTELLECTUAL SUBSTANCES WHICH ARE NOT UNITED TO BODIES M.S.C. Lambert, LC
00:10:02
Play 92 XCII. OF THE GREAT NUMBER OF SEPARATE SUBSTANCES M.S.C. Lambert, LC
00:11:42
Play 93 XCIII. THAT THERE ARE NOT SEVERAL SEPARATE SUBSTANCES OF ONE SPECIES M.S.C. Lambert, LC
00:03:46
Play 94 XCIV. THAT THE SEPARATE SUBSTANCE AND THE SOUL ARE NOT OF ONE SPECIES M.S.C. Lambert, LC
00:03:02
Play 95 XCV. HOW WE ARE TO UNDERSTAND GENUS AND SPECIES IN SEPARATE SUBSTANCES M.S.C. Lambert, LC
00:06:19
Play 96 XCVI. THAT SEPARATE SUBSTANCES DO NOT GATHER THEIR KNOWLEDGE FROM SENSIBLES M.S.C. Lambert, LC
00:08:37
Play 97 XCVII. THAT THE INTELLECT OF A SEPARATE SUBSTANCE ALWAYS UNDERSTANDS ACTUALLY M.S.C. Lambert, LC
00:02:55
Play 98 XCVIII. HOW ONE SEPARATE SUBSTANCE UNDERSTANDS ANOTHER M.S.C. Lambert, LC
00:18:39
Play 99 XCIX. THAT SEPARATE SUBSTANCES KNOW MATERIAL THINGS M.S.C. Lambert, LC
00:04:29
Play 100 C. THAT SEPARATE SUBSTANCES KNOW SINGULARS M.S.C. Lambert, LC
00:05:28
Play 101 CI. WHETHER SEPARATE SUBSTANCES KNOW ALL THINGS AT THE SAME TIME BY THEIR NATURAL KNOWLEDGE M.S.C. Lambert, LC
00:03:24