Greco-Christian stream·Opera Omnia Sancti Thomae (Complete Works of Thomas Aquinas)·Summa Theologiae·Secunda Secundae·Q177. The gratuitous grace consisting in words
Source context
- Theme
- gratuitous grace (gratis data) constituted by inspired and efficacious speech
- Soul-faculty
- Consciousness Soul
Steiner
not engaged in the GA corpus
Cross-tradition
- Jewish mysticism / KabbalahThe Kabbalistic doctrine of divine speech (dibbur) as a vehicle of creative and redemptive power offers cross-tradition congruence with Aquinas's treatment of words as a distinct modality of gratuitous grace operating through the spoken or preached utterance.
- Vedic tradition / VākThe Vedic concept of Vāk as sacred speech endowed with cosmic efficacy parallels Aquinas's differentiation of gratis-given verbal grace from ordinary human communication, both positing a supra-individual power resident in sanctified speech.
Q177. The gratuitous grace consisting in words
Article 1
[II-II.q.177.a.1.arg.1] It would seem that a gratuitous grace does not attach to words. For grace is given for that which surpasses the faculty of nature. But natural reason has devised the art of rhetoric whereby a man is able to speak so as to teach, please, and persuade, as Augustine says (De Doctr. Christ. iv, 12). Now this belongs to the grace of words. Therefore it would seem that the grace of words is not a gratuitous grace.
[II-II.q.177.a.1.arg.1] Ad primum sic proceditur. 4. Videtur quod religiosis non liceat docere, prædicare et alia hujusmodi facere. Dicitur enim VII, quæst. 1, cap. « Hoc nequaquam, » col. 765, in quodam statuto Constantino-politanæ synodi: « Vita monachorum subjectionis habet verbum, et discipulatus, non docendi, vel præsidendi, vel pas- Parm.: « rectam. » cendi alios. » Hieronymus etiam dicit ad Riparium et Desiderium : « Monachus non doctoris habet, sed plangentis officium. » Leo etiam papa dicit , ut habetur XVI, quæst. 1, cap. « Adjicimus, » col. 996 : « Præter Domini sacerdotes nullus audeat prædicare, sive monachus, sive laicus ille sit, qui cujuslibet scientiæ nomine gloriatur. » Sed non licet transgredi proprium officium et statutum Ecclesiæ. Ergo videtur quod non liceat religiosis docere, prædicare, et alia hujusmodi facere.
[II-II.q.177.a.1.arg.2] Further, all grace pertains to the kingdom of God. But the Apostle says (1 Corinthians 4:20): "The kingdom of God is not in speech, but in power." Therefore there is no gratuitous grace connected with words.
[II-II.q.177.a.1.arg.3] Further, no grace is given through merit, since "if by grace, it is not now of works" (Romans 11:6). But the word is sometimes given to a man on his merits. For Gregory says (Moral. xi, 15) in explanation of Psalm 118:43, "Take not Thou the word of truth utterly out of my mouth" that "the word of truth is that which Almighty God gives to them that do it, and takes away from them that do it not." Therefore it would seem that the gift of the word is not a gratuitous grace.
[II-II.q.177.a.1.arg.4] Further, it behooves man to declare in words things pertaining to the virtue of faith, no less than those pertaining to the gift of wisdom or of knowledge. Therefore if the word of wisdom and the word of knowledge are reckoned gratuitous graces, the word of faith should likewise be placed among the gratuitous graces.
[II-II.q.177.a.1.arg.4] 4. Præterea, sicut necesse est quod homo per sermonem pronuntiet ea quæ pertinent ad donum sapientiæ vel scien-tiae; ita etiam ea quæ pertinent ad virtutem fidei. Ergo si ponitur sermo sapientiæ, et sermo scientiæ gratia gratis data, pari ratione deberet poni sermo fidei inter gratias gratis datas. Sed in contrarium est quod dicitur Eccli., vi, 5: Lingua eucharis, id est, gratiosa, in bono homine abundabit*. Sed* Abundat. bonitas hominis est ex gratia. Ergo etiam gratiositas sermonis.
[II-II.q.177.a.1.sc] It is written (Sirach 6:5): "A gracious tongue in a good man shall abound [Vulgate: 'aboundeth']." Now man's goodness is by grace. Therefore graciousness in words is also by grace.
[II-II.q.177.a.1.co] The gratuitous graces are given for the profit of others, as stated above (I-II, 111, 1,4). Now the knowledge a man receives from God cannot be turned to another's profit, except by means of speech. And since the Holy Ghost does not fail in anything that pertains to the profit of the Church, He provides also the members of the Church with speech; to the effect that a man not only speaks so as to be understood by different people, which pertains to the gift of tongues, but also speaks with effect, and this pertains to the grace "of the word."
This happens in three ways. First, in order to instruct the intellect, and this is the case when a man speaks so as "to teach." Secondly, in order to move the affections, so that a man willingly hearkens to the word of God. This is the case when a man speaks so as "to please" his hearers, not indeed with a view to his own favor, but in order to draw them to listen to God's word. Thirdly, in order that men may love that which is signified by the word, and desire to fulfill it, and this is the case when a man so speaks as "to sway" his hearers. On order to effect this the Holy Ghost makes use of the human tongue as of an instrument; but He it is Who perfects the work within. Hence Gregory says in a homily for Pentecost (Hom. xxx in Ev.): "Unless the Holy Ghost fill the hearts of the hearers, in vain does the voice of the teacher resound in the ears of the body."
[II-II.q.177.a.1.ad.1] Even as by a miracle God sometimes works in a more excellent way those things which nature also can work, so too the Holy Ghost effects more excellently by the grace of words that which art can effect in a less efficient manner.
[II-II.q.177.a.1.ad.1] Ad primum ergo dicendum, quod ex verbis illis habetur quod monachi, ex hoc quod sunt monachi, non nanciscuntur potestatem talia facendi; non autem quod ex hoc quod sunt monachi, habent aliquid contrarium executioni talium actuum.
[II-II.q.177.a.1.ad.2] The Apostle is speaking there of the word that relies on human eloquence without the power of the Holy Ghost. Wherefore he says just before (1 Corinthians 4:19): "I . . . will know, not the speech of them that are puffed up, but the power": and of himself he had already said (1 Corinthians 2:4): "My speech and my preaching was not in the persuasive words of human wisdom, but in the showing of the spirit and power."
[II-II.q.177.a.1.ad.3] As stated above, the grace of the word is given to a man for the profit of others. Hence it is withdrawn sometimes through the fault of the hearer, and sometimes through the fault of the speaker. The good works of either of them do not merit this grace directly, but only remove the obstacles thereto. For sanctifying grace also is withdrawn on account of a person's fault, and yet he does not merit it by his good works, which, however, remove the obstacles to grace.
[II-II.q.177.a.1.ad.4] As stated above, the grace of the word is directed to the profit of others. Now if a man communicates his faith to others this is by the word of knowledge or of wisdom. Hence Augustine says (De Trin. xiv, 1) that "to know how faith may profit the godly and be defended against the ungodly, is apparently what the Apostle means by knowledge." Hence it was not necessary for him to mention the word of faith, but it was sufficient for him to mention the word of knowledge and of wisdom.
[II-II.q.177.a.1.ad.4] Ad quartum dicendum, quod, sicut dictum est, gratia sermonis ordinatur ad utilitatem aliorum. Quod autem aliquis fidem suam aliis communicet, fit per sermonem scientiæ sive sapientiæ. Unde Augustinus dicit XIV De Trinitate, cap. i, § 3, col. 1037, t. 8, quod « scire, quem-admodum fides et piis opituletur, et contra impios defendatur, videtur Apostolus scientiam appellare. » Et ideo non oportuit quod poneret sermonem fidei; sed sufficit ponere sermonem scientiæ et sapientiæ.
Article 2
[II-II.q.177.a.2.arg.1] It would seem that the grace of the word of wisdom and knowledge is becoming even to women. For teaching is pertinent to this grace, as stated in the foregoing Article. Now it is becoming to a woman to teach; for it is written (Proverbs 4:3-4): "I was an only son in the sight of my mother, and she taught me [Vulgate: 'I was my father's son, tender, and as an only son in the sight of my mother. And he taught me.']." Therefore this grace is becoming to women.
[II-II.q.177.a.2.arg.1] Ad secundum sic proceditur. 1. Videtur quod religiosis non liceat sæcularia negotia tractare. Dicitur enim in prædicto decreto 4 Bonifacii Papæ IV quod « beatus Benedictus eos sæcularium negotiorum edixit expertes fore; quod quidem apostolicis documentis et omnium sanctorum Patrum institutis, non solum monachis, sed etiam canonicis maximopere imperatur, secundum illud II ad Tim., 11, 4: Nemo militans Deo implicat se negotiis sæcularibus. Sed omnibus religiosis imminet quod militent Deo. Ergo non licet eis sæcularia negotia exercere.
[II-II.q.177.a.2.arg.2] Further, the grace of prophecy is greater than the grace of the word, even as the contemplation of truth is greater than its utterance. But prophecy is granted to women, as we read of Deborah (Judges 4:4), and of Holda the prophetess, the wife of Sellum (2 Kings 22:14), and of the four daughters of Philip (Acts 21:9). Moreover the Apostle says (1 Corinthians 11:5): "Every woman praying or prophesying," etc. Much more therefore would it seem that the grace of the word is becoming to a woman.
[II-II.q.177.a.2.arg.3] Further, it is written (1 Peter 4:10): "As every man hath received grace ministering the same one to another." Now some women receive the grace of wisdom and knowledge, which they cannot minister to others except by the grace of the word. Therefore the grace of the word is becoming to women.
[II-II.q.177.a.2.sc] The Apostle says (1 Corinthians 14:34): "Let women keep silence in the churches," and (1 Timothy 2:12): "I suffer not a woman to teach." Now this pertains especially to the grace of the word. Therefore the grace of the word is not becoming to women.
[II-II.q.177.a.2.sc] Sed contra est quod Apostolus dicit ad Rom., ult., 1: Commendo vobis Phæben sororem nostram; et postea subdit: Et assistatis ei in quocumque negotio vestri indiquerit.
[II-II.q.177.a.2.co] Speech may be employed in two ways: in one way privately, to one or a few, in familiar conversation, and in this respect the grace of the word may be becoming to women; in another way, publicly, addressing oneself to the whole church, and this is not permitted to women. First and chiefly, on account of the condition attaching to the female sex, whereby woman should be subject to man, as appears from Genesis 3:16. Now teaching and persuading publicly in the church belong not to subjects but to the prelates (although men who are subjects may do these things if they be so commissioned, because their subjection is not a result of their natural sex, as it is with women, but of some thing supervening by accident). Secondly, lest men's minds be enticed to lust, for it is written (Sirach 9:11): "Her conversation burneth as fire." Thirdly, because as a rule women are not perfected in wisdom, so as to be fit to be intrusted with public teaching.
[II-II.q.177.a.2.ad.1] The passage quoted speaks of private teaching whereby a father instructs his son.
[II-II.q.177.a.2.ad.1] Ad primum ergo dicendum, quod monachis interdicitur sæcularia negotia tractare propter cupiditatem, non autem propter charitatem.
[II-II.q.177.a.2.ad.2] The grace of prophecy consists in God enlightening the mind, on the part of which there is no difference of sex among men, according to Colossians 3:10-11, "Putting on the new" man, "him who is renewed unto knowledge, according to the image of Him that created him, where there is neither male nor female [Vulgate: 'Neither Gentile nor Jew, circumcision nor uncircumcision, Barbarian nor Scythian, bond nor free.' Cf. I, 93, 6, ad 2 footnote]." Now the grace of the word pertains to the instruction of men among whom the difference of sex is found. Hence the comparison fails.
[II-II.q.177.a.2.ad.3] The recipients of a divinely conferred grace administer it in different ways according to their various conditions. Hence women, if they have the grace of wisdom or of knowledge, can administer it by teaching privately but not publicly.
The Summa Theologica of St. Thomas AquinasSecond and Revised Edition, 1920Literally translated by Fathers of the English Dominican ProvinceOnline Edition Copyright © 2009 by Kevin Knight Nihil Obstat. F. Innocentius Apap, O.P., S.T.M., Censor. Theol.Imprimatur. Edus. Canonicus Surmont, Vicarius Generalis. Westmonasterii.APPROBATIO ORDINISNihil Obstat. F. Raphael Moss, O.P., S.T.L. and F. Leo Moore, O.P., S.T.L.Imprimatur. F. Beda Jarrett, O.P., S.T.L., A.M., Prior Provincialis AngliæMARIÆ IMMACULATÆ - SEDI SAPIENTIÆ
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