The Theological Tractates and The Consolation of PhilosophyBoethius
Religion
The Theological Tractates and The Consolation of Philosophy
Boethius
Happiness; Philosophy and religion; Theology -- Early works to 1800; Theology -- History -- Early Church, ca. 30-600
Similarly the Father is truth, the Son is truth, and the Holy Spirit is
truth; Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are not three truths, but one truth.
If, then, they are one substance and one truth, truth must of necessity
be a substantial predicate. So Goodness, Immutability, Justice,
Omnipotence and all the other predicates which we apply to the Persons
singly and collectively are plainly substantial predicates. Hence it
appears that what may be predicated of each single One but not of all
Three is not a substantial predicate, but of another kind--of what kind
I will examine presently. For He who is Father does not transmit this
name to the Son nor to the Holy Spirit. Hence it follows that this name
is not attached to Him as something substantial; for if it were a
substantial predicate, as God, truth, justice, or substance itself, it
would be affirmed of the other Persons.
Similarly the Son alone receives this name; nor does He associate it
with the other Persons, as in the case of the titles God, truth, and the
other predicates which I have already mentioned. The Spirit too is not
the same as the Father and the Son. Hence we gather that Father, Son,
and Holy Spirit are not predicated of the Divinity in a substantial
manner, but otherwise.[27] For if each term were predicated
substantially it would be affirmed of the three Persons both separately
and collectively. It is evident that these terms are relative, for the
Father is some one's Father, the Son is some one's Son, the Spirit is
some one's Spirit. Hence not even Trinity may be substantially[28]
predicated of God; for the Father is not Trinity--since He who is Father
is not Son and Holy Spirit--nor yet, by parity of reasoning, is the Son
Trinity nor the Holy Spirit Trinity, but the Trinity consists in
diversity of Persons, the Unity in simplicity of substance.
Now if the Persons are separate, while the Substance is undivided, it
must needs be that that term which is derived from Persons does not
belong to Substance. But the Trinity is effected by diversity of
Persons, wherefore Trinity does not belong to Substance. Hence neither
Father, nor Son, nor Holy Spirit, nor Trinity can be substantially
predicated of God, but only relatively, as we have said. But God, Truth,
Justice, Goodness, Omnipotence, Substance, Immutability, Virtue, Wisdom
and all other conceivable predicates of the kind are applicable
substantially to divinity.
If I am right and speak in accordance with the Faith, I pray you confirm
me. But if you are in any point of another opinion, examine carefully
what I have said, and if possible, reconcile faith and reason.[29]
[27] i.e. _personaliter_ (Ioh. Scottus _ad loc._).
[28] i.e. _sed personaliter_ (Ioh. Scottus _ad loc._).
[29] _Vide supra_, Introduction, p. xii.
ITEM EIVSDEM
AD EVNDEM
QVOMODO SVBSTANTIAE IN EO QVOD
SINT BONAE SINT CVM NON SINT
SVBSTANTIALIA BONA
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