Lecture Notes: Commentary on the Gospel of John (Lecture 1-5)

Theological vocabulary flashcards based on Thomas Aquinas's commentary on the first five lectures concerning the Gospel of John, covering the nature of the Word, the Trinity, and the office of John the Baptist.

Word (Interior)

That which the one understanding forms when understanding; the concept signified by the exterior vocal sound.

Understanding of Indivisibles

The operation of the intellect by which it forms a definition.

Human Word

A word in a rational nature that is formable before being formed and involves cogitation or reasoning.

Divine Word

The Word of God which is always in act, most perfect, and of the same nature as God, being subsistent and not an accident.

Principium

An order of one thing to another which can be found in quantified things, time, learning, or the production of a thing; used here to refer to the Son, the Father, or the beginning of duration.

Erat (Past Imperfect)

The tense used to designate eternal things because it indicates that something has been, has not yet come to an end, and still endures.

Fuit (Past Perfect)

The tense used to designate temporal things because it indicates that something has already come to an end and ceased to be.

God (Name)

A name signifying the divinity concretely and as inherent in a subject, which can stand for a specific person like the Father.

Deity

A name signifying the divinity in the abstract and absolutely, standing for the divine nature rather than a person.

With (Apud)

A preposition signifying a personal distinction between the Son and the Father while implying a union in nature.

God (Absolute)

The Word is called God in this way to show he is God by his own essence, not by participation as men or angels are.

Through (Per)

A preposition denoting causality; in the context of the Father creating through the Son, it signifies the formal cause or the Wisdom of the Father.

Nothing (Negative sense)

Used in the clause 'without him nothing was made' to mean there is no participating existence that was not made through the Word.

Nothing (as Sin)

A defect of the will and not of any art, which is omitted from the Word's causality because it lacks positive existence.

Life (in the Word)

The state of created things as they exist spiritually in the wisdom of God, where they are identical to the creating essence.

Light of Men

The Word as the source of manifestation specifically for rational creatures who know the nature of truth itself.

Darkness (as Folly)

The natural lack of wisdom in man which fails to apprehend or participate in the divine light due to foolishness.

John (the name)

A name interpreted as 'in whom is grace,' signifying the precursor's fitness for his office by divine preordination.

Witness

An office of those who not only share in God's gifts but spread them to others by teaching and encouragement to proclaim His praise.

Faith

The imperfect participation in the divine light acquired in this life that brings one to the perfect participation of vision in glory.