Some People Object to Describing God At All. Here is Aquinas's Answer.
ST I.13
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In Question 13, St. Thomas Aquinas deals with the “names of God.” Specifically, Aquinas is talking about those terms we use to describe God, including First Cause, Supreme Being, etc. Brian Davies, one of the Dominican scholars who I have been referencing for this commentary, actually prefers the translation of “theological language” rather than “name” as we use it today. I have stuck with names since that is what is used in my translation of the Summa, but keep that in mind: we are not exclusively referring to I AM or Jesus Christ.
Aquinas is especially interested in why it might even be possible to use names of God. After all, God’s essence is unknowable by us; we cannot fully comprehend it, and will not do so even in Heaven. So can we really name God? What about forming positive claims about who and what God is?
These are important questions, ones that Aquinas takes very seriously. Let us begin.
As always, here are some resources you might find helpful as we move forward:
The Summa Theologiae itself. Buy Prima Pars here, and the whole Summa here. Read it for free here.
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Here is the commentary I will be using from Walter Farrell, O.P. Note: Farrell did not discuss the themes of this particular question in his Companion to the Summa, at least not directly. The themes have come up in several other discussions. So, for this particular question, I will be relying on Brian Davies’ commentary. Farrell returns next week!
Here is the commentary I will be using from Brian Davies, O.P.
Now, let’s dive into God’s Names.
Question 13: The Names Of God
1. Can We Name God At All?
This question has to do with our ability to know what God is. When we name things, we are usually trying to identify them in some meaningful way. But if we do not really know the fullness of God, and really only know what God is not, how can we name God at all?
The answer that Aquinas gives is that the names that we give to God are based, not on knowing his essence, but based on his effects. Namely, we name God because we know He is a) the source of creatures, b) the greatest of all beings and c) not a whole host of things, like limited or evil. Therefore, those descriptive names we give to God are based on these things, not His essence.
But do not mistake it: Aquinas thinks it is possible to have positive theological discussion about God. We have been doing so for the last 12 questions, and will continue to do so for many questions after.
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Blogs on the philosophy of religion (God, evil, free will, etc.) like this one about art and the problem of evil.
Reader’s Guides on the great works of Catholic philosophy, like this guide on Jacques Maritain’s Art and Scholasticism.
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