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In question 39, on the divine persons in comparison
with the divine essence, St. Thomas again considers
(in the first two articles) the distinction of the
persons, but not in the same manner as in question 28,
which dealt with the relations. Then he proceeded
analytically because he had not yet arrived at the concept
of a person, explained later in question 29.
Now he considers the matter synthetically, beginning with
the concept of a person, which has now been determined.
After the first two articles, St. Thomas determines
the exact manner of speech to be observed in order to avoid
errors about the Trinity; he explains the essential
names, whether concrete or abstract, the notional
adjective, notional verbs, such as generate and spirate.
Here he also explains the difficult theory of
appropriation, to which the Latins, more than the
Greeks, recur for a clearer presentation of the
distinction between the persons. The Greek Fathers had
no great need of this theory because they began with the
consideration, not of the unity of nature, but of the
Trinity of persons, which for them obviously were
distinct from the beginning.
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