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Objection 1: It would seem that the object of faith is not the
First Truth. For it seems that the object of faith is that which is
proposed to us to be believed. Now not only things pertaining to the
Godhead, i.e. the First Truth, are proposed to us to be
believed, but also things concerning Christ's human nature, and the
sacraments of the Church, and the condition of creatures. Therefore
the object of faith is not only the First Truth.
Objection 2: Further, faith and unbelief have the same object since
they are opposed to one another. Now unbelief can be about all things
contained in Holy Writ, for whichever one of them a man denies, he
is considered an unbeliever. Therefore faith also is about all things
contained in Holy Writ. But there are many things therein,
concerning man and other creatures. Therefore the object of faith is
not only the First Truth, but also created truth.
Objection 3: Further, faith is condivided with charity, as stated
above (FS, Question 62, Article 3). Now by charity we love
not only God, who is the sovereign Good, but also our neighbor.
Therefore the object of Faith is not only the First Truth.
On the contrary, Dionysius says (Div. Nom. vii) that "faith is
about the simple and everlasting truth." Now this is the First
Truth. Therefore the object of faith is the First Truth.
I answer that, The object of every cognitive habit includes two
things: first, that which is known materially, and is the material
object, so to speak, and, secondly, that whereby it is known, which
is the formal aspect of the object. Thus in the science of geometry,
the conclusions are what is known materially, while the formal aspect
of the science is the mean of demonstration, through which the
conclusions are known.
Accordingly if we consider, in faith, the formal aspect of the
object, it is nothing else than the First Truth. For the faith of
which we are speaking, does not assent to anything, except because it
is revealed by God. Hence the mean on which faith is based is the
Divine Truth. If, however, we consider materially the things to
which faith assents, they include not only God, but also many other
things, which, nevertheless, do not come under the assent of faith,
except as bearing some relation to God, in as much as, to wit,
through certain effects of the Divine operation, man is helped on his
journey towards the enjoyment of God. Consequently from this point of
view also the object of faith is, in a way, the First Truth, in as
much as nothing comes under faith except in relation to God, even as
the object of the medical art is health, for it considers nothing save
in relation to health.
Reply to Objection 1: Things concerning Christ's human nature,
and the sacraments of the Church, or any creatures whatever, come
under faith, in so far as by them we are directed to God, and in as
much as we assent to them on account of the Divine Truth.
The same answer applies to the Second Objection, as regards all
things contained in Holy Writ.
Reply to Objection 3: Charity also loves our neighbor on account of
God, so that its object, properly speaking, is God, as we shall
show further on (Question 25, Article 1).
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