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Objection 1: It would seem that Christ's flesh was not derived
from Adam. For the Apostle says (1 Cor. 15:47): "The
first man was of the earth, earthly: the second man, from heaven,
heavenly." Now, the first man is Adam: and the second man is
Christ. Therefore Christ is not derived from Adam, but has an
origin distinct from him.
Objection 2: Further, the conception of Christ should have been
most miraculous. But it is a greater miracle to form man's body from
the slime of the earth, than from human matter derived from Adam. It
seems therefore unfitting that Christ should take flesh from Adam.
Therefore the body of Christ should not have been formed from the mass
of the human race derived from Adam, but of some other matter.
Objection 3: Further, by "one man sin entered into this world,"
i.e. by Adam, because in him all nations sinned originally, as is
clear from Rm. 5:12. But if Christ's body was derived from
Adam, He would have been in Adam originally when he sinned:
therefore he would have contracted original sin; which is unbecoming in
His purity. Therefore the body of Christ was not formed of matter
derived from Adam.
On the contrary, The Apostle says (Heb. 2:16): "Nowhere
doth He"---that is, the Son of God---"take hold of the
angels: but of the seed of Abraham He taketh hold." But the seed
of Abraham was derived from Adam. Therefore Christ's body was
formed of matter derived from Adam.
I answer that, Christ assumed human nature in order to cleanse it of
corruption. But human nature did not need to be cleansed save in as
far as it was soiled in its tainted origin whereby it was descended from
Adam. Therefore it was becoming that He should assume flesh of
matter derived from Adam, that the nature itself might be healed by
the assumption.
Reply to Objection 1: The second man, i.e. Christ, is said to
be of heaven, not indeed as to the matter from which His body was
formed, but either as to the virtue whereby it was formed; or even as
to His very Godhead. But as to matter, Christ's body was
earthly, as Adam's body was.
Reply to Objection 2: As stated above (Question 29, Article
1, ad 2) the mystery of Christ's Incarnation is miraculous, not
as ordained to strengthen faith, but as an article of faith. And
therefore in the mystery of the Incarnation we do not seek that which
is most miraculous, as in those miracles that are wrought for the
confirmation of faith' but what is most becoming to Divine wisdom,
and most expedient to the salvation of man, since this is what we seek
in all matters of faith.
It may also be said that in the mystery of the Incarnation the miracle
is not only in reference to the matter of the conception, but rather in
respect of the manner of the conception and birth; inasmuch as a virgin
conceived and gave birth to God.
Reply to Objection 3: As stated above (Question 15, Article
1, ad 2), Christ's body was in Adam in respect of a bodily
substance---that is to say, that the corporeal matter of Christ's
body was derived from Adam: but it was not there by reason of seminal
virtue, because it was not conceived from the seed of man. Thus it
did not contract original sin, as others who are descended from Adam
by man's seed.
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