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Objection 1: It seems that the book of life is not the same thing as
pre-destination. For it is said, "All things are the book of
life" (Ecclus. 4:32)---i.e. the Old and New Testament
according to a gloss. This, however, is not predestination.
Therefore the book of life is not predestination.
Objection 2: Further, Augustine says (De Civ. Dei xx, 14)
that "the book of life is a certain divine energy, by which it happens
that to each one his good or evil works are recalled to memory." But
divine energy belongs seemingly, not to predestination, but rather to
divine power. Therefore the book of life is not the same thing as
predestination.
Objection 3: Further, reprobation is opposed to predestination.
So, if the book of life were the same as predestination, there should
also be a book of death, as there is a book of life.
On the contrary, It is said in a gloss upon Ps. 68:29, "Let
them be blotted out of the book of the living. This book is the
knowledge of God, by which He hath predestined to life those whom He
foreknew."
I answer that, The book of life is in God taken in a metaphorical
sense, according to a comparison with human affairs. For it is usual
among men that they who are chosen for any office should be inscribed in
a book; as, for instance, soldiers, or counsellors, who formerly
were called "conscript" fathers. Now it is clear from the preceding
(Question 23, Article 4) that all the predestined are chosen by
God to possess eternal life. This conscription, therefore, of the
predestined is called the book of life. A thing is said metaphorically
to be written upon the mind of anyone when it is firmly held in the
memory, according to Prov. 3:3: "Forget not My Law, and let
thy heart keep My commandments," and further on, "Write them in
the tables of thy heart." For things are written down in material
books to help the memory. Whence, the knowledge of God, by which
He firmly remembers that He has predestined some to eternal life, is
called the book of life. For as the writing in a book is the sign of
things to be done, so the knowledge of God is a sign in Him of those
who are to be brought to eternal life, according to 2 Tim.
11:19: "The sure foundation of God standeth firm, having this
seal; the Lord knoweth who are His."
Reply to Objection 1: The book of life may be understood in two
senses. In one sense as the inscription of those who are chosen to
life; thus we now speak of the book of life. In another sense the
inscription of those things which lead us to life may be called the book
of life; and this also is twofold, either as of things to be done;
and thus the Old and New Testament are called a book of life; or of
things already done, and thus that divine energy by which it happens
that to each one his deeds will be recalled to memory, is spoken of as
the book of life. Thus that also may be called the book of war,
whether it contains the names inscribed of those chosen for military
service; or treats of the art of warfare, or relates the deeds of
soldiers.
Hence the solution of the Second Objection.
Reply to Objection 3: It is the custom to inscribe, not those who
are rejected, but those who are chosen. Whence there is no book of
death corresponding to reprobation; as the book of life to
predestination.
Reply to Objection 4: Predestination and the book of life are
different aspects of the same thing. For this latter implies the
knowledge of predestination; as also is made clear from the gloss
quoted above.
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