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Objection 1: It would seem that it is not proper to Christ to be
the Redeemer, because it is written (Ps. 30:6): "Thou hast
redeemed me, O Lord, the God of Truth." But to be the Lord
God of Truth belongs to the entire Trinity. Therefore it is not
proper to Christ.
Objection 2: Further, he is said to redeem who pays the price of
redemption. But God the Father gave His Son in redemption for our
sins, as is written (Ps. 110:9): "The Lord hath sent
redemption to His people," upon which the gloss adds, "that is,
Christ, who gives redemption to captives." Therefore not only
Christ, but the Father also, redeemed us.
Objection 3: Further, not only Christ's Passion, but also that
of other saints conduced to our salvation, according to Col.
1:24: "I now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up those
things that are wanting of the sufferings of Christ, in my flesh for
His body, which is the Church." Therefore the title of Redeemer
belongs not only to Christ, but also to the other saints.
On the contrary, It is written (Gal. 3:13): "Christ
redeemed us from the curse of the Law, being made a curse for us."
But only Christ was made a curse for us. Therefore only Christ
ought to be called our Redeemer.
I answer that, For someone to redeem, two things are
required---namely, the act of paying and the price paid. For if in
redeeming something a man pays a price which is not his own, but
another's, he is not said to be the chief redeemer, but rather the
other is, whose price it is. Now Christ's blood or His bodily
life, which "is in the blood," is the price of our redemption
(Lev. 17:11,14), and that life He paid. Hence both of
these belong immediately to Christ as man; but to the Trinity as to
the first and remote cause, to whom Christ's life belonged as to its
first author, and from whom Christ received the inspiration of
suffering for us. Consequently it is proper to Christ as man to be
the Redeemer immediately; although the redemption may be ascribed to
the whole Trinity as its first cause.
Reply to Objection 1: A gloss explains the text thus: "Thou, O
Lord God of Truth, hast redeemed me in Christ, crying out,
'Lord, into Thy hands I commend my spirit.'" And so redemption
belongs immediately to the Man-Christ, but principally to God.
Reply to Objection 2: The Man-Christ paid the price of our
redemption immediately, but at the command of the Father as the
original author.
Reply to Objection 3: The sufferings of the saints are beneficial
to the Church, as by way, not of redemption, but of example and
exhortation, according to 2 Cor. 1:6: "Whether we be in
tribulation, it is for your exhortation and salvation."
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