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Objection 1: It would seem that this name "Father" is not
properly the name of a divine person. For the name "Father"
signifies relation. Moreover "person" is an individual substance.
Therefore this name "Father" is not properly a name signifying a
Person.
Objection 2: Further, a begetter is more common than father; for
every father begets; but it is not so conversely. But a more common
term is more properly applied to God, as stated above (Question
13, Article 11). Therefore the more proper name of the divine
person is begetter and genitor than Father.
Objection 3: Further, a metaphorical term cannot be the proper name
of anyone. But the word is by us metaphorically called begotten, or
offspring; and consequently, he of whom is the word, is
metaphorically called father. Therefore the principle of the Word in
God is not properly called Father.
Objection 4: Further, everything which is said properly of God,
is said of God first before creatures. But generation appears to
apply to creatures before God; because generation seems to be truer
when the one who proceeds is distinct from the one whence it proceeds,
not only by relation but also by essence. Therefore the name
"Father" taken from generation does not seem to be the proper name of
any divine person.
On the contrary, It is said (Ps. 88:27): "He shall cry
out to me: Thou art my Father."
I answer that, The proper name of any person signifies that whereby
the person is distinguished from all other persons. For as body and
soul belong to the nature of man, so to the concept of this particular
man belong this particular soul and this particular body; and by these
is this particular man distinguished from all other men. Now it is
paternity which distinguishes the person of the Father from all other
persons. Hence this name "Father," whereby paternity is
signified, is the proper name of the person of the Father.
Reply to Objection 1: Among us relation is not a subsisting
person. So this name "father" among us does not signify a person,
but the relation of a person. In God, however, it is not so, as
some wrongly thought; for in God the relation signified by the name
"Father" is a subsisting person. Hence, as above explained
(Question 29, Article 4), this name "person" in God
signifies a relation subsisting in the divine nature.
Reply to Objection 2: According to the Philosopher (De Anima
ii, text 49), a thing is denominated chiefly by its perfection,
and by its end. Now generation signifies something in process of being
made, whereas paternity signifies the complement of generation; and
therefore the name "Father" is more expressive as regards the divine
person than genitor or begettor.
Reply to Objection 3: In human nature the word is not a
subsistence, and hence is not properly called begotten or son. But
the divine Word is something subsistent in the divine nature; and
hence He is properly and not metaphorically called Son, and His
principle is called Father.
Reply to Objection 4: The terms "generation" and "paternity"
like the other terms properly applied to God, are said of God before
creatures as regards the thing signified, but not as regards the mode
of signification. Hence also the Apostle says, "I bend my knee to
the Father of my Lord Jesus Christ, from whom all paternity in
heaven and on earth is named" (Eph. 3:14). This is explained
thus. It is manifest that generation receives its species from the
term which is the form of the thing generated; and the nearer it is to
the form of the generator, the truer and more perfect is the
generation; as univocal generation is more perfect than non-univocal,
for it belongs to the essence of a generator to generate what is like
itself in form. Hence the very fact that in the divine generation the
form of the Begetter and Begotten is numerically the same, whereas in
creatures it is not numerically, but only specifically, the same,
shows that generation, and consequently paternity, is applied to God
before creatures. Hence the very fact that in God a distinction
exists of the Begotten from the Begetter as regards relation only,
belongs to the truth of the divine generation and paternity.
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