What Place Does Scripture Have in Thomas Aquinas’s Reasoning?

Sławomir Zatwardnicki

doi:10.21697/ct.2024.94.1.04

Published: 2024-02-01

Vol. 94 No. 1 (2024)

What Place Does Scripture Have in Thomas Aquinas’s Reasoning?

Sławomir Zatwardnicki

Collectanea Theologica

Section: Articles

https://doi.org/10.21697/ct.2024.94.1.04

Abstract

This paper emphasises the coexistence of biblical theology and systematic theology in the works of Thomas Aquinas. For this purpose, it draws on the study of biblical Thomism. It then shows how the Bible is linked to theological speculation in the opening questions of the Theological Summa, in which the author characterises the sacra doctrina. Aquinas’s modus operandi in his discussion with adversaries who do not recognise the authority of Scripture, as well as his apology for the authority of sacra Scriptura, is then presented. A sample polemic with Christians conducted on the basis of inspired texts is demonstrated further on. The paper closes with conclusions regarding the place and function of Scripture in Thomas’s argumentation, which depend firstly on the addressees of Thomas’s works and secondly on the types of statements made by the Angelic Doctor.

Keywords:

Thomas Aquinas, justification of faith, De rationibus fidei, place of Scripture in argumentation, biblical Thomism, sacra doctrina

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Zatwardnicki, S. (2024). What Place Does Scripture Have in Thomas Aquinas’s Reasoning?. Collectanea Theologica, 94(1), 107–166. https://doi.org/10.21697/ct.2024.94.1.04

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Sławomir Zatwardnicki

zatwardnicki@gmail.com
https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7597-6604

Affiliation:

Pontifical Faculty of Theology in Wrocław Poland

Bio Statement (e.g., department and rank)

Sławomir Zatwardnicki (PhD) – doctor of theology; Assistant Professor at the Pontifical Faculty of Theology in Wrocław; Secretary of the editorial office of “Wrocław Theological Review;” lecturer, publicist, author of many articles and eighteen books; member of the Society of Dogmatic Theologians in Poland and the Association of Fundamental Theologians in Poland; he is involved in evangelization and formation activities, responsible for one of the branches of the School of Christian Life and Evangelization of Saint Mary of Nazareth and Mother of the Church.