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It is a commonly said, with reference to the Bible, that “God is love.” But such a claim seems hard to square with a God that has no passions, as God does not. In what sense can God be said to love us?
In this question, St. Thomas Aquinas seeks to begin an answer to that question. But, as Brian Davies argues, this should not be seen as the final word on the subject.1 Truthfuly, very little at this point in the Summa Theologiae should be seen as the last word on anything. Instead, it is the beginning of a much longer discussion on God and His relationship to creatures. Let’s get started!
As always, here are some resources you might find helpful as we move forward:
The Summa Theologiae itself. Buy Prima Pars here, and the whole Summa here. Read it for free here.
If you have never read the Summa, it can be a little intimidating. But I put together a roadmap so that anybody can read it and understand it. Get it here.
Here is the commentary I will be using from Walter Farrell, O.P.
Here is the commentary I will be using from Brian Davies, O.P.
Now, let’s dive into God’s love.
Question 20: God’s Love
1. Does God Love?
I wrote last week that God does not have emotions (or, as Aquinas calls them, “passions”). Knowing that, it might seem like God does not love us, or anything else. But Aquinas does not think that love, properly speaking, is an emotion. At least, it need not be. Rather, Aquinas holds that love is that which moves the will towards the good. It is love that makes you desire particular things, because you perceive them as good. Remember, it is impossible to will something unless you perceive it as good in some respect. That perception of a thing as a good is what Aquinas thinks of as love.
It is important here to distinguish between love and what Aquinas calls charity, which is the virtue by which we love God for his own sake and others for God’s sake. God cannot practice charity in that sense, but he can love us, because by creating us God has perceived us as good and willed the good for us. But remember that God’s love, knowing and willing are all one simple act, which brings us to the next article…
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Blogs on the philosophy of religion (God, evil, free will, etc.) like this one about art and the problem of evil.
Reader’s Guides on the great works of Catholic philosophy, like last month’s guide on Jacques Maritain’s Art and Scholasticism.
Further reading recommendations on many posts, including free posts.
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