Sadler's Lectures Thomas Aquinas Summa Theologiae - God Loving Some Things More - Sadler's Lectures
Nov 6, 2025
Delve into the fascinating thoughts of Thomas Aquinas on divine love! Explore whether God loves all things equally and the nuances of willing good. Discover how God prioritizes greater goods for higher creatures and the distinction between the intensity of love and the goodness that is willed. Uncover Aquinas's insights on divine love in relation to Christ, angels, and humans, especially how God rejoices over penitents due to their growth and humility. A captivating examination of divine affection and its implications!
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Two Senses Of Loving
- Thomas Aquinas distinguishes two ways of loving: intensity of will and the goodness willed for the object.
- God cannot love more in willing-act intensity, but can will greater goods for some things, so God can love some things more.
God's Will Explains Created Goodness
- Because God's love causes goodness, differing goods willed explain differences in created goodness.
- Aquinas uses this to show God can will greater goods for rational creatures, making them better than non-rational beings.
God Loves Better Things More
- Aquinas argues God loves the better things more, partly by willing greater goods and thereby elevating them.
- Scriptural puzzles (Christ, angels, apostles) are answered by noting willing-for and transformative purpose, not favoritism.
