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Summa Theologiae · I, q. 13

Question 13. The Names of God

Thomas Aquinas, Summa Theologiae, First Part. 12 articles.

Read in the reading room → This question at New Advent

Text: Summa Theologiae, Project Gutenberg #17611, First Part (Prima Pars), translated by the Fathers of the English Dominican Province. The First Part of the Summa in the English Dominican translation (first printed 1911 to 1925; second and revised edition from 1920). A sample check on 2026-11-09 against pre-1931 printings at the Internet Archive (first printings of 1915 and 1916 and the second and revised edition of the 1920s) found that the article text matches, with no 1947 introduction, synopsis, or index. The phrase “From the Complete American Edition” in Gutenberg's catalog title is a provenance note only. Question and article numbers were added by the transcriber. Rights: Public domain (US)

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After the consideration of those things which belong to the divine knowledge, we now proceed to the consideration of the divine names. For everything is named by us according to our knowledge of it.

Under this head, there are twelve points for inquiry:

(1) Whether God can be named by us?

(2) Whether any names applied to God are predicated of Him substantially?

(3) Whether any names applied to God are said of Him literally, or are all to be taken metaphorically?

(4) Whether any names applied to God are synonymous?

(5) Whether some names are applied to God and to creatures univocally or equivocally?

(6) Whether, supposing they are applied analogically, they are applied first to God or to creatures?

(7) Whether any names are applicable to God from time?

(8) Whether this name "God" is a name of nature, or of the operation?

(9) Whether this name "God" is a communicable name?

(10) Whether it is taken univocally or equivocally as signifying God, by nature, by participation, and by opinion?

(11) Whether this name, "Who is," is the supremely appropriate name of God?

(12) Whether affirmative propositions can be formed about God?

Articles

  1. Whether a Name Can Be Given to God?
  2. Whether Any Name Can Be Applied to God Substantially?
  3. Whether Any Name Can Be Applied to God in Its Literal Sense?
  4. Whether Names Applied to God Are Synonymous?
  5. Whether What Is Said of God and of Creatures Is Univocally Predicated of Them?
  6. Whether Names Predicated of God Are Predicated Primarily of Creatures?
  7. Whether Names Which Imply Relation to Creatures Are Predicated of God Temporally?
  8. Whether This Name "God" Is a Name of the Nature?
  9. Whether This Name "God" Is Communicable?
  10. Whether This Name "God" Is Applied to God Univocally by Nature, by Participation, and According to Opinion?
  11. Whether This Name, HE WHO IS, Is the Most Proper Name of God?
  12. Whether Affirmative Propositions Can Be Formed About God?

Also online, linked only: the same translation at New Advent and the Latin text at Corpus Thomisticum. Neither is copied here.

Source: Thomas Aquinas. Summa Theologica, First Part. Project Gutenberg #17611. Project Gutenberg record. Public domain in the USA. Outside the U.S., check local copyright rules. Project Gutenberg notices retained. The full Project Gutenberg license is kept in the hosted text.