Summa Theologica [9780870610639]

Overview

The Summa Theologica, St. Thomas Aquinas’s brilliant synthesis of Christian thought, is considered a masterpiece and one of the most influential works of theology and philosophy. As the title indicates, it is a summing up of all that can be known about God and humanity’s relations with God. This exquisite edition preserves all of the original content but introduces a refreshed user-friendly design—including reformatted tables and new font—making it easier to read and more appealing to the modern reader.

The Summa, as it is commonly known, was originally intended as a theology textbook for Dominican students and is an authoritative synthesis of Christian thought in light of the philosophical tradition that preceded Aquinas. From the ethics of Aristotle to the mysticism of Pseudo-Dionysius, Aquinas draws on a variety of sources to present an intricate and comprehensive argument about the nature of reality. The work is divided into three parts that explore God and creation, human persons and their actions, and Jesus Christ as the means of returning to God. The Summa is a marriage of faith and reason that provides an intellectual justification of the Christian worldview.

This five-volume set consists of 38 treatises, 613 questions, 3,125 articles accompanied by objections and their answers. This complete edition was translated into English by the Fathers of the Dominican Province and first appeared in 1911. A revised edition was published in London in 1920 and in America in 1947. This redesigned Christian Classics hardcover edition is an updated reproduction of the well-beloved 1947 Benziger Brothers edition.

This Christian Classic continues to be the touchstone resource for Catholic thought and intellectual tradition at the heart of Christianity today. It is an essential addition to the personal library of newly ordained priests, seminarians, theology students, educators, and esteemed academic professors alike.