Sunday, May 10, 2009

Q93 A4: Whether the image of God is found in every man?

Yes. The image of God, in its principal signification, namely the intellectual nature, is found both in man and in woman, because the intellectual nature imitates God chiefly in this, that God understands and loves Himself; wherefore we see that the image of God is in human beings in three ways.

Tam in viro quam in muliere invenitur Dei imago quantum ad id in quo principaliter ratio imaginis consistit, scilicet quantum ad intellectualem naturam, quia imitatur intellectualis natura maxime Deum quantum ad hoc, quod Deus seipsum intelligit et amat; unde imago Dei tripliciter potest considerari in homine.

The first is found in all human beings, the second only in the just, the third only in the blessed.

Prima ergo imago invenitur in omnibus hominibus; secunda in iustis tantum; tertia vero solum in beatis.

First, inasmuch as the human possesses a natural aptitude for understanding and loving God; and this aptitude consists in the very nature of the mind, which is common to all humans.

Uno quidem modo, secundum quod homo habet aptitudinem naturalem ad intelligendum et amandum Deum, et haec aptitudo consistit in ipsa natura mentis, quae est communis omnibus hominibus.

Secondly, inasmuch as the human actually and habitually knows and loves God, though imperfectly; and this image consists in the conformity of grace.

Alio modo, secundum quod homo actu vel habitu Deum cognoscit et amat, sed tamen imperfecte, et haec est imago per conformitatem gratiae.

Thirdly, inasmuch as the human knows and loves God perfectly; and this image consists in the likeness of glory.

Tertio modo, secundum quod homo Deum actu cognoscit et amat perfecte, et sic attenditur imago secundum similitudinem gloriae.