Frontmatter

Titlepage

The Ordinatio of Blessed John Duns Scotus

Book 3. Distinctions 1 - 17

Translated by Peter L.P. Simpson

Translator's Preface

This translation of Book III Distinctions 1 to 17 of the Ordinatio (aka Opus Oxoniense) of Blessed John Duns Scotus is complete. These distinctions fill volume nine of the Vatican critical edition of the Latin text edited by the Scotus Commission in Rome and published by Quarrachi.

[Note that distinctions 18 to 25 are lacking in Scotus’ Ordinatio. Their place is filled here in an appendix from Antonius Andreas, one of Scotus’ more faithful followers.]

Scotus’ Latin is tight and not seldom elliptical, exploiting to the full the grammatical resources of the language to make his meaning clear (especially the backward references of his pronouns). In English this ellipsis must, for the sake of intelligibility, often be translated with a fuller repetition of words and phrases than Scotus himself gives. The possibility of mistake thus arises if the wrong word or phrase is chosen for repetition. The only check to remove error is to ensure that the resulting English makes the sense intended by Scotus. Whether this sense has always been captured in the translation that follows must be judged by the reader. In addition there are passages where not only the argumentation but the grammar too is obscure, and I cannot vouch for the success of my attempts to penetrate the obscurity. So, for these and the like reasons, comments and notice of errors from readers are most welcome.

Peter L.P. Simpson April, 2018

Contents

Book Three

First Distinction

First Part

On the Possibility of the Incarnation

                                        

Question 1: Whether it was Possible for Human Nature to be United to the Word in Unity of Supposit	Num. 1
I. To the Question	Num. 13
A. What is to be Understood by ‘Personal Union’	Num. 14
B. How Personal Union is Possible on the Part of the Person Assuming	Num. 17
C. How Personal Union is Possible on the Part of the Assumed Nature	Num. 22
1. The Opinion of Others	Num. 23
2. Rejection of the Opinion	Num. 26
3. Scotus’ own Opinion	Num. 31
a. Two Possible Ways of Solution	Num. 33
b. Arguments against the First Way	Num. 36
c. Arguments against the Second Way	Num. 40
d. What one should Think about the Two Ways	Num. 44
e. To the Arguments against the Second Way	Num. 48
4. A Doubt	Num. 53
II. To the Principal Arguments
A. To the Common Arguments	Num. 62
B. To the Special Arguments
1. To the Argument on the Part of the Nature that is united	Num. 67
2. To the Arguments on the Part of that which Assumes	Num. 70
3. To the Argument on the Part of the Union	Num. 84
Question 2: Whether the Three Persons can Assume Numerically the Same Nature	Num. 85
I. To the Question
A. Opinion of Others
1. Exposition of the Opinion	Num. 93
2. Weighing of the Opinion	Num. 96
B. Scotus’ own Opinion	Num. 102
1. Whether the First Term of the Union is the Three Persons	Num. 103
2. Whether the First Term of the Union is the per se Existing Essence	Num. 108
II. To the Principal Arguments on Both Sides	Num. 110
III. To the Arguments for the Opinion of Others	Num. 116
IV. Objection to Scotus’ Opinion and its Solution	Num. 119
Question 3: Whether One Person can Assume Several Natures	Num. 123
I. To the Question	Num. 127
II. To the Principal Arguments	Num. 128
Question 4: Whether a Created Supposit can Hypostatically Instantiate a Different Created Nature than the One that it has	Num. 133
I. To the Question	Num. 137
A. On the First Way of Instantiating, that is by Efficient Causality	Num. 138
B. On the Second Way of Instantiating, that is Terminatively	Num. 139
II. To the Principal Arguments when Holding to the Negative Side of the Question	Num. 149
III. To the Argument for the Opposite when Holding to the Affirmative Side of the Question	Num. 152

Second Part

On the Fact of the Incarnation

           

Single Question: Whether the Formal Reason of Being the Term for the Union of the Human Nature with the Word is the Word’s Relative Property	Num. 153
I. To the Question	Num. 164
A. What the Property is that Constitutes a Person
1. Reasons and Responses of those who Think that the Persons are Constituted by Relations Num. 165
2. Rejection of the Aforesaid Reasons and Responses	Num.
a. About the Special Reasons and Responses	Num.
b. About the Conclusion in Itself	Num.
B. Whether a Personal Property is the Formal Reason of Terminating the Union of the Human Nature with the Word	Num. 211
C. Solution of the Question	Num. 220
II. To the Arguments	Num. 221
III. To the Reasons Adduced for the Opinion that Holds the Persons to be Constituted by Absolutes	Num. 224

Appendix A and B

Second Distinction

                                 

Question 1: Whether a Nature immediately United Hypostatically to the Word and not Having Joy Involves a Contradiction	Num. 1
I. To the Question	Num. 8
A. Opinion of Henry of Ghent	Num. 9
1. An Assumed Nature Naturally Fit to have	Joy cannot not have Joy
a. Exposition of the Opinion	Num. 10
b. Rejection of the Opinion	Num. 15
2. A Nature not Naturally Fit for Enjoyment	cannot be Assumed
a. Exposition of the Opinion	Num. 24
b. Rejection of the Opinion	Num. 25
B. Scotus’ own Opinion	Num. 32
II. To the Principal Arguments	Num. 34
III. To the Arguments of Henry of Ghent
A. As to the First Article	Num. 41
B. As to the Second Article	Num. 45
IV. Conclusion	Num. 46
Question 2: Whether the Word assumed the Whole of Human Nature First and Immediately	Num. 47
I. To the Question	Num. 56
A. About the Intrinsic Medium
1. The Opinion of Others	Num. 57
2. Scotus’ own Opinion	Num. 65
3. Three Doubts against Scotus’ Opinion
a. Statement of the Doubts	Num. 72
b. Solution of the Doubts	Num. 73
c. To the Authority of the Commentator	Adduced in the First Doubt	Num. 86
B. About the Extrinsic Medium	Num. 87
II. To the Principal Arguments	Num. 92
Question 3: Whether the Organization and Animation of the Body Preceded the Incarnation	Num. 99
I. To the Question	Num. 104
A. Of Priority in Time	Num. 105
1. Of the Order of Animation in Relation to Incarnation	Num. 106
2. Of the Order of Organization in Relation to	Animation	Num. 108
B. Of Priority in Nature	Num. 114
II. To the Principal Arguments	Num. 115

Third Distinction

                  

Question 1: Whether the Blessed Virgin was Conceived in Original Sin	Num. 1
I. To the Question
A. The Common Opinion
1. Exposition of the Opinion	Num. 14
2. Rejection of the Opinion
a. Against the First Reason	Num. 17
b. Against the Second Reason	Num. 26
B. Scotus’ own Response	Num. 28
C. Objections and their Solution	Num. 35
II. Response to the Arguments while Holding that the Blessed Virgin was not Conceived in Original Sin
A. To the Principal Arguments	Num. 41
B. To the Arguments Given for the Common Opinion	Num. 42
C. Specifically to the Arguments of Bernard	Num. 52
Question 2: Wherefore and How Christ’s Body did not Contract Original Sin as Other Bodies did	Num. 54
I. On a First Way of Speaking	Num. 55
II. On a Second Way of Speaking	Num. 59
A. First Way	Num. 60
B. Alternative Way	Num. 64

Fourth Distinction

                   

Single Question: Whether the Blessed Virgin was truly Mother of God and man	Num. 1
I. To the Question	Num. 12
II. A Doubt	Num. 15
A. First Opinion
1. Exposition of the Opinion	Num. 16
2. Rejection of the Opinion	Num. 19
B. Second Opinion
1. Exposition of the Opinion	Num. 26
2. Rejection of the Opinion	Num. 28
C. Third Opinion
1. Statement of the Opinion	Num. 30
2. Rejection of the Opinion	Num. 31
D. Scotus’ own Opinion	Num. 37
1. On the Action of the Mother in the Formation of our Bodies	Num. 38
2. On the Action of the Blessed Virgin in the Formation of Christ’s Body	Num. 39
3. A Doubt about the Mother’s Action through Seed-Reason	Num. 52
III. Other Doubts on the Question	Num. 57
IV. To the Principal Arguments	Num. 62
V. To the Arguments for the First Opinion	Num. 69

Fifth Distinction

        

Question 1:Whether the Divine Nature assumed Human Nature or was Able to Assume it	Num. 1
Question 2: Whether a Created Person was Assumed or was Able to be Assumed	Num. 6
I. To the First Question
A. Solution	Num. 12
B. To the Principal Arguments	Num. 15
II. To the Second Question
A. Solution	Num. 18
B. To the Principal Arguments	Num. 21

Sixth Distinction

             

Question 1:Whether in Christ there is some Existing other than Uncreated Existing	Num. 1
I. To the Question	Num. 7
A. The Opinion of Others
1. Exposition of the Opinion	Num. 11
2. Rejection of the Opinion	Num. 16
B. Scotus’ own Opinion	Num. 31
II. To the Principal Arguments	Num. 43
III. To the Arguments for the Opinion of Others	Num. 48
IV. To the First and Second Reasonings in the Solution of the Question	Num. 49
Question 2: Whether Christ is a Two	Num. 50
I. To the Question	Num. 60
II. To the Principal Arguments	Num. 61
Question 3: Which of the Three Opinions that the Master Reports should be Held	Num. 71

Seventh Distinction (Page 123)

              

Question 1:Whether this Proposition is True, ‘God is man’	Num. 1
I. To the Question
A. Solution	Num. 7
B. A Doubt	Num. 25
II. To the Principal Arguments	Num. 28
Question 2: Whether God was Made Man	Num. 33
I. To the Question	Num. 40
II. To the Principal Arguments	Num. 52
Question 3: Whether Christ was Predestined to be Son of God	Num. 55
I. To the Question	Num. 58
II. Doubts and their Solution
A. First Doubt	Num. 60
B. Second Doubt	Num. 68
III. To the Principal Argument	Num. 70

Eighth Distinction

        

Single Question: Whether there are Two Real Filiations in Christ	Num. 1
I. To the Question
A. Opinion of Others	Num. 10
1. First Reason and Rejection of it	Num. 11
2. Second Reason and Rejection of it	Num. 16
B. Scotus’ own Opinion	Num. 31
C. Doubt	Num. 40
II. To the Principal Arguments	Num. 52

Ninth Distinction

           

Single Question: Whether Divine Worship or the Honor of Divine Worship is Due to Christ only according to his Divine Nature	Num. 1
I. To the Question	Num. 8
A. How Divine Worship is taken	Num. 9
B. When and How Divine Worship is due	Num. 15
C. Whether Divine Worship is due to Christ only as to his Divine Nature
1. Solution	Num. 21
2. An Objection and Response to it	Num. 26
II. A Doubt about the Adoration owed to Christ as he is a Man	Num. 36
A. The Opinion of Others	Num. 37
B. Scotus’ own Opinion	Num. 43
III. To the Principal Arguments	Num. 51

Tenth Distinction

   

Single Question: Whether Christ is an adoptive son of God	Num. 1
I. To the Question	Num. 7
II. To the Principal Arguments	Num. 16

Eleventh Distinction

                

Question 1: Whether Christ is a Creature	Num. 1
I. To the Question
A. The Solution of Others
1. First Solution	Num. 11
2. Second Solution	Num. 15
3. Third Solution	Num. 18
B. Scotus’ own Solution
1. First Reason	Num. 20
2. Second Reason	Num. 32
II. To the Arguments	Num. 34
Question 2: Whether Christ as he is man is a Creature	Num. 41
I. To the Question	Num. 46
II. To the Arguments	Num. 51
Question 3: Whether Christ began to be	Num. 56
I. To the Question	Num. 63
II. To the Arguments	Num. 71

Twelfth Distinction

   

Single Question: Whether the Human Nature in Christ was able to Sin Num. 1
I. To the Question	Num. 7
II. To the Arguments	Num. 12

Thirteenth Distinction

                   

Question 1: Whether on Christ’s Soul could have been Conferred the Highest Degree of Grace that could have been Conferred on a Creature	Num. 1
Question 2: Whether on Christ’s soul was in fact Conferred the Highest Degree of Grace that could have been Conferred on a Creature	Num. 11
Question 3: Whether it was Possible for Christ’s Will to have the Highest Enjoyment Possible	Num. 19
Question 4: Whether Christ’s Soul was Able to Enjoy God supremely without the Highest Grace	Num. 23
I. To the First Question	Num. 27
A. The Highest Grace could have been Created
1. Scotus’ own Reason	Num. 30
2. Others’ Reasons	Num. 31
B. The Highest Grace can be Conferred on the Soul of Christ	Num. 45
C. A Doubt	Num. 49
II. To the Second Question	Num. 53
III. To the Principal Arguments of these Two Questions	Num. 55
A. To the Arguments of the First Question	Num. 56
B. To the Arguments of the Second Question	Num. 72
IV. To the Third Question	Num. 79
V. To the Fourth Question	Num. 82
VI. To the Principal Arguments of the Third and Fourth Question	Num. 88
A. To the Arguments of Both Parts of the Third Question	Num. 89
B. To the Arguments of the Fourth Question	Num. 93

Fourteenth Distinction

                               

Question 1: Whether it was possible for the Intellect of Christ’s Soul to be Perfected first and immediately by the most Perfect Vision of the Word possible for a Creature	Num. 1
Question 2: Whether it was possible for the Intellect of Christ’s Soul to See in the Word everything that the Word sees	Num. 9
I. To the First Question	Num. 15
A. It is Possible that Christ’s Soul is able to be Perfected with the most perfect Vision of the Word	Num. 16
B. The Intellect of Christ’s Soul can be Perfected first and immediately with the most perfect Vision of the Word	Num. 18
C. To the Principal Arguments	Num. 31
II. To the Second Question
A. First Opinion
1. Exposition of the Opinion	Num. 40
2. Rejection of the Opinion	Num. 42
B. Second Opinion
1. Exposition of the Opinion	Num. 50
2. Rejection of the Opinion	Num. 54
C. Scotus’ own Opinion
1. The Soul of Christ sees everything in the Word Actually	Num. 58
2. A Doubt about Scotus’ Opinion	Num. 71
D. How the Second Opinion could be Sustained	Num. 76
E. To the Principal Arguments	Num. 81
F. To the Arguments for the Second Opinion	Num. 85
Question 3: Whether Christ’s Soul knows Everything in its own Proper Genus	Num. 90
I. To the Question
A. First Opinion
1. Exposition of the Opinion	Num. 98
2. Rejection of the Opinion	Num. 101
B. Second Opinion	Num. 106
C. Scotus’ own Opinion	Num. 107
1. On Abstractive Knowledge	Num. 108
2. On Intuitive Knowledge	Num. 111
II. To the Principal Arguments	Num. 119
III. Objection against Abstractive Knowledge of Singulars	Num. 123
Question 4: Whether Christ knows Everything in its own Proper Genus Perfectly	Num. 124

Fifteenth Distinction

                      

Single Question: Whether there was True Sorrow in Christ’s Soul as to its Higher Part	Num. 1
I. Brief Reply of Others to the Question and Rejection of it	Num. 20
II. Fuller Examination of the Question and Solution to it	Num. 25
A. What Pain and Sadness are
1. Pain
a. Opinion of Henry of Ghent	Num. 27
b. Rejection of the Opinion	Num. 30
c. Scotus’ own Response	Num. 38
2. On Sadness
a. On the First Mode or way of being Sad, that is, on Sadness as it Arises from an Object that is not Wanted	Num. 47
b. On the Second Mode or way of being Sad, that is, on Sadness as it Arises from an Object naturally Disagreeable or from an Object Disagreeable to Sensitive Appetite that is not Wanted	Num. 51
c. On the Third Mode or Way of being Sad, that is, because of a Conditioned not-Wanting	Num. 58
d. Conclusion	Num. 60
B. In Christ there was True Sorrow	Num. 61
C. Whether Christ was Saddened in the Higher and Lower part of the Intellect
1. Of the Objects and Ways as to which each Part is Saddened	Num. 72
2. Of the Passion as it is the Object of Sadness in the Higher Part	Num. 94
3. About the Passion as it is an Object of Sadness in the Lower Part	Num. 106
a. First Possible Solution and the Weighing of it	Num. 109
b. Second Possible Solution and the Weighing of it	Num. 128
c. Scotus’ own Conclusion	Num. 133
d. To the Arguments for the First Solution Num. 134

Sixteenth Distinction

              

Question 1: Whether Christ was under any Necessity to Die	Num. 1
I. To the First Question
A. Opinion of Others
1. Exposition of the Opinion	Num. 15
2. Rejection of the Opinion	Num. 20
B. Scotus’ own Response	Num. 25
C. Doubts and their Solution	Num. 36
D. To the Principal Arguments	Num. 41
E. To the Form of the Argument for the Opinion of Others Num. 45
II. To the Second Question
A. Solution	Num. 46
B. Objections	Num. 49
C. Response to the Objections	Num. 52
D. To the Principal Arguments	Num. 57

Seventeenth Distinction

   

Question 1: Whether there were Two Wills in Christ
I. To the Question	Num. 1
II. To the Principal Arguments	Num. 16

Appendix.
Distinctions Eighteen to Twenty Five, from Antonius Andreas

Distinction Eighteen

Single Question: Whether Christ Merited in the First Instant of his Conception

Distinction Nineteen

Single Question: Whether Christ Merited Grace and Glory and Remission of Guilt and Punishment for all Men

Twentieth Distinction

Single Question: Whether it was Necessary for the Human Race to be Repaired by the Passion of Christ

Twenty First Distinction

Single Question: Whether Christ’s Body would have Putrefied if his Resurrection had not been Hastened

Twenty Second Distinction

Single Question: Whether Christ was a Man during the Triduum

Twenty Third Distinction

Single Question: Whether Infused Faith must be posited for Matters Revealed to us for Belief

Twenty Fourth Distinction

Single Question: Whether about Revealed Matters of Belief Someone can have Science and Faith at the same Time, speaking of Science as it is taken for all the Certain Knowledge Received from the Evidence of the Thing

Twenty Fifth Distinction

Single Question: Whether before Christ’s Coming Faith about the Things we now Believe was Necessary