B. Alternative Way

64. Alternatively, according to the way of Anselm, who says that original sin is the lack of owed justice (as was touched on in 2 dd.30-32 n.50 supra), it is plain why Christ did not contract original sin, because he was not a natural son of Adam and so was not debtor for original justice. For those alone received justice in Adam who were going to be descended from him according to seed-reasons, that is, with respect to whom Adam possessed the idea of natural father according to propagation; hence, just as he alone could have preserved the justice, so he alone could have lost it; and therefore, if Christ had been a pure man and not God, but miraculously born of a Virgin, he would not, according to Anselm, have contracted original sin.

65. This opinion is evident from him in On the Virginal Conception ch.11, and express in ch.18f., where he holds that a twofold reason can be set down for the innocence of Christ: the sanctification of the Virgin, and the formation of his body miraculously, not by common propagation; either would suffice for Christ being born innocent.

66. Hence is plain the reason for the tithing of Levi and not of Christ.The reference is to St. Paul’s remark Hebrews 7.9 that Levi paid tithes in Abraham, discussed extensively by Master Lombard in 3 d.3 ch.3 and by Scotus himself in Lectura 3 d.3 n.2. ⁴⁶