Tuesday, December 30, 2008

A Warm and Fuzzy Syllogism

I have not read much in medieval sacramental theology, so I do not know if this position is common or not. It came up when I was reading a series of questions on the efficacy of circumcision; the question I have quoted from below is from one dealing with whether there was some remedy for original sin prior to the institution of circumcision.

Duns Scotus, Ordinatio IV d.1 pars 4 incidentalis q.2 n.389 (XI 138):

"Nullo tempore dimisit Deus cultores suos sine remedio necessario ad salutem; sed omni tempore-post lapsum-fuit necessaria ad salutem deletio originalis; ergo quocumque tempore erat aliquod remedium efficax ad deletionem illius peccati"

At no time did God leave his worshippers without a remedy necessary for salvation; but at every time after the fall the removal of original [sin] was necessary for salvation; therefore at every time there was some efficacious remedy for the removal of that sin.

3 comments:

papabear said...

I would think that it is a common position--if God desires the salvation of all men, then etc. The question is whether He instituted some tool (and visible sign) by which grace would be given as a remedy?

Lee Faber said...

Well, some means of attaining salvation prior to the giving of the law.

Brandon said...

Aquinas has something roughly like this at ST 3.70.2 ad 1, which is an interesting argument itself.