Summa Theologica, Part I (Prima Pars) From the Complete American Edition

About this book

The Summa Theologica, Prima Pars is the first portion of Saint Thomas Aquinas’s systematic theology, presented here in the Complete American Edition. The work opens with a detailed front matter that explains the editorial choices made by David McClamrock, noting corrections to the Benziger Brothers printing and the way articles are numbered (e.g., “SECOND ARTICLE [I, Q. 49, Art. 2]”). After the prologue, which frames the purpose of the text as instruction for beginners, Aquinas begins with Question 1 on the nature and extent of sacred doctrine, laying out ten points of inquiry and proceeding through a series of objections, counter‑arguments, and answers. The opening therefore establishes a rigorous question‑answer format that will guide the reader through theological topics ranging from the existence of God to the nature of angels.

Aquinas writes in a scholastic style characteristic of the thirteenth‑century Latin tradition, translated into clear English prose. The tone is methodical, employing concise articles that each address a specific philosophical or doctrinal issue. Readers who appreciate careful logical analysis, enjoy exploring the foundations of Catholic theology, or study the history of medieval philosophy will find this volume rewarding. Those seeking a structured, argument‑driven exposition of Christian doctrine will be most at home with Aquinas’s disciplined approach.