Definitions

Question 1

Define Actus Purus

Answer 1

Pure or perfect actualization.

A term applied to God as the fully actualized being.

• the only being not in potency

Question 2

What is Process Theology?

Answer 2

This is the view that God is constantly changing.

It rejects nearly every attribute of God held by Classical Theism.

God is the “soul of the universe.”

Question 3

Define Theology

Answer 3

The definition of theology is the Knowledge of God.
- We get knowledge of God from general and special revelation.

Question 4

How is something self-evident?

Answer 4

Something that is self-evident is something where the predicate is included in the subject.

i.e. red ball. the color of the ball is self evident.

A dog is an animal is self evident because the definition of what a dog is includes being an animal.

Question 5

What are theistic proofs?

Answer 5

Theistic proof is any argument for the existence fo God.

Two types:
A posterior - argues from the effects back to the cause.

A priori - an example of this is the ontological argument where nothing greater can be conceived.

Question 6

What is potency?

Answer 6

Potency is the potential to be something else.

Question 7

Define act or actual

Answer 7

Act is something you actually have or are.

God is the only being that is perfectly actual. Every potential is fully actualized in God. Every attribute is infinitely perfect.

Question 8

What are the attributes of Pure act?

Answer 8

The first cause does not have any potentials that need to be actualized.

Then it must be:
1. lacking potential
2. immutable
3. incorporeal
4. eternal
5. perfect
6. omnipotent
7. there can only be one

Question 9

Define analogia

Answer 9

Analogy

The relation of likeness between two things.

This is a relationship that exists when two things are neither totally alike nor totally unalike but share one or more attributes or have similar attributes.

Question 10

Define aseitas

Answer 10

Self existence.

A term used by the scholastics in reference to God who is said to exist from himself.

Question 11

Define causa

Answer 11

Cause;

that which brings about motion or mutation.

Question 12

Define decretum

Answer 12

Decree;

specifically the eternal decree, according to which God wills and orders all things.

Question 13

Define ex nihilo

Answer 13

Out of nothing

This refers to the divine creation of the world out of nothing rather than pre existing (eternal) materials.

Question 14

Define homoousios

Answer 14

Of the same substance (consubstantial)

This indicates the unity of essence in the three divine persons.

Question 15

Define lex

Answer 15

Law

The Protestant scholastics distinguished law into four categories/types.
1. Eternal law
2. Natural law
3. Law of nature
4. Divine law

Question 16

Define opera dei

Answer 16

The works of God

A term usually applied to the creation and to the providential preservation of creation.
(All the activities of God)

Question 17

Define opera dei ad extra

Answer 17

The outward or external works of God.

The divine activities according to which God:

creates,
sustains, and
relates

to all finite things.

Question 18

Define opera dei ad intra

Answer 18

The inward or internal works or activities of God.

The internal works of God are either essential or personal.
These are apart from any relation to externals and are by definition both immutable and eternal.

Question 19

Define
Opera trinitatis ad extra sunt indivisa

Answer 19

The ad extra works of the Trinity are undivided.

Since the Godhead is one in essence, knowledge, and will, it would be impossible in any work ad extra for one of the divine persons to will and do Anything in contrast to the will and action of the others.

Question 20

Define potentia

Answer 20

Power, potential, efficacy.

It is the capacity or power to accomplish change.

Question 21

Define

Praemotio physica

Answer 21

Physical premotion

This reflects the assumption that God is the ultimate source of all motion in the universe.

God is the first mover.

Question 22

Define prima causa

Answer 22

The first cause

God as the cause of all things. He is the uncaused cause, or noncontingent necessary being.

Question 23

Define subsistentia

Answer 23

Subsistence

This indicates a particular being or existence, an individual instance of a given essence.

A more adequate term than persona for indicating the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

Question 24

Define Verbum Dei

Answer 24

Word of God

Could mean the eternal Word of God as the second person of the Trinity.

Also, the incarnate Word, Jesus Christ

The inspired Word of Holy Scripture

The internal Word of the Spirit which testified to the human heart.

Question 25

Define via eminentiae

Answer 25

The way of eminence

It is the positive derivation of divine attributes by raising finite attributes of human beings to the order of the infinite.

Question 26

Define via negativa

Answer 26

Negative way

A way of defining divine attributes by negating the attributes of the finite order.