Frontmatter

Titlepage

The Ordinatio of Blessed John Duns Scotus

Book 4. Distinctions 1 - 7

Translated by Peter L.P. Simpson

Translator's Preface

This translation of Book IV dd.1-7 of the Ordinatio (aka Opus Oxoniense) of Blessed John Duns Scotus is complete. These distinctions fill volume eleven of the Vatican critical edition of the Latin text edited by the Scotus Commission in Rome and published by Quarrachi.

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 June, 2020

Contents

Book Four

 

Prologue

Num.1

First Distinction

 

Overview of the Parts of the Distinction

Num. 1

First Part: On the Action of the Creature in Respect of the Term of Creation

                                    

Single Question: Whether a Creature can have any Action with respect to the Term of Creation	Num. 2
I. Opinion of the Theologians, who Hold to the Negative Side of the
Question	Num. 15
A. The Four Reasons they Bring Forward	Num. 16
1. First Reason, which is from Thomas Aquinas	Num. 17
2. Second Reason	Num. 19
3. Third Reason	Num. 25
4. Fourth Reason	Num. 26
B. The Inefficacy of the Aforesaid Reasons	Num. 27
1. About the First Reason	Num. 28
2. About the Second Reason	Num. 50
3. About the Third Reason	Num. 67
4. About the Fourth Reason	Num. 71
II. Opinion of Avicenna for the Other Side of the Question
A. Exposition of the Opinion	Num. 72
B. Refutation of the Opinion
1. The Reason Proposed by Thomas Aquinas	Num. 76
2. Scotus’ own Response, Drawn from Three Propositions	Num. 81
a. The First Proposition	Num. 82.
b. The Second Proposition	Num. 102
c. The Third Proposition	Num. 113
C. To the Arguments for the Opinion	Num. 116
III. Response to the Question
A. On the Sense of the Expressions ‘To Act Principally’ and ‘To Act Instrumentally’	Num. 119
B. What One Must Think when ‘To Act Principally’ is taken
1. Nothing Other than God can, Independently of a Superior Cause, Act or Create Principally	Num. 123
2. Whether any Creature can Act or Create when Depending on a Superior Cause	Num. 124
a. The First Way of Speaking	Num. 125
b. The Second Way of Speaking	Num. 126
c. The Third Way of Speaking	Num. 128
d. Final Opinion	Num. 141
e. An Objection and its Solution	Num. 146
f. A Doubt and its Solution	Num. 150
C. What one Must Think about ‘To Act Instrumentally’	Num. 152
D. About the Opinion of Peter Lombard	Num. 153
IV. To the Initial Arguments	Num. 159

Second Part: On the Proper Idea of a Sacrament and on its Institution

                     

Question One: Whether the Idea Definitive of a Sacrament is what the Master Posits: ‘A Sacrament is the Visible Form of an Invisible Grace’	Num. 174
I. To the Question	Num. 180
A. What there Can and Cannot be a Definition of	Num. 181
B. Whether there Can be a Definition of a Sacrament	Num. 188
1. About a Definition’s First Condition	Num. 189
2. About a Definition’s Second Condition	Num. 196
3. About a Definition’s Third Condition	Num. 200
4. About a Definition’s Fourth and Fifth Condition	Num. 203
5. Conclusion	Num. 204
C. What the Fitting Definition of a Sacrament is	Num. 207
D. Solution of the Question	Num. 210
II. To the Initial Arguments	Num. 212
Question Two: Whether for the Period of any Law Given by God Some Sacrament Needed to Have Been Instituted	Num. 217
I. To the Question	Num. 223
A. Some Sacrament Did Need to be Instituted	Num. 224
B. By Whom a Sacrament Needs to be Instituted	Num. 236
C. When or for What Period there was Need for a Sacrament to be Instituted	Num. 246
D. Whether Different Sacraments Needed to be Instituted	Num. 251
1. How Sacraments can be Distinguished	Num. 252
2. Response to the Issue at Hand	Num. 253
II. To the Initial Arguments	Num. 258

Third Part: On the Causality of a Sacrament as regard Conferring Grace

                     

Question One: Whether it is Possible for a Sacrament, Perfect to any Extent whatever, to have an Active Causality with respect to Conferring Grace	Num. 262
Question Two: Whether it is Possible for some Supernatural Virtue to exist in a Sacrament	Num. 269
I. Opinion of Thomas Aquinas about Each Question
A. Exposition of the Opinion
1. As to the First Question	Num. 276
2. As to the Second Question
B. Rejection of the Opinion
1. As to the First Question	Num. 281
a. First Argument	Num. 285
b. Second Argument	Num. 291
c. Third Argument	Num. 292
d. Fourth Argument	Num. 294
2. As to the Second Question
II. Opinion of Henry of Ghent about the First Question	Num. 296
A. Statement of the Opinion	Num. 307
B. Rejection of the Opinion	Num. 308
III. Scotus’ own Opinion as to the First Question	Num. 309
IV. Scotus’ Opinion as to the Second Question	Num. 323
V. To the Initial Arguments of the First Question	Num. 326
VI. The Argument of the Opinion of Thomas	Num. 329
VII. To the Initial Arguments of the Second Question	Num. 331

Incidental Fourth Part: On Circumcision

                  

Question One: Whether Grace was Conferred in Circumcision by Force of the Circumcision	Num. 335
I. To the Question
A. Circumcision Removed Original Sin	Num. 343
B. Whether Grace was Conferred in Circumcision	Num. 345
1. Whether God Can by his Absolute Power Delete Original Guilt without Infusion of Grace
a. The Opinion of Richard of Middleton
α. Exposition of the Opinion	Num. 346
β. Rejection of the Opinion	Num. 351
γ. Scotus’ own Conclusion	Num. 357
δ. To the Arguments for the Opinion	Num. 358
b. A Doubt	Num. 362
2. Whether God could do the Same by his Ordained Power
a. Opinions of Others	Num. 368
b. Scotus’ own Opinion	Num. 370
II. To the Initial Arguments	Num. 382
Question Two: Whether during the Time of the Law of Nature there was any Sacrament Corresponding to Circumcision	Num. 385
I. To the Question	Num. 389
II. To the Initial Arguments	Num. 393

Second Distinction

             

Division of the Text	Num. 1
Question One: Whether the Sacraments of the New Law Get their Efficacy from the Passion of Christ	Num. 4
I. To the Question
A. First Conclusion	Num. 10
B. Second Conclusion	Num. 18
C. Solution of the Question	Num. 27
D. First Corollary	Num. 33
E. Second Corollary	Num. 36
F. Third Corollary	Num. 37
II. To the Initial Arguments	Num. 38
Question Two: Whether Someone Baptized with the Baptism of John was Necessarily Required to be Baptized with the Baptism of Christ	Num. 43
I. To the Question	Num. 50
II. To the Initial Arguments	Num. 54

Third Distinction

                                      

Division of the Text and Overview of the Questions	Num. 1
Question One: Whether the Proper Definition is what the Master Posits: ‘Baptism is a Dipping, that is, an Exterior Cleansing of the Body, done under a Prescribed Form of Words’	Num. 7
I. To the Question
A. How Baptism can have a Definition	Num. 9
B. Whether the Definition of Baptism is the One that the Master Posits	Num. 15
C. Solution of the Question	Num. 24
II. To the Initial Arguments	Num. 25
Question Two: Whether this is the Precise Form of Baptism: ‘I Baptize you in the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit’	Num. 29
I. To the Question
A. Whether and How Certain Words could be the Form of Baptism	Num. 41
B. About the Form of Baptism Needed on the Part of the Minister	Num. 48
C. About the Form Necessary on the Part of the Sacrament	Num. 55
1. About the Non-Principal Words of the Form	Num. 57
2. About the Principal Words of the Form	Num. 59
a. About Variation in Substance	Num. 64
b. About Variation in Quantity	Num. 77
c. About Variation in Quality	Num. 80
d. About Variation in ‘Where’	Num. 81
II. To the Initial Arguments	Num. 82
Question Three: Whether Pure Natural Water is the Only Fitting Matter of Baptism	Num. 91
I. To the Question	Num. 98
II. To the Initial Arguments	Num. 117
Question Four: Whether the Institution of Baptism Voids Circumcision	Num. 128
I. Preamble to the Question: That Baptism was Instituted in the New Law is True and Reasonable	Num. 133
A. It is True	Num. 134
B. It is Reasonable	Num. 139
II. Solution of the Question	Num. 145
A. Whether the Receiving of Baptism was Simply Necessary	Num. 146
B. Whether Circumcision was Made Void by Baptism
1. Opinion of Others
a. Exposition of the Opinion	Num. 155
b. Rejection of the Opinion	Num. 158
2. Scotus’ own Opinion
a. About the Times of Baptism and Circumcision, and of their Interconnections	Num. 167
b. About the Ways in which Peter and Paul conducted themselves in the Presence of Convert Jews and Gentiles	Num. 177
c. About the Definitive Revocation of Circumcision	Num. 193
3. To the Arguments for the Opinion of Others	Num. 197
III. To the Initial Arguments	Num. 199

Fourth Distinction

 

Division of the Text and Overview of the Parts and Questions

Num. 1

First Part

About Reception of the Sacrament and the Thing in Children Receiving Baptism

           

Question One: Whether Children are to be Baptized	Num. 12
I. To the Question	Num. 15
II. To the Initial Arguments	Num. 17
Question Two: Whether Baptized Children Receive the Effect of Baptism	Num. 19
I. To the Question	Num. 27
II. To the Initial Arguments	Num. 28
Question Three: Whether a Child Present in the Womb of his Mother could be Baptized	Num. 40
I. To the Question
A. Opinion of Others and Rejection of It	Num. 45
B. Scotus’ own Opinion	Num. 50
II. To the Initial Arguments	Num. 53

Second Part

About Reception of the Sacrament and not the Thing in Adults Receiving Baptism

                   

Question One: Whether an Adult who Consents can Receive the Effect of Baptism	Num. 57
I. To the Question	Num. 62
A. About an Adult with the Use of Reason or without It	Num. 63
1. About an Adult who never Uses Reason	Num. 64
2. About an Adult not Now Using Reason	Num. 65
3. About an Adult with the Use of Reason	Num. 68
B. About an Adult who is not Willing	Num. 70
II. To the Initial Arguments	Num. 83
Question Two: Whether an Adult who is Feigning Receives the Effect of Baptism	Num. 87
I. To the Question	Num. 92
A. About him who Feigns on the Outside to be Willing, is Unwilling on the Inside	Num. 93
B. About him who Feigns on the Outside to Be Disposed, is not Disposed on the Inside	Num. 95
1. A Person so Feigning does not in Baptism Receive Grace but through Penance	Num. 96
2. Objections to the Aforesaid Solution	Num. 104
3. Response to the First Objection	Num. 106
4. Response to the Second Objection	Num. 110
a. Objection to this Response	Num. 112
b. Triple Response to the Objection	Num. 113
II. To the Initial Arguments	Num. 117

Third Part

About Reception of the Thing and not the Sacrament both in Children and in Adults Receiving Baptism

   

Single Question: Whether those already Justified are Bound to the Receiving of Baptism	Num. 120
I. To the Question	Num. 126
II. To the Initial Arguments	Num. 130

Fourth Part

About Equal or Unequal Reception of the Thing and not the Sacrament, and about Conferring Baptism in Doubtful Cases

            

Question One: Whether All the Baptized Receive the Effect of Baptism Equally	Num. 138
I. To the Question	Num. 141
A. Opinion of Others and its Rejection	Num. 143
B. Scotus’ own Opinion	Num. 146
1. About the Effect of Baptism Flowing Forth from the Principal Cause	Num. 147
2. About the Effect of Baptism Flowing Forth from the Meritorious Cause	Num. 151
3. About the Effect of Baptism Flowing Forth from the Receivers	Num. 155
II. To the Initial Argument	Num. 162
Question Two: What is to be Done about an Exposed Child	Num. 163
Question Three: Whether the Children of Jews and Infidels are to be Baptized against their Parents’ Wishes	Num. 166
I. Opinion of Others and Rejection of It	Num. 167
II. Scotus’ own Opinion	Num. 170

Fifth Distinction

              

Division of the Text and Overview of the Questions	Num. 1
Question One: Whether the Malice of the Minister Prevent Baptism being Conferred	Num. 8
I. To the Question	Num. 17
II. To the Initial Arguments	Num. 25
Question Two: Whether he who Receives Baptism Knowingly from a Bad Minister Sins Mortally	Num. 33
I. To the Question	Num. 38
A. About Reception of Baptism from a Minister in Schism from the Church	Num. 40
1. First Way: about the Obligation to Receive Baptism Num. 41
2. Second Way: about Refusal to Receive Baptism from Such a Minister	Num. 42
3. The Second Way is Rejected	Num. 45
4. An Intermediate Opinion	Num. 48
B. About Receiving Baptism from a Bad Minister not in Schism from the Church	Num. 52
II. To the Initial Arguments	Num. 56
Question Three: Whether One Should Administer the Baptismal Sacrament when there is Presumption that the Baptizing Poses a Danger to the Bodily Life of him who Receives it	Num. 61

Sixth Distinction

First Part

About the Rank of the Minister

   

Single Question: Whether only a Priest can Baptize	Num. 10
I. To the Question	Num. 14
II. To the Initial Arguments	Num. 23

Second Part

About the Unity of Baptism

               

Question One: Whether the Unity of Baptism Necessarily Requires that it be Conferred by one Minister	Num. 26
I. To the Question	Num. 29
A. About Baptism Administered by Two Ministers who Together do the Whole	Num. 33
B. About Baptism Administered by Two Ministers who do Something Separately	Num. 43
C. About the Baptizing of Many Carried out by one Minister all at Once	Num. 46
D. About the Baptism of a Receiver whose Unicity is in Doubt Num. 52
Question Two: Whether the Unity of Baptism Requires the Washing and the Speaking of the Words to be Simultaneous	Num. 62
I. To the Question	Num. 64
A. The Opinion of the Glossator	Num. 65
B. Rejection of the Opinion	Num. 72
C. Scotus’ own Opinion	Num. 77
II. To the Initial Arguments	Num. 80
Question Three: Whether the Unity of Baptism Requires the Baptizer to be Distinct in Person from the Baptized	Num. 81
I. To the Question	Num. 83
II. To the Initial Argument	Num. 88

Third Part

About the Intention of the Minister

              

Question One: Whether in the Minister who Baptizes there is Required the Due Intention to Baptize	Num. 90
I. To the Question	Num. 96
A. The Common Opinion and Assessment of It	Num. 99
B. Scotus’ own Opinion	Num. 102
1. About Intention as Regard the Act	Num. 105
2. About Intention as Regard the End	Num. 109
a. Exposition	Num. 110
b. Objections	Num. 113
c. Response to the First Objection	Num. 115
d. Response to the Second Objection	Num. 130
II. To the Initial Arguments	Num. 133
Question Two: What Sort of Intention is Required in the Minister who Baptizes	Num. 136
I. To the Question	Num. 138
II. To the Initial Argument	Num. 151

Fourth Part

About the Repetition of Baptism

Article One

About the Illicitness of Repeating Baptism

      

Question One: Whether Baptism can be Repeated	Num. 155
I. To the Question	Num. 158
A. Reasons of Others against the Repeatability of Baptism, and Rejection of Them	Num. 159
B. Scotus’ own Reason	Num. 164
II. To the Initial Argument	Num. 167
Question Two: What the Penalty is for Those who Repeat Baptism	Num. 169

Article Two

About the Character because of which Baptism is Posited as Unrepeatable

Overview of Questions

                                                    

Question One: Whether a Character is Impressed in Baptism	Num. 187
I. To the Question	Num. 193
A. About the Meaning of this Name ‘Character’	Num. 195
B. About the Impressing on the Soul of Character thus Understood	Num. 202
1. First Opinion: Neither by Natural Reason nor from Things Believed can it be Proved that a Character is Present in the Soul	Num. 203
a. First Reason	Num. 205
α. Objection
β. Response to the Objection	Num. 208
b. Second Reason	Num. 219
c. Third Reason	Num. 230
d. Fourth Reason	Num. 232
e. Fifth Reason	Num. 233
f. Response to the Initial Arguments for the Opposite	Num. 234
2. Second Opinion: That there is a Character in the Soul can be Proved by the Authority of the Church and Various Elements of Congruence	Num. 238
3. To the Arguments for the First Opinion
a. To the Argument about the Way of Positing Character	Num. 255
b. To the First Reason	Num. 257
c. To the Second Reason	Num. 258
d. To the Third Reason	Num. 267
e. To the Fourth Reason	Num. 270
f. To the Fifth Reason	Num. 272
II. To the Initial Arguments	Num. 274
Question Two: Whether the Character is Some Absolute Form	Num. 279
I. To the Question
A. The Opinion of Thomas Aquinas	Num. 285
B. Rejection of the Opinion
1. Against him who Holds this Opinion from his own Statements	Num. 290
2. Against the Reasons Brought Forward in the Opinion
a. To the First Reason	Num. 294
b. To the Second Reason	Num. 300
c. To the Third Reason	Num. 307
d. To the Fourth Reason	Num. 315
e. Conclusion	Num. 317
C. Two Doubts as to the Question	Num. 318
1. About the First Doubt	Num. 319
2. About the Second Doubt	Num. 327
D. Scotus’ own Opinion	Num. 333
E. Doubt as to Scotus’ own Opinion	Num. 335
1. Consideration of the Diverse Opinions or Solutions
a. About the First Solution	Num. 336
b. About Other Possible Solutions	Num. 340
c. About another Peculiar Possible Solution	Num. 343
2. Scotus’ own Solution	Num. 345
II. To the Initial Arguments on Both Sides	Num. 354
Question Three: Whether Character is in the Essence of the Soul or in Some Power of It	Num. 360
I. To the Question
A. Opinion of Thomas Aquinas
1. Exposition of the Opinion	Num. 362
2. Rejection of the Opinion	Num. 364
B. Scotus’ own Opinion	Num. 371
II. To the Initial Argument	Num. 373
III. To the Reason for Thomas Aquinas’ Position	Num. 374

Summation of the Distinctions about Baptism

 

On a Twofold Exhaustive Definition of Baptism

Num. 1

Seventh Distinction

                          

Division of the Text	Num. 1
Introduction: About the Idea or Definition of Confirmation	Num. 5
I. Statement of the Definition	Num. 7
II. Explanation of the Definition	Num. 8
III. Objections against the Definition	Num. 14
IV. Response to the Objections
A. To the First Objection	Num. 17
B. To the Second Objection	Num. 20
C. To the Third Objection
1. First way of Speaking and its Rejection	Num. 21
2. Second way of Speaking and its Rejection	Num. 24
3. Third Way of Speaking and its Proof by Authorities Num. 27
a. First Authority and the Weighing of It	Num. 29
b. Second Authority and the Weighing of It	Num. 37
4. Fourth Way of Speaking	Num. 44
V. On the Effect of Confirmation	Num. 45
Question One: Whether the Sacrament of Confirmation is Necessary for Salvation	Num. 47
I. To the Question	Num. 50
II. To the Initial Argument	Num. 51
Question Two: Whether the Sacrament of Confirmation is of more Dignity than Baptism	Num. 52
I. To the Question	Num. 56
II. To the Initial Argument	Num. 60
Question Three: Whether the Sacrament of Confirmation could be Repeated	Num. 61
I. To the Question	Num. 65
II. To the Initial Argument	Num. 69
Question Four: Whether there is any Penalty for those who Repeat the Sacrament of Confirmation	Num. 70