The 60-Second Aquinas
Lesson
The Son as Word
Aquinas Lesson for August 3, 1998
A word is an exterior symbol for a thought. It is a product of the intellect.
We typically think before we speak. Therefore, we can see words as interior – words inside our head that are still products of our intellect.
I use this example as a beginning to explain Aquinas’ argument that Word, when referring to God, is "related to God, from whom the word proceeds, as Son to Father" (Compendium Ch. 39).
"What is conceived in the intellect is a likeness of the thing understood and represents its species; and so it seems to be a sort of offspring of the intellect" (ibid.).
If we think of an orange and say the word "orange," we can see a connection between our thought and our pronunciation of the word "orange." Such is the same with the Son. The Son is the word, the byproduct of the intellect of God. And this is seen in John’s use of Word for Son: "And the Word became flesh" (John 1:14).
However, Aquinas reminds us that Being and Understanding (which gives rise to the Word) are the same in God (ibid. Ch. 41). Therefore, "the Word must be of the same essence and nature as God Himself."
Explanation of The 60-Second Aquinas Lesson
