The 60-Second Aquinas
Lesson
The Divine Law
November 11, 1998
With the eternal, natural, and human law, it would seem all the legal bases are covered. However, Aquinas discusses a fourth type of law – the divine law.
To introduce the divine law, Aquinas questions the very need of such a law: "It would seem that there was no need for a divine law. For … the natural law is a participation in us of the eternal law. But the eternal law is the divine law" (ST I-II, Q. 91, Art. 4).
The divine law is the law given to man by God (eg. the Ten Commandments). It is essentially God’s law in writing (the Bible), whereas the natural law is God’s law inherently known by us.
The divine law is necessary, Aquinas determines, because of man’s limitations.
While the natural law is our participation in the eternal law, we are limited by our natural ability to reason. Though we are rational creatures, we sometimes have a tendency to be irrational. Our reason is not always certain.
Furthermore, "since man is ordained to an end of eternal happiness which exceeds man’s natural ability … it was necessary that … man should be directed to his end by a law given by God" (ibid.).
Explanation of The 60-Second Aquinas Lesson
