02 March 2009

Paper Season

This afternoon I received another writing assignment, which means that I now have three papers to work on over spring break, which is fast approaching. Tomorrow I have a full slate of classes; on Wednesday I have only Greek in the morning; and then for the remainder of the week, and all of next week, we're on break. Katie is heading off to Slovakia to spend the break at a friend's home there, but the rest of us are staying put. So hopefully I'll get in a good bit of work on these papers. The topics are:

1) Trinity: relate John 5:17-20 to St. Thomas's teaching on the Trinity (especially: trinitarian persons as constituted by relation, and the real identity of relation and essence); 2-5 pages due March 16.

2) Creator & Creation: try to unfold what Aquinas says about the Creator's knowledge of Himself and of His creation; 10(ish) pages due March 24(ish)

3) Christology: christological foundations for the veneration of holy icons; 5-7 pages due April 23.

4 comments:

Anonymous said...

Those are some fascinating topics, John. . .

". . . the real identity of relation and essence"

Meaning that relation and essence are one and the same (at least as pertaining to the persons of the Godhead)?

Unknown said...

That's the idea. The first thing that Aquinas proves after the existence of God (q. 2), is his absolute simplicity (q. 3).

So in God, everything is absolutely identical with everthing else, excepting only the persons in relation to each other.

So, e.g., even God's mercy is absolutely identical with his justice.

By the way, I hope you're thirsty.

Anonymous said...

Not too thirsty! We only brought one.

Anonymous said...

Well, I meant to enjoy your gift on my birthday, but alas, that came and went with the bottle as yet unopened. Perhaps the coming Lord's Day. . .

And thank you, by the way. Thank you very much. . .