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How long is the Summa

Author

John Campbell

Updated on April 19, 2026

Some facts. The Summa (the conventional short name for the book) is in three parts, the second divided into two parts, with 512 Questions, 2,669 Articles, and about 10,000 objections and replies, overall about 1.8 million words, nowadays in nearly 3000 double-columned pages.

How many pages is the Summa?

ISBN-13:9781542352925Publication date:01/02/2017Pages:752Sales rank:923,024Product dimensions:5.98(w) x 9.02(h) x 1.50(d)

What are the 3 parts of the Summa?

The Summa is divided into three parts that may be said to treat of God, Man, and Christ (or the God-Man).

How long does it take to read the Summa Theologica?

The average reader will spend 50 hours and 57 minutes reading this book at 250 WPM (words per minute).

What is the study of God called?

Definition of theology 1 : the study of religious faith, practice, and experience especially : the study of God and of God’s relation to the world.

Should you read Summa Theologica?

Yes. This I can answer with no equivocation. If one spent years absorbing it, it would be worth it. If for no other reason than the Summa is one of the great, foundational works of Western philosophy as well as Christian theology.

Who wrote Summa Theologica?

With these words, Thomas Aquinas concluded his brief introduction to his “Summa Theologica” (written between 1265 and 1274), which remains one of the most important documents in the history of Christianity.

How many volumes are there in Summa Theologica?

Divided into three parts, the work consists of 38 tracts, 631 questions, about 3000 articles, 10,000 objections and their answers. This complete edition of the work, published in five volumes, was translated into English by the Fathers of the Dominican Province and first appeared in 1911.

How long is Aquinas Summa Theologica?

Some facts. The Summa (the conventional short name for the book) is in three parts, the second divided into two parts, with 512 Questions, 2,669 Articles, and about 10,000 objections and replies, overall about 1.8 million words, nowadays in nearly 3000 double-columned pages.

What was the lifetime of Thomas Aquinas?

Thomas Aquinas (1225–1274) lived at a critical juncture of western culture when the arrival of the Aristotelian corpus in Latin translation reopened the question of the relation between faith and reason, calling into question the modus vivendi that had obtained for centuries.

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What does Summa Contra Gentiles mean in English?

A longer title is also given as Tractatus de fide catholica, contra Gentiles (or: contra errores infidelium), meaning “Tractate on the universal faith, against the pagans” (or, against the errors of the unbelievers).

Which book of Thomas Aquinas records 5 ways to find God?

The Quinque viæ (Latin for “Five Ways”) (sometimes called “five proofs”) are five logical arguments for the existence of God summarized by the 13th-century Catholic philosopher and theologian St. Thomas Aquinas in his book Summa Theologica.

What does sed contra mean?

A short counter-statement is given, beginning with the phrase sed contra (‘on the contrary…’). This statement almost always references authoritative literature, such as the Bible, Aristotle, or the Church Fathers.

What is the Summa Theologica summary?

The Summa Theologica focuses on religious matters pertinent to the organization and doctrine of the Catholic faith, discussions of virtues and the Sacraments, and the nature of the Christian triune God and His creation.

Is God the Father?

In much of modern Christianity, God is addressed as the Father, in part because of his active interest in human affairs, in the way that a father would take an interest in his children who are dependent on him and as a father, he will respond to humanity, his children, acting in their best interests.

How much money does a theologian make?

Most work at four-year colleges, earning an average of $73,130 per year. Those employed by junior colleges earn less, averaging $66,280 per year. The few theologists employed directly by religious organizations reported the lowest average salary, $52,370 per year.

What religion is seminary school?

A seminary, school of theology, theological seminary, or divinity school is an educational institution for educating students (sometimes called seminarians) in scripture, theology, generally to prepare them for ordination to serve as clergy, in academics, or in Christian ministry.

Who wrote Summa Contra Gentiles?

About the Author Thomas Aquinas (1225-1274) is a Doctor of the church. He was an Italian Dominican friar and Roman Catholic priest who was an influential philosopher, theologian, and jurist in the tradition of scholasticism.

Who is the philosopher according to Aquinas?

Unlike many currents in the Catholic Church of the time, Thomas embraced several ideas put forward by Aristotle — whom he called “the Philosopher” — and attempted to synthesize Aristotelian philosophy with the principles of Christianity.

Why did Thomas Aquinas write the Summa Theologica?

Thomas Aquinas’s Summa theologiae holds a unique place in Western religion and philosophy. Written between 1266 and 1273, it was conceived by Aquinas as an instructional guide for teachers and novices and a compendium of all the approved teachings of the Catholic Church.

What should I read before Aquinas?

  • Not specifically a commentary on the Summa, but its helpful as a bridge from Thomistic philosophy to his Theology: Reality, A Synthesis of Thomistic Thought.
  • The One God, A Commentary on the First Part of the Summa.
  • The Trinity and God the Creator: A Commentary on St. …
  • Beatitude: A Commentary on St.

Should I read Aristotle before Aquinas?

does one necessarily need to read Plato in order to grasp his theory of forms before reading Aristotle; and further still, must one read the two of them in order to read Aquinas? The answer is no. It is not necessary.

What is St Thomas Aquinas known for?

Thomas Aquinas was the greatest of the Scholastic philosophers. He produced a comprehensive synthesis of Christian theology and Aristotelian philosophy that influenced Roman Catholic doctrine for centuries and was adopted as the official philosophy of the church in 1917.

How do you cite Thomas Aquinas Summa Theologica?

Thomas Aquinas’ Summa Theologica – The Summa Theologica of is cited by part (I, I-II, II-II, III), question, and article. For example, ST II-II, q. 23, a. 3, ad 1 means, the second part (half) of the second part, question twenty-three, article three, reply to the first objection.

Did Thomas Aquinas believe in God?

Saint Thomas Aquinas believed that the existence of God could be proven in five ways, mainly by: 1) observing movement in the world as proof of God, the “Immovable Mover”; 2) observing cause and effect and identifying God as the cause of everything; 3) concluding that the impermanent nature of beings proves the …

What is natural law Aquinas?

Aquinas wrote most extensively about natural law. He stated, “the light of reason is placed by nature [and thus by God] in every man to guide him in his acts.” Therefore, human beings, alone among God’s creatures, use reason to lead their lives. This is natural law.

Who disagreed with Thomas Aquinas?

A well-known opponent of Thomism was Canterbury’s Archbishop Robert Kilwardby (1215-1279), who considered some of Thomas’s basic views about nature and divinity almost heretical. About a decade after Thomas died, the Franciscan Order banned the Summa Theologica from those who were untrained in considering his ideas.

What is Summa mean in English?

Definition of summa 1 : a comprehensive treatise especially : one by a scholastic philosopher. 2 : a synthesis or summary of any subject.

How long is the Summa Contra Gentiles?

ISBN-13:9780268016784Publication date:05/01/1975Series:Summa Contra GentilesEdition description:1Pages:320

What is Aquinas proof for God's existence?

Aquinas’s first demonstration of God’s existence is the argument from motion. He drew from Aristotle’s observation that each thing in the universe that moves is moved by something else.

Is the prime mover God?

Aquinas’ arguments for God’s existence … begun with a first or prime mover that had not itself been moved or acted upon by any other agent. Aristotle sometimes called this prime mover “God.” Aquinas understood it as the God of Christianity.