The Nature of Good
405
| Name and Summary | Pages |
|---|---|
This chapter asserts that the highest good is God, who is unchangeable, eternal, and the root of all other good things. | 1 |
This chapter explains that all of creation, including spirits and bodies, is fundamentally good by nature. | 1 |
This chapter explains that all good things originate from God, who is the ultimate source of measure, form, and order in creation. | 1 |
This chapter explains that evil is fundamentally a form of corruption within nature, rather than a separate substance. | 1 |
This chapter discusses the idea that a more excellent yet corrupt nature can be considered better than a less excellent but incorrupt one, especially when judged by natural measure and form. | 1 |
This chapter explains that the highest good is a nature that cannot be corrupted, which is God, as corruption destroys all measures, forms, and order. | 1 |
This chapter explains that rational beings are offered the choice to remain uncorrupted by obeying God and maintaining His perfect beauty, or to be corrupted through their own willful sins. | 1 |
This chapter explains that created things made from nothing are neither blessed nor miserable because their goodness depends on their proportion and order, which ultimately derives from God. | 1 |
This chapter discusses the divine authority of divine judgment in determining appropriate punishment for faults and emphasizes that God's judgment is just whether he chooses to forgive or punish. | 1 |
This chapter explains that all corruptible natures derive their existence from God and possess their qualities because of their creation by Him. | 1 |
This chapter explains that God's nature cannot be harmed, nor can any subordinate nature suffer unjust harm. | 1 |
This chapter emphasizes that all true goodness originates solely from God, and any misconception to the contrary leads to blasphemy. | 1 |
This chapter asserts that all good things—such as life, power, safety, memory, virtue, and beauty—are ultimately sourced from God, and once these are removed, no true nature remains. | 1 |
This chapter suggests that in the realm of goodness, smaller or lesser things are often misjudged or misunderstood in relation to greater, more perfect forms. | 1 |
This chapter explains that even apparent reversals or absences, such as corruption harming a body or silence replacing voice, still somehow retain an essential connection to their opposites, illustrating that true goodness remains intact despite superficial damage or negation. | 1 |
This chapter explores the idea that privations and absences in nature are intentionally ordered by God to reflect a divine harmony. | 1 |
This chapter explains that no natural entity is intrinsically evil; rather, evil arises from the diminishment or corruption of good within a nature. | 1 |
This chapter explores the nature of matter (Hyle) and its moral status, emphasizing that material itself is not inherently evil. | 1 |
This chapter explains that God’s statement "I am that I am" signifies His unchangeable and true nature, which is the foundation of all being and goodness. | 1 |
This chapter argues that pain, whether in the mind or body, can only exist within good natures and often signifies a resistance to something better. | 1 |
This chapter explains that even small or simple things are said to have measure because they possess some form of order or limit. | 1 |
This chapter explains that God cannot be described as having measure or limit, because doing so would imply imperfection or restriction. | 1 |
This chapter explains that something is considered bad when its measure, form, or order is lacking, misplaced, or unsuitable. | 1 |
This chapter explains that faith is supported by divine Scriptures, especially for those with lesser understanding, emphasizing the importance of divine authority over human reasoning. | 1 |
This chapter emphasizes the importance of understanding that the phrase "nothing" in the context of creation does not imply the absence of all existence, but rather signifies the absence of something specific in relation to God. | 2 |
This chapter explains that God's creation of all things from nothing demonstrates His divine power and authority. | 1 |
This chapter explains the distinction between "from Him" and "of Him," emphasizing that not everything that originates from God should be inherently considered as belonging to His substance. | 1 |
This chapter emphasizes that all true natures originate from God, but sins are deviations caused by human will rather than by God. | 1 |
This chapter emphasizes that God's incorruptibility and unchangeability mean He remains undefilable, even though all things exist within Him. | 1 |
This chapter emphasizes that God's creation includes even earthly and mortal things, which are considered the least among goods. | 1 |
This chapter discusses the divine nature of judgment, emphasizing that God's judgments are inscrutable and beyond human understanding, and that His goodness and severity are both manifestations of His righteousness. | 1 |
This chapter explains that all power, including harmful or wicked power, ultimately comes from God and serves His divine purpose. | 1 |
This chapter explains that evil angels were not created inherently evil by God but became wicked through their own sin. | 1 |
This chapter explains that sin is not the pursuit of evil itself, but rather abandoning what is better. | 1 |
This chapter explains that God's prohibition regarding the tree was meant to demonstrate that the rational soul should depend on God rather than on itself. | 1 |
This chapter explains that creatures of God, including those in Paradise, are not inherently blameworthy, and even natural elements like thorns and herbs are part of God's ordered creation. | 1 |
This chapter emphasizes that evil arises when beings misuse their proper nature and order, despite the existence of good. | 1 |
This chapter explains that the eternal fire used for punishment is not inherently evil in nature, but becomes evil through its association with the sins of the impious. | 1 |
This chapter explains that true eternity and immortality belong solely to God, distinguishing divine incorruptibility from created, mutable things like fire. | 1 |
This chapter explains that God's nature is incapable of being harmed or causing harm unjustly, according to Catholic doctrine. | 1 |
This chapter critiques the Manichæan view of two opposing natures, emphasizing that even what they call evil contains good elements, and vice versa, thereby illustrating their erroneous perspective on divine and evil natures. | 3 |
This chapter critiques certain heretical views on the nature of good and evil, particularly those that depict God as being involved in a struggle with darkness and evil within Himself. | 4 |
This chapter argues that the existence of evil predates the mingling of good and evil, challenging the Manichaean view that evil originated from the corrupting influence of darkness on light. | 2 |
This chapter critiques the Manichean view that God's presence is intertwined and contaminated with creation through divine powers, which are transformed and manipulated in sacrilegious ways. | 3 |
This chapter critiques the misguided belief that eating and drinking can purify or liberate a divine part within humans, specifically addressing certain heretical teachings. | 1 |
This chapter explores the idea that Adam was created by dark princes to serve their interests, aiming to keep the divine light contained and controlled. | 2 |
This chapter condemns the heinous heresy that corrupts the understanding of the divine nature, linking it to immoral practices and erroneous beliefs, notably the Manichean teachings. | 2 |
This chapter emphasizes God's immense patience, compassion, and mercy toward both the good and the evil, highlighting that His desire is for sinners to repent and live. | 2 |