Compendium of Theology, by Thomas Aquinas, trans. Richard J. Regan,. (NY: Oxford University Press, 2009). $19.95.
Richard J. Regan is a retired Professor of Political Science at Fordham University; he has translated numerous other works of Aquinas, including the De Malo. This translation is based upon the Leonine edition of Thomas Aquinas, Opera Omnia, vol. 42 (Rome: Dominican Friars of San Tommaso, 1979). Editorially, Regan inserts via brackets intertextual references by Aquinas, as well as scriptural references; beyond these additions, the text is rendered as Aquinas himself would have done (if he had written in English). Thus it is profitable to move into a short review of the text itself.
Written toward the end of his life, this compendium was intentioned to be a non-academic introduction, of sorts, to his more expansive Summa Theologiae. And although this text is probably one of the most neglected works of his, it nevertheless presents a concise introduction to Aquinas’s thought, as the prologue makes clear. It is supposed that the title was intentioned to consist of three parts, covering faith, hope, and charity, respectively; unfortunately, Aquinas was only able to complete the part regarding faith and begin the part regarding hope prior to his death.
Aquinas begins by explaining faith in relation to the so-called Apostle’s Creed and the Nicene-Constantinopolitan Creed. As described by Regan, the book on faith has a two-fold object: 1). The unity of the divine essence, and 2). The humanity of Christ. Notably, Aquinas herein follows the precedent regarding the treatment of the Trinity laid forth by his predecessor, Augustine. As such, he describes the Trinity as three persons, two processions, and one God. Aquinas argues that although reason can prove that God exists, the verity of the Trinity is an object of faith alone. After considering God in himself, Aquinas deals with Christ’s humanity, following successively the articles of the Creeds. The (incomplete) second book of this Compendium, covering hope, is based upon the structure of the Lord’s Prayer.
All in all, one would be greatly enriched by reading this fresh translation of Aquinas’ Compendium of Theology. I know that I was…
Bradford McCall
Regent University