Dist. 1, Divisio Textus
by St. Bonaventure
Source text: Public Domain Mark 1.0. English translation/apparatus/encoding: CC BY-NC 4.0, Wroot Press.
https://bonaventure.wrootpress.com/browse/3/d/1/q/bon-sent-III-d1-divisio
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## COMMENTARY ON DISTINCTION I.

### *On the union of the natures in Christ from the side of the person assuming.*

*"When therefore the fullness of time came," etc.*

### DIVISION OF THE TEXT.

Since, therefore, in this book, which begins thus: *"When therefore the fullness of time came," etc.*, the Master intends to determine in what manner God made us alive together with Christ, this book is to be divided into four parts according to the four things which were said above. In the first of these the Master determines concerning the union of the natures in Christ, through which we are said to be made alive together *in* Christ. — In the second he determines in what manner He conformed Himself to our infirmities, by which we are said to be made alive together *with* Christ. And this second part begins below in the twelfth distinction: *"It is also wont to be asked, whether another man, or from another source," etc.* — In the third he determines in what manner through His death He freed us from death, by which we are said to be made alive *through* Christ, below in the nineteenth distinction: *"Now let us ask, in what manner through His death," etc.* — In the fourth and last he determines in what manner the habits of the virtues were in Christ, and in what manner they ought to be in those who imitate Him, by which it is said that God made us alive according to Christ, below in the twenty-third distinction: *"But since it has been treated above, that Christ," etc.*

Or otherwise: since in this book it is treated in what manner God made us alive together with Christ, and Christ made us alive by assuming the life of our nature and by imparting to us the life of grace; therefore this book has two parts. In the first it is treated of the life which Christ assumed for us; in the second, however, of the life which He conferred upon us, below in the twenty-third distinction: *"But since it has been treated above," etc.*, where it is treated of the virtues, gifts, and precepts.

The first part has two, in the first of which the Master determines concerning the incarnation of the Word, that is, concerning the assumption of our life made by the Word in itself or absolutely; in the second, however, insofar as it is ordered to our redemption, below in the twelfth distinction: *"It is also wont to be asked, whether another man," etc.*

The first part, where the Master determines concerning the union of the natures in Christ, is divided into three parts. In the first the Master shows that in Christ there was a union of diverse natures. In the second, however, he inserts the mode of uniting and of assuming, below in the fifth distinction: *"Moreover, it must be inquired."* In the third, however, in what manner through that union there comes to be a communication of idi-
omata and of properties, below in the eighth distinction: *"After the foregoing it must be inquired," etc.* — The first part is divided into two. In the first it is treated of the union of the natures; in the second of the conception of Christ, below in the third distinction: *"It is also asked concerning the flesh of the Word."* The first part is divided into two parts. In the first he determines concerning the union of the natures in Christ from the side of the person assuming; in the second from the side of the nature assumed, below in the second distinction: *"And since in man the whole human nature."*

The first part, which contains the present distinction, is divided into three parts. In the first the Master shows that the incarnation was made in the person of the Son, by the authority of the Apostle. Secondly, however, he inquires the reason of this in the second chapter, there: *"But it must be diligently noted," etc.* In the third, however, he removes a doubt, there: *"But if it is asked, whether the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit," etc.* The subdivisions of the parts, however, are manifest in the text.

### TREATMENT OF THE QUESTIONS.

Now for the understanding of this part there falls here a question concerning the incarnation with respect to two articles.

First it is asked concerning the incarnation itself with respect to the possibility of the union.

Secondly it is asked concerning the incarnation with respect to the fittingness of the union.

Concerning the first, four [questions] are asked.

First it is asked, whether the divine nature could be united with the human nature.

Secondly it is asked, whether one person could be united without another.

Thirdly, however, it is asked, whether one person could be united together with another.

Fourthly it is asked, whether any of the three persons could be incarnated through itself.