Dist. 19, Art. 2, Q. 1
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/19/q/bon-sent-III-d19-a2-q1
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### Article II. *On the person of the redeemer and mediator.*

Next inquiry is made concerning the person of the redeemer and mediator, through whom reconciliation was made. And about this two questions are asked.

The first is whether the Son alone is the redeemer, or also the Father and the Holy Spirit.

The second is according to which nature he is the mediator.

### Question I. *Whether the Son alone is the redeemer, or also the Father and the Holy Spirit.*

Concerning the first the matter is approached thus, and it is shown that the Son alone is the redeemer.

*Arguments for the first part.*
1. Apocalypse, chapter five: *Thou hast redeemed us, O God, in thy blood out of every tribe and tongue* etc.: therefore if the Son alone shed his blood for us, the Son alone redeemed us.

2. Likewise, he alone has redeemed us who made satisfaction for us; but the Son alone made satisfaction for us: therefore etc.

3. Likewise, our redemption was made through the passion; therefore redemption pertains to that person alone to whom the passion pertains; but the Son alone suffered: therefore etc.

4. Likewise, Christ redeemed us either according to the divine nature or according to the human nature. If according to the divine: then he assumed the human nature to this end in vain. If according to the human; but the Son alone assumed the human nature: therefore the Son alone redeemed us.

*For the second part.*
**On the contrary:** 1. « The works of the Trinity are undivided »: therefore if to redeem is a work befitting the Son, it is necessary that it befit the Father and the Holy Spirit.

2. Likewise, it belongs to him to redeem whose it is to give the price for the thing bought; but the Father gave his Only-begotten for the salvation of the human race, according to what is said in John, chapter three: *So God loved the world that he gave his only-begotten Son*: therefore the Father redeemed us: therefore the Son alone is not the redeemer.

3. Likewise, it belongs to him to redeem whose it is to possess the redeemed; but the whole Trinity possesses us: therefore the whole Trinity redeemed us.

4. Likewise, this same thing seems [proved] by the authority of the Master in the text: « The redeemer is sometimes also called the Father and the Holy Spirit in Scripture »: therefore if Scripture says nothing but what is true and catholic, to redeem does not pertain to the Son alone.

### Conclusion.

> *Christ alone is our redeemer as to execution and authority, although as to authority the Father and the Holy Spirit also have redeemed us.*

**I respond:** It must be said that the work of redemption can be attributed to someone in two ways: either as to the principal author, or as to the one executing it. And in both ways it befits Christ: Christ, I say, as God it befits as author, but Christ as man it befits as the one executing. — When, therefore, someone is called redeemer, this can be said in two ways: either from the authority of the redemption, or from authority together with execution. If from authority, then it befits not only the Son, but indeed also the Father and the Holy Spirit, on account of the fact that « the works of the Trinity are undivided ». But if from execution, then it regards the humanity, which was assumed by the Word alone; and in this way it befits the Son alone, and this is what the Master says in the text: « The redeemer is sometimes called the Father and the Holy Spirit, but this on account of the use of power, not on account of the exhibition of humility. For according to the use of power together with obedience the Son is properly called redeemer »; and afterward he concludes: « He is therefore redeemer, insofar as he is God, by the use of power; insofar as he is man, by the effect of humility ».

From these things it is plain in what manner it befits the Son to be redeemer, and according to which nature. For in a certain way it befits him according to the human nature, in a certain way according to the divine; and in the first way it befits the Son alone, in the second way it befits the Son together with the Father and the Holy Spirit. — And through this the response to the proposed question is plain. The response to the arguments for either part is also plain; for they proceed according to these two ways, as is apparent to one who attends.