Dist. 38, 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/38/q/bon-sent-III-d38-divisio
----------------------------------------
## COMMENTARY ON DISTINCTION XXXVIII.
### *On lying.*

*Nevertheless it must be known that there are three kinds of lies, etc.*

### DIVISION OF THE TEXT.

> The numbered footnotes below correspond to markers in both the Latin body above and the English translation; each entry gives the Latin apparatus note (**La.**) followed by an English rendering (**En.**).

Above, the Master treated of the exposition of the commandments, but in this part he intends to treat of the obliquities which are opposed to those commandments and prohibited by them. Now this part is divided into two. In the first of these he determines concerning lying. In the second, concerning perjury, there: *Now let us consider perjury.*

But the first part, in which he treats of lying, is divided into three parts. In the first of these he determines concerning the species and differences of lying. In the second he determines what lying is, and what it is to lie, there: *Here it must be seen what lying is*. But in the third he determines concerning those things which follow upon lying, there: *That also must be known, that in certain matters, etc.*

The first part is divided into two parts. In the first of these he sets down a threefold division of lying. But in the second he adds another division of eight members, there: *It must be known also that there are eight kinds of lying.*

Likewise the second principal part is divided into two. In the first of these the Master determines what lying is, and what it is to lie according to the thing itself. But in the second he determines what it is according to the deformity of the vice, there: *That every lie is a sin, etc.*

Likewise the third part is divided into two. In the first of these he shows that not every deception is of equal peril. But in the second he inquires whether Jacob lied, there: *It is also wont to be asked concerning Jacob, etc.*

### TREATMENT OF THE QUESTIONS.

Now for the understanding of this part six things can be briefly asked.

*First*, it is asked whether it is essential to every lie to be false.

*Second*, it is asked whether it is essential to a lie to be a sin.

*Third*, it is asked whether a lie is a mortal sin by reason of its kind.

*Fourth*, it is asked whether every lie is mortal for perfect men.

*Fifth*, it is asked concerning the number of lies.

*Sixth and last*, it is asked concerning the degrees of the same.

### SOLE ARTICLE.
### *On lying.*