Dist. 4, 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/4/q/bon-sent-III-d4-divisio
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## COMMENTARY ON DISTINCTION IV.

### *On the conception of Christ itself.*

*But since the incarnation of the Word, etc.*

### DIVISION OF THE TEXT.

Above the Master determined concerning the sanctification of the Virgin, which was a preamble to the conception of Christ. In this part he determines concerning the conception of the Lord itself. And since the conception of Christ has a relation to the Holy Spirit who makes fruitful and to the Virgin who conceives, therefore this part has two parts. In the first of them he determines concerning the conception of Christ in relation to the Holy Spirit. In the second he determines concerning it in relation to the Virgin, at: *But it can be asked, since we profess the Savior to have been born.* The first part is divided into three parts. In the first of them he sets forth or expresses the truth, assigning why the mystery of the incarnation is to be attributed to the Holy Spirit. In the second he removes a doubt arising from the things that have been said, at: *But there is no need to linger here longer.* In the third he subjoins a fuller explanation of the foregoing, at: *Truly that manner, by which Christ was born of Mary,* etc.

The first part has two. In the first he expresses the truth. In the second he confirms it by authority, at: *Hence Augustine, raising a question about this.* Likewise the second part, in which he removes the doubt, is divided into two. In the first part he sets forth the question. In the second the solution, at: *But it is not to be conceded.* In the same way the third part, where he sets forth the explanation, is divided into two. In the first of them he sets forth one manner of explaining according to Augustine; in the second another, at: *Christ can also be said according to the man,* etc.

### TREATMENT OF THE QUESTIONS.

For the understanding of this part there arises here a question concerning the conception of Christ with regard to three things.

For first it is asked concerning the conception itself in relation to the Holy Spirit who effects it.

Secondly concerning it with regard to the grace that intervenes.

Thirdly concerning it with regard to the Virgin who conceives.

For the Master touches on these three things in the text.

Concerning the first, three things are asked.

First it is asked whether the incarnation or conception of the Son of God ought to be appropriated to the person of the Holy Spirit.

Secondly it is asked whether Christ ought to be called the son of the Holy Spirit.

Thirdly it is asked whether Christ can be called the son of the Trinity.

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