Modus Revelatio: The Vice of Aquinas

Much within Aquinas’ doctrine of revelation goes beyond Biblical warrant. First, Aquinas overextends the hierarchy of inspiration and intellect found in Scripture. Whereas the apostles received direct, divine inspiration to write the Scriptures, no evidence, either Scripturally or in early Church history, exists that the Biblical office of “Apostle” persisted after the death of John. Putting aside the Catholic-Protestant debates of apostolic authority and papal infallibility, however, Aquinas’ entire hierarchy of intellects seemingly contradicts Scriptural material on illumination. Paul writes that all believers are indwelled by the Holy Spirit. Furthermore, Christ taught that the Spirit of God teaches, guides in truth, and discloses both the truth and the nature of God to all believers. Because the Holy Spirit ministers to believers indiscriminately, the Spirit speaks through the Bible equally in order to illuminate all believers. Though instruction and discipleship are extremely valuable in the development and maturation of a believer, all one really requires to comprehend God are the Scriptures and the Holy Spirit. Since all believers are equally justified and reconciled to God through one faith by one baptism, all receive the same one indwelling of the Spirit.
Second, Aquinas’ dichotomy between faith and knowledge further lacks Biblical warrant. Scripture primarily teaches that the Holy Spirit helps to generate faith in believers. Prior to this imputation of faith, the Spirit convicts sinful man of his corruption. In order to convict as well as to regenerate, the Spirit must bestow to man knowledge of the truth of the Word of God. The entire mode and process of the formulation of salvific faith seems Scripturally predicated upon real, comprehensive knowledge. While knowledge alone is insufficient for faith, faith apart from personal knowledge of Christ is impossible. Paul exhorts believers to have the mind of Christ and to set one’s mind on heavenly things. The call to Christ and Godly living extends beyond irrational, blind faith and submission to ecclesiastical instruction. Rather, Scripture teaches that the most faithful, Godly persons will possess the greatest knowledge of the Triune God. Faith cannot be separated or disjointed from Godly knowledge.