Saint Thomas in the Thought of Jacob Arminius

Abstract

The aim of this article is to expose the elements of the theology of Jacob Arminius, which has their foundation in the thought of saint Thomas. Arminius due to his fondness to the Aquinas, was distinguished among the reformed theologians of post-reformation era. The Thomistic character of his doctrines of God, creation and God’s providence partly separated him from the stream of Calvinist theological tradition, in which he was educated.

The Dutch reformer starts his discourse about God, in the pattern of the Angelic Doctor, from the analogical cognition of Creator. Based on this presupposition and metaphysics of Thomas, the leiden’s professor accepted the traditional, scholastic understanding of God as a simple entity, who’s essence and existing are identical. Arminius was also intellectualist by subordinating the will of God to his reason. Natura Dei is perforce good and just, therefore the act of creation is the granting of kindness. God’s providence, that sustains everything in existence, cannot operate against the purposes contained in the bringing of the world to entity. It must be always oriented on what is consistent with the scientia et sapientia Dei. The Dutch reformer just like the Aquinas was not a occasionalist. He was leaving the rightful space for the second causes (causae secundae). The presentation of views of Arminius, on the background of Thomas, leads to a conclusion that he depended on the great master of scholasticism in the main points of his theology.