St. Thomas Aquinas Summa Theologica (5 volume set) [Paperback]

Thomas Aquinas (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0870610694 | ISBN-13: 978-0870610691 | Publication Date: June 1, 1981

Thomas Aquinas' best-known work is the Summa Theologica. As the title indicates, the Summa is a "summing up" of all that can be known about Christian theology.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Thomas Aquinas lived in the thirteenth century. He is one of the foremost theological saints in the world.

Product Details

• Paperback: 3020 pages
• Publisher: Christian Classics (June 1, 1981)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0870610694
• ISBN-13: 978-0870610691
• Product Dimensions: 10.7 x 9.2 x 6.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #156,558 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

38 of 42 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars mind boggling masterpiece, August 2, 2000

By 

louis smith - See all my reviews

This review is from: St. Thomas Aquinas Summa Theologica (5 volume set) (Paperback)

Thomas Aquinas has written a masterwork. Using the method of looking at the objections to a subject, then looking at the arguments for it, he comes up with the answer to many difficult theological and philosophical questions. He discusses who God is, the nature of man and his place in the universe, the signs of the hebrews concerning the end of days, the nature of the soul, what happens to the universe after Christs second coming, and a wealth of fascinating and intresting insights in the christian religion. The book is dense with information just waiting to be mined. I wish I could give it more than a thousand stars. It is brilliant. Thomas is a true scholar and a great mind. The set is somewhat expensive, but more than worth it!

63 of 83 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars By any standard, a double diamond!, November 9, 2001

By 

Kendal B. Hunter (Provo, UT United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: St. Thomas Aquinas Summa Theologica (5 volume set) (Paperback)

I am not Roman Catholic, but a memebr of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Despite any denominational differences I may have, I am awed by this book. Considering Aquinas had no computers, no electricity, and no spell-check, he managed to write a lengthy bok that would embarress most Ph.D's with an army of research assistants, expense accounts, and unlimited acess to LEXIS-NEXUS. Indeed, I belive much criticism of Aquinas comes from ignorance, or a deep-seated admiration and jealousy.

This is a standard work of Roman Catholic dogman and philosophical brainwork. It is a sumation of Catholic theology, systematized and organized. Aquinas covers several thousand questions relating to Catholic theology and philosophy, provides sharp questions and sound answers to objections. One of the questions gives a thumb-print of his mind: "Could [God] made the past not to have been?" (ST I-I.25.4) And Gov. Jesse Ventura said that religious people are weak-minded! By the way, Aquinas says no, since that would imply a contradiction, which is outsie of God's power.

This book and translation also has the "nihil obstant" and "imprimature," whic is latin for "Good Housekeeping Seal of Approval." This translation has passed the Catholic censoring board and can be considered authoriative.

The only drawback is it's bulk--and therefore it is a rather awkward book to use. The internal organization helps to overcome this deficit, but a six volume with a thorough index would help. Peter Kreeft has a streamiled version of this book called "A Summa of the Summa," and an even slimmer volume called "A Shorter Summa," which is a summa of "A Summa of the Summa." These smaller books should hep you navigat the large book.

The cover is conservative and suits the majesty of the interior contents, and the print and paper are excellent and durable. The prose is readable, which a laudable since there is a temptation to latinize the English. This keeps the translation faithful, but makes the book unreadable, and the good Brothers avided this pitfall majestically.

As I said, I am not Catholic, but admiration for Aquinas's endeavor *is* universal. I recommend this book for any hard-core scholar or library aquisitionarian, but for person use, I would recommend Kreeft's excerpts, or Penguin's "Selected Writings" for the undergrad, or ambition high-schooler.

11 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars SUPREME EXCELLENCE., April 5, 2006

By 

A. Romero "NAVY78" (Stamford, CT) - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: St. Thomas Aquinas Summa Theologica (5 volume set) (Paperback)

St.Thomas Aquinas has always been a very solid and firm foundation for the Church. I have always loved this Saint from the very first days of becoming a Roman Catholic. I am amazed at the excellence of this work and constantly refer to this work for any of my own personal questions I may have about God. This is an awesome set to own ! I highly recommend to purchase your own set of the Summa. Thanks to God for giving us this wonderful Saint ...........the Great St. Thomas Aquinas.