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John Of St. Thomas On How Certain Words Exclude All Exceptions
John of St. Thomas (a prominent 17th century theologian) made an interesting statement about how certain words in dogmatic pronouncements necessarily exclude all exceptions. In the passage below he’s referring to the absolute requirement of supernatural faith. However, the point he makes also applies to the absolute requirement of the Catholic faith and baptism for salvation, since similar language is used in dogmatic texts about baptism and the Catholic faith. John of St. Thomas says that general statements, such as we see in the Athanasian Creed, and words like nulli (to no one) and nunquam (never) exclude all exceptions.
John of St. Thomas, Cursus Theologi In Secundam Secundae D. Thomas, 1663, p. 50: “Supernatural faith is so necessary for salvation that in no case can it be supplied by something else. The conclusion is understood concerning habitual faith in children, which is infused simultaneously with grace, but concerning actual faith in adults… certainly the passages cited in the first proposition [about the necessity of supernatural faith] are so general [e.g. Athanasian Creed, Heb. 11:6, ita generalia sunt] that they admit of no exception, especially that of Trent there cited, to which can be added what the same council says, Sess. 6, Chap. 7: without faith justification never comes to anyone. It excludes all persons in that word nulli, and all times and places in that word nunquam.”
As an example of how such language is used for the absolute necessity of water baptism for salvation, see this video/article: No One Can Be Forgiven Without This
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