Course of Theology - Volume Four I - João Poinsot

This fourth volume (Part I) of John of St. Thomas’s Course of Theology continues his systematic exposition of Thomistic doctrine within the scholastic tradition of Thomas Aquinas, shifting from creation to the study of rational creatures, especially angels.

The work begins with angelology, treating angels as purely spiritual substances endowed with intellect and will. John of St. Thomas carefully analyzes their nature, mode of knowledge, and manner of volition, emphasizing their immateriality and immediate intellectual cognition.

A significant portion is devoted to the hierarchy and distinctions among angels, including their ordering, communication, and role within divine providence. He also addresses questions concerning angelic freedom, merit, and the possibility of sin, particularly in relation to the fallen angels.

Throughout the volume, Poinsot applies his characteristic scholastic precision, using metaphysical distinctions to clarify the structure and operations of purely spiritual beings. The result is a systematic account of angelic nature as part of the created order, situated between God and material creation in the hierarchy of being.