Course of Theology - Volume I - João Poinsot

This first volume introduces John of St. Thomas’s Course of Theology, a systematic presentation of scholastic theology rooted in the Thomistic tradition of Thomas Aquinas. It functions as a foundational guide for understanding theology as a rigorous science grounded in divine revelation and rational analysis.

The work typically begins with preliminary questions concerning the nature of sacred theology itself—its object, method, and principles. John of St. Thomas carefully explains how theology differs from philosophy while remaining a science that employs philosophical reasoning in service of revealed truth.

A central focus is the structure of theological knowledge, including the role of faith, authority, and the principles of deduction from revealed premises. The volume also lays out the intellectual tools required for later dogmatic study, emphasizing clarity in conceptual distinctions and precision in argumentation.

Throughout, the work reflects the mature scholastic method of the early modern Dominican tradition, combining metaphysical rigor with pedagogical clarity. It prepares the reader for more advanced theological treatises by establishing the epistemological and methodological foundations of systematic theology.