Saint Augustine Press has published a new English translation of Thomas Aquinas’ Commentaries on St. Paul’s Epistles to Timothy, Titus, and Philemon (pb., 222 pp). The commentaries are actually lecture notes which are briefer than typical commentaries. However, this is a significant source for those involved in the academic study of these letters, precisely because so many of his concerns and our concerns are different. This is C. S. Lewis’ point in urging us to read old books- to judge the balance of our concerns by comparison with the thoughts of those in previous days.
So far I have dipped into various places and have been intrigued. Aquinas’ comments on 1 Timothy 2 will shock many modern readers. He seems to have no problem with bishops being married in his discussion of 1Timothy 3. One value of these notes is all the quotes from the OT, Apocrypha, and Greek philosophers which Aquinas supplies. This could be a real help to those seeking background parallels.
Posted by Ray Van Neste