Via Patrum

On the Imputation of Adam's First Sin · §49

Cap. VII: Praeter aberrationem — Resp. 1 vices (tautology of imputation)

Besides the aberration from the argument there are other vices in the three responses of D. Garissoles, which I will point out in a few words. 1. "We," he says, "contend that there was a certain cause why the Apostle should speak of that imputation. For when he had said that by one man's sin death was brought into the world (Romans 5:12), it could be asked whence that force to that sin, that it brought so great an evil not upon one or another but upon all: Paul answers that it came about thence, that by that one sin all were made liable, or that that one sinning, all are to be understood to have sinned in him and with him." This response, besides that it does not touch the nerve of the argument, makes the Apostle trifling: by merely changing the words he answers the very thing that was being askeddd, and brings forward as the cause of the effect the effect itself whose cause was being sought. For what is it, to the author of this response, that sin entered into the world? nothing, except that actual sin was imputed to all men. That is clearest from this very chapter 8, §. 8, p. 217 of his, and from some other places. What again is it to him that all sinned in Adam? that, he says, can certainly not be better expounded than if we say that Adam's sin is imputed to all — the same chapter, §. 10, p. 222. To one asking, therefore, why Adam's actual sin is imputed to all unto death, the Apostle will have answered: because it is imputed to all. To one asking whence that force to that sin, that it is imputed not to one or another but to all, he answers that it came about thence, that it is imputed to all. What is it to trifle, if this is not?

Latin

Praeter aberrationem ab argumento sunt alia vitia in responsionibus tribus D. G. quae paucis indicabo. 1. Nos, inquit, pertendimus certam fuisse causam, quare de imputatione illa loqueretur Apostolus. Nam cum dixisset, unius hominis peccato mortem fuisse introductam in mundum, quaeri potuit, unde ea vis illi peccato, ut tantum mali non in unum aut alterum, sed in omnes invexerit: Respondet Paulus, illud inde factum, quod uno illo peccato omnes rei facti sint, sive quod uno illo peccante omnes in illo et cum illo peccavisse intelligendi sunt. Haec responsio, praeter quam quod non tangit nervum argumenti, Apostolum facit nugantem, et mutatis tantum verbis idipsum quod quaerebatur respondentem, ac pro causa effectus ipsum effectum, cujus causa quaerebatur, afferentem. Quid enim est hujus responsionis autori, peccatum in mundum introiisse? nihil, nisi peccatum actuale omnibus hominibus imputatum fuisse. Id patet clarissime ex hoc ipso ejus cap. 8. §. 8. p. 217. et aliis aliquot locis. Quid rursus ei est in Adamo omnes peccavisse? id sane, inquit, melius exponi non potest, quam si dicamus peccatum Adae omnibus imputari. eodem cap. §. 10. p. 222. Quaerenti ergo cur peccatum actuale Adami omnibus imputetur ad mortem, Responderit Apostolus, quia omnibus imputatur. Quaerenti, unde ea vis illi peccato, ut imputetur non uni aut alteri, sed omnibus, respondet illud inde factum, quod illud imputetur omnibus. Quid est nugari, si hoc non est?

About this text

New English, free to read. Open any section below.

English follows the locked 1661 Saumur Latin of Capita I–XIV partial through Man. Post. No modern English was copied. Cap. IX deepen+ remain.

Catalogue & scope

IA deimputationepri00lapl. Densify: Capita I–XII + Caput XIV + Man. Post. Cap. II–VI through Cap. X Rom. 5:14 tip. Not whole Disputatio; Cap. X Rom. 5:14+ / ~494 pp Disputatio remain.

Witnesses

This is an AI-assisted study translation. Source fidelity and completeness have not been independently certified. Open Latin on each section (or the Latin source witness link) for the source text. This is not a complete critical edition.