I. OF GOD'S EXISTENCE
Does God exist?
Yes, God exists (II.).
Why do you say that God exists?
Because if God did not exist, nothing would exist. (II. 3).
How do you prove that if God did not exist nothing would exist?
It is proved by this argument: That which exists through God only, would not exist if God did not exist. But whatever exists that is not God, exists through God only. Therefore, if God did not exist nothing would exist.
But how do you prove that whatever exists that is not God, exists through God only?
By this argument: Final analysis shows that that which does not exist of itself, can only exist through some other which exists of itself; and this latter we call God. But whatever exists that is not God, does not exist of itself. Therefore final analysis shows that whatever exists that whatever is not God, exists through God only.
But how do you prove that whatever exists that is not God, does not exist of itself?
By this argument: That does not exist of itself, which has need of some other. But whatever exists that is not God, has need of some other. Therefore whatever exists that is not God, does not exist of itself.
But why is it that whatsoever has need of another, does not exist of itself?
Because that which exists of itself, neither depends nor could it depend upon anything or anybody; on the other hand, whatever has need of something or somebody, depends upon this something or this somebody.
But why do you assert that what exists of itself neither depends nor could depend on something or on somebody?
Because, existing of itself, it has everything in itself and through itself, and can receive nothing either from anything or from anybody.
Therefore every existing thing that has need of some other manifestly proves by its very existence that God exists?
Yes. Every existing thing that has need of some other manifestly proves by its very existence that God exists.
Pegues OP, R P Thomas. Catechism of the "Summa Theologica" of Saint Thomas Aquinas for the Use of the Faithful (pp. 19-21). Veritatis Splendor Publications. Kindle Edition.
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