Book Reviews2 The Westminster Handbook to Thomas Aquinas

May 23, 2008

Book written by: Joseph P. Wawrykow

 

This handbook is a collection of terms used by St. Thomas Aquinas in his various works especially his most famous, Summa Theologiae.  This handbook by Dr. Joseph P. Wawrykow is arranged in the A to Z format with articles on various terms that vary in length.  Most are not short.  This handbook is not for general readers.  In the introduction Wawrykow says, “The handbook aims at providing newcomers to Aquinas with a reliable guide to his teaching; it should prove of value as well to more experienced readers of Aquinas.”  It is for those reading or working with the works of St. Thomas Aquinas.

 

Wawrykow provides a short biography of St. Thomas Aquinas in the introduction and an outline of the Summa.  At the end of each article, he makes available cross referencing within the articles and secondary sources.  Terms he provides are: church, cross, God, law, person, real presence, temptation, trinity, and others.  Wawrykow also offers a list of some of the key Latin terms St. Thomas uses in his works with English translations or definitions of the words. 

 

There are two bibliographies, the primary one, which is of St. Thomas’ works, and a secondary one which is about the writings of St. Thomas. 

 

This is an academic handbook that will be of high interest to those studying or working with the works of St. Thomas Aquinas.  It is part of The Westminster Handbooks to Christian Theology.

 

Joseph P. Wawrykow received his Ph.D. from Yale University.  He is associate professor of theology at the University of Notre Dame specializing in the history of Christianity.  He is the author of The SCM Press A to Z of Thomas Aquinas (2005) and of God’s Grace and Human Action:  ‘Merit’ in the theology of Thomas Aquinas (1995).