Dominican Anti-Thomism: James of Metz’s Question on Divine Foreknowledge, with a Rebuttal from the Correctorium Iacobi Metensis
Dominican Anti-Thomism: James of Metz’s Question on Divine Foreknowledge, with a Rebuttal from the Correctorium Iacobi Metensis

Summary/Abstract: This article presents a critical edition of the Dominican James of Metz’s question on divine foreknowledge from book I of his Sentences commentary. Although James was known for his occasional opposition to the teaching doctor of his order, Thomas Aquinas, on numerous issues, divine foreknowledge is the only one on which James opposed Aquinas explicitly. The question survives in two basic redactions, printed in parallel columns, based on lectures given around 1300, first in a provincial studium and then probably at Paris. Both redactions had an impact. The author of the so-called Correctorium of James’ commentary attacked the partially surviving additiones redaction, extant in one witness, and an edition of this rebuttal is also published here. Elements from the most popular redaction, contained in seven codices, were adopted by Durand of Saint-Pourçain, James’ junior confrère, whose own doctrine in turn had a positive or negative impact on several theologians within and outside the Friars Preachers. As late as 1370 the Cistercian James of Eltville quoted James of Metz’s presentation of Aquinas’ position verbatim.

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