Ch. 8 - Absence of Succession in God - from "The Compendium of Theology" by Thomas Aquinas

CHAPTER 8 ABSENCE OF SUCCESSION IN GOD

Per hoc autem manifestum est quod in Deo non est aliqua successio; sed eius esse totum est simul. Successio enim non invenitur nisi in illis quae sunt aliqualiter motui subiecta; prius enim et posterius in motu causant temporis successionem. Deus autem nullo modo est motui subiectus, ut ostensum est. Non igitur est in Deo aliqua successio, sed eius esse est totum simul.

Clearly, therefore, no succession occurs in God. His entire existence is simultaneous. Succession is not found except in things that are in some way subject to motion; for prior and posterior in motion cause the succession of time. God, however, is in no sense subject to motion, as has been shown. Accordingly there is no succession in God. His existence is simultaneously whole.

Item. Si alicuius esse non est totum simul, oportet quod ei aliquid deperire possit, et aliquid advenire. Deperit enim illud quod transit, et advenire ei potest illud quod in futurum expectatur. Deo autem nihil deperit nec accrescit, quia immobilis est. Igitur esse eius est totum simul.

Again, if a being’s existence is not simultaneously whole, something can be lost to it and something can accrue to it. That which passes is lost, and what is expected in the future can be acquired. But nothing is lost to God or accrues to Him, since He is immutable. Therefore His existence is simultaneously whole.

Ex his autem duobus apparet quod proprie est aeternus. Illud enim proprie est aeternum quod semper est, et eius esse est totum simul; secundum quod Boetius dicit, quod aeternitas est interminabilis vitae tota simul et perfecta possessio.

From these two observations the proper meaning of eternity emerges. That is properly eternal which always exists, in such a way that its existence is simultaneously whole. This agrees with the definition proposed by Boethius: “Eternity is the simultaneously whole and perfect possession of endless life.”