Ambassadors-“The Inaugural Sermons”
Aquinas explains, “The second (Old Testament) is contained in the Prophets who were, as it were, ambassadors and heralds of God, speaking to the people in the person of God and urging them to observance of the law. Aggeus 1.13: ‘And Aggeus, the messenger of the Lord, as one of the messengers of the Lord, spoke.” The prophets are equivalent to ambassadors for all the messages that they relay to humanity comes from God. They act as bridges between God and humanity in the same way that ambassadors, in the conventional world, represent their home countries in foreign countries. Prophets ensure promote a diplomatic relationship between God and humanity.
“The Word of God”-“The Logic of the Incarnation”
Aquinas remarks, “It should be said that the son of man has on earth the power to forgive sins, not by virtue of human nature, but by the divine, in which divine nature consists the power of forgiving sins by authority, but in human nature it consists instrumentally and ministerially... Because, although he was made man, he remains the Word of God.” Christ is equated to "the Word of God" because all his engagements on earth are sanctioned by God. Besides, Christ's position in the Trinity underscores his holiness which makes it logical to conclude that he is emblematic of God's word. Being God's word manes that his acts of pardoning sinners are authoritative and ratified by God. His human body does not diminish his holiness and credibility.
“Holy of holies”-“What is a Sacrament? ”
Aquinas states, “Moreover, all things that come about in the Old Law prefigure Christ who is the holy of holies, according to 1 Corinthians 10.11, ‘Now all these hings happened to them as a type,' and Colossians 2.17, ‘These are a shadow of things to come, but the substance of Christ.” Christ’s holiness is unqualified. Accordingly, he has no flaw which would discredit him or disqualify him, from being God’s son. He is the holiest among all the saints.
“Dictate of reason”- “On Conscience. Disputed Question on Truth.”
Aquinas elaborates, "Moreover, conscience is said to be a dictate of reason, which dictate is nothing other than a judgement of reason; but reason's judgement pertains to free will." Conscience enables human beings to judge their actions. It dictates humanity's reasoning, in such a way that if one does something immoral, he or she will be bothered by the conscience. Comparatively, when one is involved in something honorable or moral, the conscience would not be bothered.
Artisan-“The Nature of Theology”
Aquinas observes, “The second thing that pertains to the wisdom of God is the production of creatures. He not only has speculative but also operative wisdom-like that of the artisan to his works-concerning created things." God is comparable to an artisan due to his instrumental role in making the world and all creatures from scratch. God utilizes his word to craft the world, in the same way that an artisan his skills to create various gadgets.
