Chapter 41 — That God is the highest good

From this it is proved that God is the highest good.

For the universal good stands far above any particular good, even as the good of the nation is greater than the good of an individual: (Aristotle, Nicomachean Ethics 1.2, 1094b7–10.) for the goodness and perfection of the whole stand above the goodness and perfection of the part. Now the divine goodness of God is compared to all other things as the universal good to the particular, for he is the good of every good, as we have proved. (Ch. 40.) Therefore, he is the highest good.

Moreover. That which is predicated essentially is said more truly than that which is predicated by participation. Now God is good by his essence, and other things by participation, as shown above. (Ch. 38.) Therefore, he is the highest good.

Again. The greatest in any genus is the cause of others in that genus: (Aristotle, Metaphysics 1.2, 982a13–30; 1.1, 980a22–27.) for the cause is greater than its effect. Now all things derive their aspect of goodness from God, as we have shown. (Ch. 40.) Therefore, he is the highest good.

Moreover. Just as that is more white which has less admixture of black, so that is better which has less admixture of evil. Now God is most of all unmixed with evil, since in him there can be no evil (neither in act nor in potency), and this becomes him by his very nature, as we have proved. (Ch. 39.) Therefore, he is the highest good.

Hence it is said: there is none holy like the Lord (1 Sam 2:2).