Thomas Aquinas · 2683 of 3516
Article. 5 - Whether it is proper to Christ to be the Redeemer?
Objection 1: It would seem that it is not proper to Christ to be the Redeemer, because it is written (Ps. 30:6): "Thou hast me, O Lord, the God of Truth." But to be the Lord God of Truth belongs to the entire . Therefore it is not proper to Christ.
Objection 2: Further, he is said to who pays the price of . But God the Father gave His Son in for our sins, as is written (Ps. 110:9): "The Lord hath sent to His people," upon which the gloss adds, "that is, Christ, who gives to captives." Therefore not only Christ, but the Father also, us.
Objection 3: Further, not only Christ's Passion, but also that of other conduced to our salvation, according to Col. 1:24: "I now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up those things that are wanting of the sufferings of Christ, in my flesh for His body, which is the Church." Therefore the title of Redeemer belongs not only to Christ, but also to the other .
On the contrary, It is written (Gal. 3:13): "Christ us from the curse of the Law, being made a curse for us." But only Christ was made a curse for us. Therefore only Christ ought to be called our Redeemer.
I answer that, For someone to , two things are required---namely, the act of paying and the price paid. For if in something a man pays a price which is not his own, but another's, he is not said to be the chief redeemer, but rather the other is, whose price it is. Now Christ's blood or His bodily life, which "is in the blood," is the price of our (Lev. 17:11, 14), and that life He paid. Hence both of these belong immediately to Christ as man; but to the as to the first and remote cause, to whom Christ's life belonged as to its first author, and from whom Christ received the inspiration of suffering for us. Consequently it is proper to Christ as man to be the Redeemer immediately; although the may be ascribed to the whole as its first cause.
Reply to Objection 1: A gloss explains the text thus: "Thou, O Lord God of Truth, hast me in Christ, crying out, 'Lord, into Thy hands I commend my spirit.'" And so belongs immediately to the Man-Christ, but principally to God.
Reply to Objection 2: The Man-Christ paid the price of our immediately, but at the command of the Father as the original author.
Reply to Objection 3: The sufferings of the are beneficial to the Church, as by way, not of , but of example and exhortation, according to 2 Cor. 1:6: "Whether we be in tribulation, it is for your exhortation and salvation."