Provvidenza e sofferenza = Providence and suffering

Abstract

In this paper, I will examine Aquinas's views of providence and human suffering by considering his interpretation of the story of Job. Though Aquinas's biblical commentaries have not received the same sort of attention as some of his other works, such as the Summa Theologiae or the Summa Contra Gentiles, they are nonetheless a treasure trove of his philosophical and theological thought. The commentary on Job in particular is one of Aquinas's more mature and polished commentaries. It sheds light on Aquinas's understanding of God's providence, especially the relation between God's providence and human suffering. The book of Job is the paradigmatic presentation of the problem of evil for anyone trying to reconcile the existence of God with the presence of evil in the world, and it is therefore particularly interesting to see how Aquinas interprets this book.