Cur Deus Homo/Book First

by Saint Anselm

Contents

• Chapter I: The question on which the whole work rests.
• Chapter II: How those things which are to be said should be received.
• Chapter III: Objections of infidels and replies of believers.
• Chapter IV: How these things appear not decisive to infidels, and merely like so many pictures.
• Chapter V: How the redemption of man could not be effected by any other being but God.
• Chapter VI: How infidels find fault with us for saying that God has redeemed us by his death, and thus has shown his love towards us, and that he came to overcome the devil for us.
• Chapter VII: How the devil had no justice on his side against man; and why it was, that he seemed to have had it, and why God could have freed man in this way.
• Chapter VIII: How, although the acts of Christ's condescension which we speak of do not belong to his divinity, it yet seems improper to infidels that these things should be said of him even as a man; and why it appears to them that this man did not suffer death of his own will.
• Chapter IX: How it was of his own accord that he died, and what this means: "he was made obedient even unto death;" and: "for which cause God hath highly exalted him;" and: "I came not to do my own will;" and: "he spared not his own Son;" and: "not as I will, but as thou wilt."
• Chapter X: Likewise on the same topics; and how otherwise they can be correctly explained.
• Chapter XI: What it is to sin, and to make satisfaction for sin.
• Chapter XII: Whether it were proper for God to put away sins by compassion alone, without any payment of debt.
• Chapter XIII: How nothing less was to be endured, in the order of things, than that the creature should take away the honor due the Creator and not restore what he takes away.
• Chapter XIV: How the honor of God exists in the punishment of the wicked.
• Chapter XV: Whether God suffers his honor to be violated even in the least degree.
• Chapter XVI: The reason why the number of angels who fell must be made up from men.
• Chapter XVII: How other angels cannot take the place of those who fell.
• Chapter XVIII: Whether there will be more holy men than evil angels.
• Chapter XIX: How man cannot be saved without satisfaction for sin.
• Chapter XX: That satisfaction ought to be proportionate to guilt; and that man is of himself unable to accomplish this.
• Chapter XXI: How great a burden sin is.
• Chapter XXII: What contempt man brought upon God, when he allowed himself to be conquered by the devil; for which he can make no satisfaction.
• Chapter XXIII: What man took from God by his sin, which he has no power to repay.
• Chapter XXIV: How, as long as man does not restore what he owes God, he cannot be happy, nor is he excused by want of power.
• Chapter XXV: How man's salvation by Christ is necessarily possible.