The Argument of the Subtle Doctor in Favor of the Immaculate Conception
THE Subtle Doctor’s defense of the Immaculate Conception is found in his Oxford and Paris commentaries on the third book of the Sentences of Peter Lombard. The problem is there posed: "Utrum Beata Virgo concepta fuerit in peccato originali? — Was the Blessed Virgin conceived in original sin?”
Scotus begins his answer to the question with a brief enumeration of authorities opposed to the Immaculate Conception, and a restatement of the main difficulty which had influenced the Fathers and doctors to deny the privilege to Mary. This central difficulty was the Pauline teaching found in the Epistle to the Romans, concerning the need of universal redemption: ’’Through one man sin entered into the world and through sin death, and thus death has passed unto all men because all have sinned.” 29
Two important contributions were made by Duns Scotus to the controversy. Admitting that Mary as a descendant of Adam stood in need of redemption because of the sin of Adam, he offered a novel solution to the subtle difficulties which had for so long baffled theologians, by introducing the idea of pre-redemption, and a distinction of order of nature and order of time into the solution of the problem of the Immaculate Conception.
Tradition within the Franciscan Order has preserved the memory of a famous debate held in Paris in the year 1307. In the presence of high Church dignitaries,
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