Question Three of Chapter Six of the Third Decade
How many and who are the tempters of human beings
It is asked how many and who are those who tempt and waylay human beings.
To this it is answered that three things are required for the perfect account of a tempter.
The first is that through the temptation something doubtful be made manifest to those who are ignorant.
The second is that this be intended by the one who tempts.
The third is that the tempter wish to receive knowledge of this matter as though it were unknown to him.
By reason of the first two conditions, tempting belongs to God, as is evident in Abraham. For through the sacrifice of his son the obedience and faith of Abraham were made manifest, and God intended this manifestation.
The third condition, however, was absent there, because through that temptation God did not receive knowledge which he did not previously possess.
There is another temptation in which only one of the aforesaid things is preserved—namely, the manifestation of the person tempted. In this way the flesh, the world, and the devil are said to tempt, because in them the virtue or weakness of the person who is tempted is manifestly known, just as the virtue of a soldier is known in battle.
Hence an attack upon the very virtue of the mind, by whomsoever it is made, is called a temptation.
This attack occurs in two ways.
In one way it comes from an intrinsic principle, and thus the flesh tempts.
In the other way it comes from an extrinsic principle, and this occurs in two ways. For the exterior principle either attacks after the manner of an object, and thus there is an attack from the world, by whose things hearts are enticed to sin; or that principle attacks after the manner of an agent drawing someone toward sin, whether by persuading, terrifying, or flattering. In this way temptation is said to come from the devil and from his members, evil human beings.
Thus it is evident how tempting belongs in diverse ways to God, the flesh, the world, the devil, and evil human beings.
These things are from the theologians.