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cf., Sent.I.D26.Q2.A1; SCG4.C14; QDePot.Q8.A1; CT.BookI.C53; Ioan.C16.L4
Now that we have analyzed the notion of relation in the introduction, we come to the question of whether there are real relations in God.Â
St. Thomas begins the discussion with a point about what constitutes the idea (formal concept/*ratio*) of a "relation" in general. As was considered in the introduction, a relation has its formal character from its esse ad, i.e., that it has its "being" or "existence" towards another.Â
Thus, God have an esse ad towards creatures since He causes them, the soul has an esse ad towards the body since it individuates it, and a son has an esse ad towards the his father since he communicated his nature to him.Â