After dealing with the nature of the angels, their knowledge and will, it now remains for us to treat of their creation, or, speaking in a general way, of their origin. Such consideration is threefold. In the first place we must see how they were brought into natural existence; secondly, how they were made perfect in grace or glory; and thirdly, how some of them became wicked.

Under the first heading there are four points of inquiry:

A[1] Whether the angel has a cause of his existence?

A[2] Whether he has existed from eternity?

A[3] Whether he was created before corporeal creatures?

A[4] Whether the angels were created in the empyrean heaven?