Aquinas’s idea of Christian kingship builds on previous Natural Law concepts in a number of ways. First, Aquinas argues that the king is not above the law, but is subject to both natural law and divine law. Second, he emphasizes the importance of justice in the king’s rule. Third, he sees the king as a steward of God’s creation, and as such, he has a duty to promote the common good.

Justice is a central concept in Aquinas’s political philosophy. He argues that justice is the constant and perpetual will to render to each his due. This means that the king must uphold the law and treat all of his subjects fairly. The king must also ensure that the laws are just, and that they promote the common good.

Covenantal statesmanship is another important concept in Aquinas’s political philosophy. Aquinas sees the king as a covenant-maker between God and the people. This means that the king has a duty to uphold the covenant, and to promote the good of the people. The king must also be a wise and virtuous ruler, and he must set a good example for his subjects.

Christian kingship is the ideal form of government for Aquinas. He argues that the king should be a Christian, and that he should rule in accordance with Christian principles. This means that the king should promote the common good, and he should treat all of his subjects with respect and dignity.

The relationship between medieval religious and civil offices was complex. On the one hand, the Church and the state were often separate entities. On the other hand, there was a great deal of overlap between the two institutions. For example, many kings and other civil rulers were also religious leaders.

Aquinas saw the relationship between the Church and the state as a cooperative one. He argued that the Church and the state had different but complementary roles to play in society. The Church was responsible for spiritual matters, while the state was responsible for temporal matters. However, Aquinas also believed that the Church had a duty to advise and guide the state on moral issues.

Aquinas’s ideas about Christian kingship have had a significant impact on Western political thought. His ideas have been used to justify both absolute and limited monarchy, as well as democracy. In addition, Aquinas’s ideas about justice and the common good have been influential in the development of modern human rights law.

Here are some specific examples of how Aquinas’s idea of Christian kingship builds on previous Natural Law concepts:

• Aquinas argues that the king’s authority comes from God, but that it is limited by natural law and divine law. This idea is similar to the Stoic concept of natural law, which states that all people are subject to a universal law of reason.
• Aquinas emphasizes the importance of justice in the king’s rule. This idea is similar to the Aristotelian concept of justice, which states that justice is giving to each person what is due to them.
• Aquinas sees the king as a steward of God’s creation, and as such, he has a duty to promote the common good. This idea is similar to the Ciceronian concept of the common good, which states that the common good is the greatest good of the greatest number of people.

Here are some examples of how Aquinas’s ideas about Christian kingship can be seen in the relationship between medieval religious and civil offices:

• Many medieval kings were also religious leaders. For example, the Holy Roman Emperor was also the Pope. This meant that the king had a great deal of power over the Church.
• The Church often advised and guided the state on moral issues. For example, the Church played a role in developing the laws that governed medieval society.
• The Church also had the power to excommunicate kings and other civil rulers. This gave the Church a great deal of leverage over the state.

Overall, Aquinas’s idea of Christian kingship is a complex and sophisticated one. It builds on previous Natural Law concepts, but it also goes beyond them in some important ways. Aquinas’s ideas have had a significant impact on Western political thought, and they continue to be relevant today.