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Bible Dictionaries
Supererogation
Charles Buck Theological Dictionary
or What a man does beyond his duty, or more than he is commanded to do. The Romanists stand up strenuously for works of supererogation, and maintain that the observance of evangelical councils is such. By means hereof a stock of merit is laid up, which the church has the disposal of, and which she distributes in indulgences to such as need. This absurd doctrine was first invented towards the close of the twelfth century, and modified and embellished by St. Thomas in the thirteenth: according to which, it was pretended that there actually existed an immense treasure of merit, composed of the pious deeds and virtuous actions which the saints had performed beyond what was necessary for their own salvation, and which were, therefore, applicable to the benefit of others; that the guardian and dispenser of this precious treasure was the Roman pontiff; and that, of consequence, he was empowered to assign to such as he thought proper, a portion of this inexhaustible source of merit, suitable to their respective guilt, and sufficient to deliver them from the punishment due to their crimes.
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Buck, Charles. Entry for 'Supererogation'. Charles Buck Theological Dictionary. https://www.studylight.org/dictionaries/eng/cbd/s/supererogation.html. 1802.
