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Objection 1: It would seem that Christ did deliver some of the lost
from hell, because it is written (Is. 24:22): "And they
shall be gathered together as in the gathering of one bundle into the
pit, end they shall be shut up there in prison: and after many days
they shall be visited." But there he is speaking of the lost, who
"had adored the host of heaven," according to Jerome's commentary.
Consequently it seems that even the lost were visited at Christ's
descent into hell; and this seems to imply their deliverance.
Objection 2: Further, on Zach. 9:11: "Thou also by the
blood of Thy testament hast sent forth Thy prisoners out of the pit
wherein is no water," the gloss observes: "Thou hast delivered them
who were held bound in prisons, where no mercy refreshed them, which
that rich man prayed for." But only the lost are shut up in merciless
prisons. Therefore Christ did deliver some from the hell of the
lost.
Objection 3: Further, Christ's power was not less in hell than in
this world, because He worked in every place by the power of His
Godhead. But in this world He delivered some persons of every
state. Therefore, in hell also, He delivered some from the state of
the lost.
On the contrary, It is written (Osee 13:14): "O death, I
will be thy death; O hell, I will be thy bite": upon which the
gloss says: "By leading forth the elect, and leaving there the
reprobate." But only the reprobate are in the hell of the lost.
Therefore, by Christ's descent into hell none were delivered from
the hell of the lost.
I answer that, As stated above (Article 5), when Christ
descended into hell He worked by the power of His Passion.
Consequently, His descent into hell brought the fruits of deliverance
to them only who were united to His Passion through faith quickened by
charity, whereby sins are taken away. Now those detained in the hell
of the lost either had no faith in Christ's Passion, as infidels;
or if they had faith, they had no conformity with the charity of the
suffering Christ: hence they could not be cleansed from their sins.
And on this account Christ's descent into hell brought them no
deliverance from the debt of punishment in hell.
Reply to Objection 1: When Christ descended into hell, all who
were in any part of hell were visited in some respect: some to their
consolation and deliverance, others, namely, the lost, to their
shame and confusion. Accordingly the passage continues: "And the
moon shall blush, and the sun be put to shame," etc.
This can also be referred to the visitation which will come upon them
in the Day of Judgment, not for their deliverance, but for their yet
greater confusion, according to Sophon. i, 12: "I will visit
upon the men that are settled on their lees."
Reply to Objection 2: When the gloss says "where no mercy
refreshed them," this is to be understood of the refreshing of full
deliverance, because the holy Fathers could not be delivered from this
prison of hell before Christ's coming.
Reply to Objection 3: It was not due to any lack of power on
Christ's part that some were not delivered from every state in hell,
as out of every state among men in this world; but it was owing to the
very different condition of each state. For, so long as men live here
below, they can be converted to faith and charity, because in this
life men are not confirmed either in good or in evil, as they are after
quitting this life.
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