Dist. 44, Part 2, Art. 2, Q. 2
by St. Bonaventure
Source text: Public Domain Mark 1.0. English translation/apparatus/encoding: CC BY-NC 4.0, Wroot Press.
https://bonaventure.wrootpress.com/browse/4/d/44/q/bon-sent-IV-d44-p2-a2-q2
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### Question II. *Whether that which punishes in hell is fire alone.*

Secondly it is asked whether that which punishes in hell is fire alone. And that it is so, it seems.

1. Matthew 25: *Go, you cursed, into eternal fire;* where the Lord by [his] sentence imposes eternal punishment: therefore it seems that it consists purely in fire.

2. Likewise, when cold water has been heated in fire it is not penal but pleasant, nor does it increase the punishment but [affords] refreshment: therefore, if there is no consolation for them, no refreshment: therefore there is heat in fire without the cold of water.

3. Likewise, if there are elements there, either they are *active* or *not.* If *so:* then, since one contrary acting upon another weakens and breaks its action, then it seems that the action of fire is there slackened; which does not seem fitting, since that punishment is most bitter. But if they are *not* active: then they do nothing toward the punishment: therefore, if in hell there ought not to be bodies which do nothing toward the punishment; it is evident, etc.

4. Likewise, if there are other elements there, either they are *distinct* or *mixed.* If *mixed:* then their action is broken and tempered; but if they are *distinct:* then also, by equal reasoning, ordered; therefore there are four elements distinct and ordered: therefore it seems that there is a whole world there; and *again,* that would be false which is said in Job 10: *A land of misery and darkness, where [there is] no order, but everlasting horror dwells:* therefore, if they are neither distinct nor confused, then in no way [are they there].

**On the contrary:**

1. That there is *fire* there is evident from Matthew 25, where it is said: *Go, you cursed, into eternal fire;* this too is had from many other places.

2. Likewise, that there is *air* there is seen through that [passage] of the Psalm: *Fire, brimstone, and the spirit of storms,* etc.: if therefore the spirit of storms truly has the nature of air, just as there is truly fire there, so also air.

3. Likewise, that there is *water* there is seen [from] Job 24: *They shall pass from the snow-waters to excessive heat:* therefore if they will truly be in the heat of fire, not according to a trope, they will truly be in the cold of the waters.

4. Likewise, that *earth* is there is seen through that which is said in Job 10: *A land of misery and darkness;* and this is evident, because, as has been proved, that place is under the earth.

5. Likewise, this is seen concerning *all [the elements] together:* for since the wicked have sinned through the body, therefore they are punished through the whole body: therefore by equal reasoning according to all the parts and qualities of the body: therefore it seems [they are punished] according to the four elements and their four qualities.

> **Conclusion.** *In hell not only fire, but also three other elements are believed to be, yet confused.*

**I respond:** It must be said that in hell, as is gathered from Scripture, four elements are believed to be, for the complete punishment of the damned, so that every creature may blaze up into torment against the unjust and be armed for the vengeance of the Creator, and that [the damned] may be punished by the very things of which they are constituted. But since they are there for punishment, therefore those [elements] are said to be there which are strong in *active* qualities, such as fire and water. And *again,* since fire is most active, it is that which is most strong there; whence also by fire in Scripture everything that punishes bitterly is wont to be signified. Whence when the Lord threatens infernal fire, either he threatens [it] as the principal torment, or under the name of fire he understands every other affliction.

But if it be asked in what manner the elements are there understood to be, it must be said that the elements there are confused, not distinct, not ordered. Nor yet does that confusion lessen the punishment, but increases it; for the reason that the mutual action of the elements will cease after the resurrection, when generation and corruption cease; but nevertheless their action upon the body of the [about-to-be-]damned will remain, because to this all their power will be directed, not as intending to multiply the species; but according to the command of the Creator they intend to avenge the divine injury, which indeed is done by afflicting human nature. — These things seen, all the objections are clear.

1. 2. For the first is clear concerning the Lord's threatening, because under fire the other afflicting [elements] are contained, or the denomination is made from the greater. — The second likewise is clear, because both will afflict at once according to different parts, or if successively according to the same [parts], so great will be the intensity on the part of each that a greater bitterness will rather be felt than [that it] be tempered. — And *if it be objected* concerning the rich man, who asked for a drop of water; it can be said that perhaps in another part he was feeling cold; or different [persons] are tormented with different punishments, according as they are infected with different vices. Whence, just as the first purgation of the world was through water, the second through fire; so it is to be understood in the [present] case.

3. 4. To that which is objected concerning action and mixture, the reply is clear, because there the action is not upon another [element], but upon the wretched damned body and [remains] there; there is no commingling, but rather a certain confusion, just as it is said that *fire and hail were borne mingled together*. Whence there will be there burning fire and freezing water and the disturbance and turbulence of the air and the stench of the earth. Whence Gregory: *In hell there will be unbearable cold, inextinguishable fire, intolerable stench*.

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