Dist. 47, Art. 1, Q. 4
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/47/q/bon-sent-IV-d47-a1-q4
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### Question IV. *Whether the Angels will be judged.*

Fourthly it is asked, whether the Angels will be judged. And that they will be, seems [to be the case].

1. Job, chapter forty, speaks of Behemoth: *His hope shall fail him, and in the sight of all he shall be cast down headlong*: therefore he will be judged in the sight of all: therefore the other demons also, by parity of reasoning.

2. Likewise, First to the Corinthians, chapter six: *Know you not that we shall judge Angels?* If therefore the Angels will be judged by the servants of Christ, much more by Christ himself.

3. Likewise, the demons have more of the state of a wayfarer than damned men have, because they can demerit and sin: therefore they stand more in need of being judged than men do.

4. Likewise, the demons are sharers with us in fault, therefore also in punishment and in ignominy; but this will be most of all in the judgement: therefore, just as they will be in the same torment, so they ought to be judged in the same judgement.

**On the contrary:** 1. John, chapter sixteen: *The prince of this world is already judged*; but God does not judge twice for the same thing: therefore etc.

2. Likewise, those alone will be judged against whom a sentence is pronounced; but a sentence will be given only against men, not against demons, as is plain from Matthew, chapter twenty-five: *Go, ye cursed* etc.

3. Likewise, what is certain is not to be brought into doubt; but it is certain that the demons are damned, since they have been cast down from the heavens: therefore they ought not to be judged any further.

4. Likewise, just as evil men await the judgement, so also do the good: therefore, if the demons await the judgement, by parity of reasoning so also do the holy Angels. But the holy Angels have their whole glory: therefore etc.

### Conclusion

> *The demons will be judged by a judgement of condemnation, but not of discussion.*

**I respond:** It must be said, the preceding distinction being presupposed, that the demons will be judged by a judgement of condemnation, but not of discussion. — Now the ground of the condemnation comes partly from the side of *the justice of God*, partly from the side of *the glory of Christ*, partly from the side of *merit*, and partly by reason of *the consummation of the punishment*. From the side of *the justice of God*: because, just as the universal judgement of men will take place so that God's justice may become clear and appear to all, so the judgement and condemnation of the angels ought to take place.

— From the side of *the glory of Christ*: because Christ triumphed over the devil and was judged by a member of the devil and at his suggestion; therefore he ought to receive judicial authority over him. — From the side of *merit*: because, since they were sharers in man's fault, they ought also to be sharers in the contumely and the punishment. — From the side of *the punishment to be consummated*: for just as all men await the judgement either for the consummation of glory or of punishment, so also the demons ought not to escape the judgement; so that, if anything of punishment is lacking to them, it may be fully supplied. Hence they will be wrapped up together with the damned and will be imprisoned together, and by this they will be brought to the judgement and will be judged, as the reasons show.

*To 1, 2.* To that, then, which is objected, that he is already judged; it must be said that he is called *judged* because his power has in some way been taken away from him as regards the good, but not altogether. Therefore it is fitting that his judgement then be consummated, as was touched on earlier concerning unbelievers.

*To 3.* To that which is objected, that what is certain is not to be brought into doubt; it must be said that it will not be brought into doubt, but that God will make what is certain to be more certain and will confirm it; nor is it only for making certain about the fault, but also for consummating the punishment.

*To 4.* To that which is objected concerning the good Angels, it must be said that the good Angels will be judged by a judgement of *retribution*; for glory will be consummated in them at least as regards the *accidental reward*, and their ministry will cease. And thus the whole is plain.

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