Dist. 47, Art. 2, Q. 3
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-a2-q3
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### Question III. *On the extent of that fire.*

Thirdly it is asked about the extent of that fire.

1. Upon that text of the second [letter] to the Thessalonians, chapter one: *In a flame of fire, giving vengeance;* the Gloss: « A fire shall go before in the world, which shall ascend as high as the water did in the flood ».

2. Likewise, Bede upon that text of the second [letter] of Peter, chapter three: *One day* etc.; the Gloss: « That fire shall ascend as high as the water stood above all the mountains ».

3. Likewise, it seems *by reason*: because that purgation is on account of sin, therefore it ought to extend itself only to the dwelling-place of those who sin; but this is the dark air, which it is agreed is not above all the mountains more than fifteen cubits: therefore etc.

4. Likewise, that fire will not extend itself according to its whole power, but according to the divine command; but the divine command did not will that the waters should proceed further than *fifteen cubits above the mountains*: therefore the like seems [to hold] concerning the fire; or if not, why not?

**On the contrary:** 1. It seems that [it will ascend] beyond, even as far as the heavens: because it is said in the last chapter of the second [letter] of Peter: *The burning heavens shall be dissolved:* therefore if they shall be dissolved by that fire, it seems that it will ascend as far as heaven.

2. Likewise, it seems that [it will ascend] at least as far as the outermost sphere of the elements, because the Gloss says there that « that greatest fire shall consume the four elements ».

3. Likewise, it seems *by reason*: because that fire has the power of renewing: therefore if all bodies shall be renewed, namely the celestial and the elemental; it is evident etc.

### Conclusion

> *The fire of the conflagration will not ascend beyond the space containing the elements, not as far as the stars, yet more than the waters of the flood ascended.*

**I respond:** It must be said that that fire will ascend only so far as bodies consumable and passible extend; and because « celestial bodies are not receptive of an alien impression », I say that as far as the space containing the elements extends, the flame will ascend, and it will proceed no further; hence I say that it will not ascend as far as the stars, yet it will ascend more than the water of the flood.

But to the objections it must be said that purgation is twofold: one which is from the *foulness of sin*, the other from the *oldness of corruption*. I say therefore that the *foulness of guilt* extends itself through the dark air — not that there is sin in the air itself, but that a certain foulness is contracted in the place from sin, and also that by the smoke of the sacrifices of idols the air is in some manner infected; and as regards that purgation it will ascend only as high as the water of the flood. — The other purgation is from the *oldness of corruption*, or of a corrupted nature, and this is in the remaining elements, which ought to be incorruptible after the resurrection; and as regards this it will ascend as far as the outermost limit of the sphere of fire. — And according to these two grounds the objections made concerning purgation are resolved.

3. To that which is objected concerning renewal, it must be said that renewal is twofold: in one way by *casting off*, in another way by *addition* and *bettering*. In the first way it is in elemental bodies, in which the bodily qualities shall be purged; in the second way in celestial bodies, whose light shall be increased. The first renewal is by the operation of fire, which casts off and purges; the second without [it].

1. But to that which blessed Peter says, that the burning heavens shall be dissolved; it must be said that this is not to be understood of those heavens which are *incorruptible* and shall not be corrupted; but it is to be understood of the *airy* and *fiery* heaven, and these Scripture calls *heavens*, according to that text of Matthew, chapter thirteen: *The birds of heaven ate it up.* — Similarly, if it be found that *the stars shall fall from heaven*, it is understood of the *airy* heaven; and they are there called *stars* by likeness, because they have a likeness of stars, and according to common opinion they are said to be stars falling, since they come down from above; and Scripture conforms itself to the common manner of speaking. But such an impression will then occur most of all, because the fiery quality will abound; and the Lord will do this for the terror of sinners.

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