the sanction of another.
But without the Divine permission the devil could never do hurt to
any man, as is evident in the instance of Job (1, 2), where, by power
received from God, the devil first injured him in his possessions,
and afterwards in his body. In like manner it is stated (Matt. 8:31,
32) that the devils could not enter into the swine except with
Christ's leave. Therefore the devil never had power over men: and
hence we are not delivered from his power through Christ's Passion.

Obj. 2: Further, the devil exercises his power over men by tempting
them and molesting their bodies. But even after the Passion he
continues to do the same to men. Therefore we are not delivered from
his power through Christ's Passion.

Obj. 3: Further, the might of Christ's Passion endures for ever, as,
according to Heb. 10:14: "By one oblation He hath perfected for ever
them that are sanctified." But deliverance from the devil's power is
not found everywhere, since there are still idolaters in many regions
of the world; nor will it endure for ever, because in the time of
Antichrist he will be especially active in using his power to the
hurt of men; because it is said of him (2 Thess. 2:9): "Whose coming
is according to the working of Satan, in all power, and signs, and
lying wonders, and in all seduction of iniquity." Consequently it
seems that Christ's Passion is not the cause of the human race being
delivered from the power of the devil.

_On the contrary,_ our Lord said (John 12:31), when His Passion was
drawing nigh: "Now shall the prince of this world be cast out; and I,
if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all things to Myself."
Now He was lifted up from the earth by His Passion on the cross.
Therefore by His Passion the devil was deprived of his power over man.

_I answer that,_ There are three things to be considered regarding
the power which the devil exercised over men previous to Christ's
Passion. The first is on man's own part, who by his sin deserved to
be delivered over to the devil's power, and was overcome by his
tempting. Another point is on God's part, whom man had offended by
sinning, and who with justice left man under the devil's power. The
third is on the devil's part, who out of his most wicked will
hindered man from securing his salvation.

As to the first point, by Christ's Passion man was delivered from the
devil's power, in so far as the Passion is the cause of the
forgiveness of sins, as sta