enewed in the spirit, but not yet in the flesh,
according to Rom. 8:10: "The body indeed is dead, because of sin; but
the spirit liveth, because of justification."

Reply Obj. 3: Directly Christ died His soul went down into hell, and
bestowed the fruits of His Passion on the saints detained there;
although they did not go out as long as Christ remained in hell,
because His presence was part of the fulness of their glory.
_______________________

SIXTH ARTICLE [III, Q. 52, Art. 6]

Whether Christ Delivered Any of the Lost from Hell?

Objection 1: It would seem that Christ did deliver some of the lost
from hell, because it is written (Isa. 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.

Obj. 2: Further, on Zech. 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.

Obj. 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 (A. 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;