Summa in a Year Day 302: General Judges
Mar 3, 2026
A deep dive into who will stand with Christ to judge humanity and why some are fit for that role. Discussion of poverty, angels, and demons in relation to judgment. Exploration of how the saved and the wicked are assessed and whether angels face judgment. A look at why Christ will judge in his human form and how his seen presence brings inevitable joy.
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Apostles Participate In Christ's Judgment
- The apostles can be said to judge with Christ in multiple senses of 'judging' used in Scripture.
- Aquinas distinguishes strict judgment (God alone) from senses like judging by example, agreement, law-bearing, or relaying higher judgment, which fits the apostles.
Voluntary Poverty Shapes Judicial Fitness
- Voluntary poverty aligns with judicial fitness by removing bribery temptation and fostering humility to receive God's law.
- Aquinas says poverty raises one to a dignity fitting judgment, but promises this power only to those who leave all and follow Christ.
Angels Won't Sit As Visible Judges
- Angels will not be the primary visible judges because assessors must be conformed to the judge's human nature.
- Aquinas allows angels to 'approve' the sentence but not to sit as human-visible judges at the final judgment.
