Fathers

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What the Fathers say

Job 23:17

Western Saints

Gregory the Dialogist

Because I have not perished on account of the overhanging darkness; neither hath the darkness covered my face. For he, being set under the scourge, dies off from the health of the body 'on account of the overhanging darkness,' who is for this reason smitten for the past that he may be shielded from future punishments. For scourges inflicted on the good either wipe out evil things done, or parry off future ones which might have been done. …

Morals on the Book of Job, Book XVI ↗

Thomas Aquinas

He then shows why he fears the future, although he is not conscious of guilt on his part, saying, "For I have not perished," i.e. I have endured adversity, "because of the darkness hemming me in," the errors and the sins which are said to hem one in when they are confirmed in the spirit of a man, for example, when he sins from malice. Malice is sometimes not confirmed in a man, but he is impelled to sin from some sudden passion, for example, of concupiscence or anger. …

Commentary on Job ↗