SECOND ARTICLE [I-II, Q. 89, Art. 2]

Whether Venial Sins Are Suitably Designated As “Wood, Hay, and
Stubble”?

Objection 1:  It would seem that venial sins are unsuitably designated as “wood, hay, and stubble.”  Because wood, hay, and stubble are said (1 Cor. 3:12) to be built on a spiritual foundation.  Now venial sins are something outside a spiritual foundation, even as false opinions are outside the pale of science.  Therefore, venial sins are not suitably designated as wood, hay, and stubble.

Obj. 2:  Further, he who builds wood, hay, and stubble, “shall be saved yet so as by fire” (1 Cor. 3:15).  But sometimes the man who commits a venial sin, will not be saved, even by fire, e.g. when a man dies in mortal sin to which venial sins are attached.  Therefore, venial sins are unsuitably designated by wood, hay, and stubble.

Obj. 3:  Further, according to the Apostle (1 Cor. 3:12) those who build “gold, silver, precious stones,” i.e. love of God and our neighbor, and good works, are others from those who build wood, hay, and stubble.  But those even who love God and their neighbor, and do good works, commit venial sins:  for it is written (1 John 1:8):  “If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves.”  Therefore venial sins are not suitably designated by these three.

Obj. 4:  Further, there are many more than three differences and degrees of venial sins.  Therefore they are unsuitably comprised under these three.

On the contrary, The Apostle says (1 Cor. 3:15) that the man who builds up wood, hay and stubble, “shall be saved yet so as by fire,” so that he will suffer punishment, but not everlasting.  Now the debt of temporal punishment belongs properly to venial sin, as stated above (Q. 87, A. 5).  Therefore these three signify venial sins.

I answer that, Some have understood the “foundation” to be dead faith, upon which some build good works, signified by gold, silver, and precious stones, while others build mortal sins, which according to them are designated by wood, hay and stubble.  But Augustine disapproves of this explanation (De Fide et Oper. xv), because, as the Apostle says (Gal. 5:21), he who does the works of the flesh, “shall not obtain the kingdom of God,” which signifies to be saved; whereas the Apostle says that he who builds wood, hay, and stubble “shall be saved yet so as by fire.”  Consequently wood, hay, stubble cannot be understood to denote mortal sins.

Others say that wood, hay, stubble designate good works, which are indeed built upon the spiritual edifice, but are mixed with venial sins:  as, when a man is charged with the care of a family, which is a good thing, excessive love of his wife or of his children or of his possessions insinuates itself into his life, under God however, so that, to wit, for the sake of these things he would be unwilling to do anything in opposition to God.  But neither does this seem to be reasonable.  For it is evident that all good works are referred to the love of God, and one’s neighbor, wherefore they are designated by “gold,” “silver,” and “precious stones,” and consequently not by “wood,” “hay,” and “stubble.”