Question

Two theological problems of Canto IV and how Dante addresses them

Answer 1

In the Divine comedy by Dante Alighieri the Canto IV is about the Limbo. One of the theological problems is related to baptism, Christian would say that baptism was necessary to salvation but the ones that were born before Christ and did not have a chance to be baptized were a problem. So here Dante addresses this issues by placing all people even the sinless in the Limbo because of their lack of baptism and for not worshiping God’s Trinity fully.

The second theological problem is about virtuous people, others scholars addressed that the virtuous people but not Christian would go to Heaven. Dante instead addresses this by placing these souls in the Limbo too, but they have their place of honour recognized and they have some privileges in the limbo “The signature of honour they left on earth is recognized in Heaven and wins them ease in Hell out of God’s favour”, so they don't suffer the same as the others that are sinful.