Whether the difference of states applies to those who are beginning, progressing, or perfect?

❌ Objection 1 : It would seem that the difference of states does not apply to those who are beginning, progressing, or perfect. For "diverse genera have diverse species and differences" [*Aristotle, Categ. ii]. Now this difference of beginning, progress, and perfection is applied to the degrees of charity, as stated above (Question [24], Article [9]), where we were treating of charity. Therefore it would seem that the differences of states should not be assigned in this manner.

❌ Objection 2 : Further, as stated above (Article [1]), state regards a condition of servitude or freedom, which apparently has no connection with the aforesaid difference of beginning, progress, and perfection. Therefore it is unfitting to divide state in this way.

❌ Objection 3 : Further, the distinction of beginning, progress, and perfection seems to refer to "more" and "less," and this seemingly implies the notion of grades. But the distinction of grades differs from that of states, as we have said above (Articles [2],3). Therefore state is unfittingly divided according to beginning, progress, and perfection.