Luke 16:26

χάσμα μέγα ἐστήρικται. This, as Meyer says, is the argument ex impossibili after the argument ex aequo. Change of place is not a possible way of producing change of soul. Dives while he still had the heart of Dives would have been in agony even in Abraham’s bosom. But 1 Peter 3:19-20 throws a gleam of hope athwart this gulf. It may be (for we can pretend to no certainty) no longer impassable, since Christ died and went to preach to spirits in prison. With this “great gulf” (2 Samuel 18:17, LXX[303]) compare the interesting passage of Plato on the vain attempts of great criminals to climb out of their prisons. Rep. x. 14.

[303] LXX. Septuagint.

ὅπως … μὴ δύνωνται. ‘In order that they may not be able.’