Agustín sobre el Katechon: Una lección de De Civitate Dei

Patricio Domínguez; Erik Ellis

doi:10.48162/rev.35.029

Authors

Patricio Domínguez Universidad de los Andes
Erik Ellis Universidad de los Andes

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.48162/rev.35.029

Keywords:

Augustine of Hippo, katechon, Roman Empire, Roman virtue, providence

Abstract

This article presents Augustine’s exegesis of the controversial eschatological passage of 2 Thessalonians 7 through analysis of Roman virtue in the context of the role of the Roman Empire in divine providence. In contrast to many of the Greek and Latin fathers, Augustine’s evaluation of Rome’s providential role is primarily negative: he says the Roman empire and the virtus upon which it rests are sinful but that the evils of Roman power restrain (hence katechon) worse evils. This interpretation, most clearly expressed in his City of God, differentiates Augustine from his contemporaries’ view of Rome and makes him a sui generis thinker in this regard.

Author Biographies

Patricio Domínguez, Universidad de los Andes

Doctor en Filosofía y profesor asistente en el Instituto de Filosofía de la Universidad de los Andes, Chile.

Erik Ellis, Universidad de los Andes

Doctor en Estudios Medievales, investigador post-doctoral y profesor de literatura griega en la Facultad de Filosofía y Humanidades de la Universidad de los Andes, Chile.

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