Access Point
“For Joachim the meaning of history IS exegesis; [emphasis in original] that is, God’s judgement over history is grasped only through the interpretation of the Bible. The Bible reveals that God is a Trinity of Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. For Joachim this meant that the inner life of the Trinity must be inscribed in the world the Trinity has created. Joachim was not interested in cosmology, that is, the world as a created object, but escatology, that is, in the world as a process of historical development whose inner connections were expressions of the life of the trinity.”
-Bernard McGinn, Antichrist p. 137
Joachim of Fiore was an incredibly important individual in the development of the medieval church, not just for his novel and instructive approach to the Bible, but specifically, because he created material which suggested that the Antichrist would take control of the Catholic church. As various sects arose to fight over the power that come with Papal authority, the losers of these battles needed a way to demonize their enemies. Joachim’s material was a perfect foundation for such propagranda, and so it was used, re-used, and re-interpreted to fit the description of numerous religious and political leaders who claimed that they had legitimate access to this authority. The gate to a potent form of rhetoric had been flung open.
But what lies underneath this rhetoric? What was really said?
I don’t know, but I aim to find out. In the meantime, beneath the cut, there is a picture of me with my shirt off.
-Bernard McGinn, Antichrist p. 137
Joachim of Fiore was an incredibly important individual in the development of the medieval church, not just for his novel and instructive approach to the Bible, but specifically, because he created material which suggested that the Antichrist would take control of the Catholic church. As various sects arose to fight over the power that come with Papal authority, the losers of these battles needed a way to demonize their enemies. Joachim’s material was a perfect foundation for such propagranda, and so it was used, re-used, and re-interpreted to fit the description of numerous religious and political leaders who claimed that they had legitimate access to this authority. The gate to a potent form of rhetoric had been flung open.
But what lies underneath this rhetoric? What was really said?
I don’t know, but I aim to find out. In the meantime, beneath the cut, there is a picture of me with my shirt off.