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Leviathan (Books III and IV)

by Thomas HOBBES (1588 - 1679)

Chapter XXXVIII – Of the Signification in Scripture of Eternal Life, Hell, Salvation, the World to Come, and Redemption</a>

In Books 3 and 4 of Leviathan, Thomas Hobbes elaborates on the political philosophy set forth in the first two books, by considering the nature of a Christian commonwealth. Book 3 begins with a wealth of biblical scholarship, directed at establishing the authority of Scripture while at the same time undermining modern claims to supernatural revelation that would subvert civil law. Hobbes concludes that we cannot be sure of anyone else's divine revelation, and that religious authority is therefore subordinate to civil power. Book 4, titled “Of the Kingdom of Darkness,” sets forth the various ways in which Scripture has been misinterpreted by the church, according to Hobbes, in mixing pagan elements with Christianity. (Summary adapted from Wikipedia by Leon Mire)

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Listen next episodes of Leviathan (Books III and IV):
Chapter XLII – Of Power Ecclesiastical, Part 2</a> , Chapter XLII – Of Power Ecclesiastical, Part 3</a> , Chapter XLII – Of Power Ecclesiastical, Part 4</a> , Chapter XLII – Of Power Ecclesiastical, Part 5</a> , Chapter XLII – Of Power Ecclesiastical, Part 6</a> , Chapter XLIV – Of Spiritual Darkness from Misinterpretation of Scripture, Part 2</a> , Chapter XLV – Of Demonology and Other Relics of the Religion of the Gentiles, Part 2</a> , Chapter XL – Of the Rights of the Kingdom of God, in Abraham, Moses, the High Priests, and the Kings of Judah</a> , Chapter XLI – Of the Office of Our Blessed Saviour</a> , Chapter XLII – Of Power Ecclesiastical, Part 1</a> , Chapter XLIII – Of What is Necessary for a Man's Redemption into the Kingdom of Heaven</a> , Chapter XLIV – Of Spiritual Darkness from Misinterpretation of Scripture, Part 1</a> , Chapter XLV – Of Demonology and Other Relics of the Religion of the Gentiles, Part 1</a> , Chapter XLVI – Of Darkness from Vain Philosophy and Fabulous Traditions</a> , Chapter XLVII – Of the Benefit that Proceedeth from Such Darkness, and to Whom it Accrueth</a> , Chapter XLVIII – A Review and Conclusion</a> , Chapter XXXIX – Of the Signification in Scripture of the Word Church</a>