Abstract

MIKALONIS, Marco Jonas. Human power according to Aquinas interpretation of Rom 13:1. Scripta Mediaevalia [online]. 2017, vol.10, n.2, pp.57-82. ISSN 1851-8753.

The present work departs from Saint Thomas Aquinas interpretation of St. Paul’s words found in his Letter to the Romans: «There is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been established by God» (Rm 13:1). Out of the thomistic comment of the pauline text emerge several and important elements of what could be called the “political philosophy” of Aquinas. The main goal is to show how in Saint Thomas’ mind any power, except from the divine power, is limited, and this for metaphysical reasons. In other words, it must be said that no human power of any kind can be said “absolute”. These reflections of Saint Thomas can enlighten different cases of abuse of authority that sadly are frequently found in many environments of human relationships.

Keywords : Saint Thomas Aquinas; Political philosophy; Letter to the Romans; Human authority; Limits of human authority.

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