A Theological-Political Treatise [Part III]

audiobook

A Theological-Political Treatise [Part III]

by Benedictus de Spinoza

EN·~1 hours·1 chapter

Chapters

1 total
1

Sentence Numbers, shown thus (1), have been added by volunteer.

1:36:10

Description

Beginning with a careful examination of the New Testament letters, the author asks whether the apostles wrote as true prophets guided by divine revelation or merely as teachers expressing personal judgment. By contrasting the unmistakable, command‑filled language of Old‑Testament prophets with the more tentative, argumentative style of Paul and his companions, he highlights a shift in how sacred messages are conveyed. This opening inquiry sets the stage for a broader investigation into the function and origin of religious authority.

The treatise then moves to consider why Scripture is regarded as sacred, arguing that its value lies in conveying simple moral teachings that support obedient conduct rather than complex metaphysical systems. It separates faith, understood as reliable obedience and good deeds, from speculative philosophy, and suggests that both Scripture and human reason operate independently yet can coexist. Readers are invited to reflect on how this distinction reshapes the relationship between theology and rational inquiry.

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Language

en

Duration

~1 hours (92K characters)

Publisher of text edition

Project Gutenberg

Release date

1997-07-16

Rights

Public domain in the USA.

About the author

Benedictus de Spinoza

Benedictus de Spinoza

1632–1677

A bold 17th-century thinker whose ideas about God, nature, freedom, and reason helped reshape modern philosophy. Best known for the posthumously published Ethics, he wrote with unusual clarity and courage at a time when his views were deeply controversial.

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