Katechon Concept, History, And Interpretations - Source Excerpt 04 - Further Research & Key Texts

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' ' ' mermaid
timeline
    title Katechon: Historical Milestones
    0050-01 : Paul’s 2 Thessalonians (first mention of katechon)
    0150-01 : Justin Martyr and others – katechon = Gospel/Spirit
    0197-01 : Tertullian (Apology) – katechon = Roman Empire
    0426-10 : Augustine’s City of God 20.19 – katechon discussed (Rome viable)
    1536-06 : Calvin’s Institutes – katechon = global Gospel mission
    1942-04 : Carl Schmitt (article) – katechon=USA delays history
    1947-12 : Schmitt (Glossarium) – “I believe in the katechon…”
    1950-03 : Schmitt *Nomos* – defines Empire as restrainer of Antichrist
    1974-10 : Schmitt letter – *“Kernfrage”* of political theology
    2005-09 : Agamben’s *Time That Remains* – katechon as deferred time
    2026-05 : Rusu’s study – katechon in Russkii Mir ideology
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## Further Research & Key Texts

**Further research questions:** Key open questions include: *What is the katechon’s proper identity and nature?* How do different Christian traditions (Eastern Orthodox, Protestant, Catholic) treat 2 Thess 2? Can the katechon be usefully applied to secular/global contexts? What are the theological dangers of politicizing the katechon (as some warn in the Russian case)?  Other areas: the katechon in early Jewish apocalyptic (e.g. Daniel’s restraining *messiah*), feminist or postcolonial readings (who is included/excluded by “restraint”), and comparative studies (does any non-Christian tradition have a parallel concept?).

**Recommended primary sources:** Students should read 2 Thessalonians 2 in Greek or a reliable translation, then Augustine *City of God* XX.19 and Letter 199. Church Fathers: Tertullian *Apology* XXXII; Hippolytus *Refutation of All Heresies* 10; John Chrysostom’s *Homily* on 2 Thess.  (If available). Reformation: Calvin’s *Commentary on 2 Thessalonians* (Institutes) and Luther’s lectures. Modern: Carl Schmitt’s *Political Theology* and *The Nomos of the Earth* (pp. 59–62), and his *Glossarium*. Heidegger’s *Beiträge zur Philosophie* (GA 60, Paul lectures). Agamben’s *The Time That Remains* (on Romans but relevant). For cultural insight: Pasolini’s screenplay fragments (in Collins 2023).  Rusu (2026) on modern political theology. For secondary studies: the essay by Peter Szendy (2021) and José de Arimatea López Domínguez (2023) on Augustine. 

**Key bibliography (prioritized):** Holy Bible (2 Thess. 2:6–7); Augustine, *City of God* 20.19–20 (trans. Green); Tertullian, *Apology* 32; John Chrysostom, *Homily on 2 Thess*. J.N.D. Kelly, *Early Christian Doctrines* (on Antichrist). John Calvin, *Commentaries on 2 Thessalonians*; Karl Barth, *Church Dogmatics* (II/2, on eschatology). Carl Schmitt, *Political Theology: Four Chapters on the Concept of Sovereignty*; *The Nomos of the Earth* (trans. Elden); Schmitt’s *Glossarium: Wörterbuch zur Politik*. Martin Heidegger, *Beiträge zur Philosophie* (Zur Seinsfrage) GA 60. Giorgio Agamben, *The Time That Remains: A Commentary on the Letter to the Romans* (Stanford 2005). Roberto Esposito, *Immunitas*. Jason Collins, *“The Duality of Paul…”* (*Humanities* 2023) on Pasolini. Andrei Rusu, *“From St Paul to Russkii Mir: Katechon in Russian Ideology”* (2026). Secondary scholarship: Peter Szendy, *Katechon: Political Concepts* (2021); José Domínguez & Erik Ellis, “Augustine on the Katechon” (2023).