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On Temporal and Spiritual Authority: On Laymen or Secular People; On the Temporal Power of the Pope. Against William Barclay; On the Primary Duty of ...
Robert Bellarmine was one of the most original and influential political theorists of his time. He participated in several of the political debates that agitated early modern Europe, such as the controversy over the Oath of Allegiance in England. Bellarmine presents one of the clearest and most coherent definitions of the nature and aim of temporal authority and its relationship to spiritual authority. The king has jurisdiction over the body, the pope over the conscience. This distinction was crucial for the history of early modern monarchies: the conflict between state and church ceased to be concerned with physical persons and was no longer a contest for the consciences of subjects.
The political thought of Bellarmine was at the center of post-Reformation debates on the relationship between state and church; on the nature, aim, and limits of temporal government; and on the relation between religion and natural law. He posed in a novel, controversial manner the relationship between public and private spheres, thus opening up questions central to what we consider “modernity.” This accessible edition of some of Bellarmine’s most important works in fresh translations will be interesting for a wide readership of both scholars of political thought and the educated general public.
Robert Bellarmine (1542–1621) was a Jesuit cardinal and a celebrated professor of theology at the Roman College, of which he became rector in 1592. He was also a highly ranked member of the Inquisition and of the Congregation of the Index, as well as Pope Clement VIII’s main advisor in theological matters. However, Bellarmine’s work risked being included in the Index of Prohibited Books for insufficient support of papal authority. At the same time, he was considered a major enemy of the absolute authority of sovereigns, such as James I of England.
Stefania Tutino is an Assistant Professor of History, University of California, Santa Barbara.
Knud Haakonssen is Professor of Intellectual History and Director of the Centre for Intellectual History at the University of Sussex, England.
The political thought of Bellarmine was at the center of post-Reformation debates on the relationship between state and church; on the nature, aim, and limits of temporal government; and on the relation between religion and natural law. He posed in a novel, controversial manner the relationship between public and private spheres, thus opening up questions central to what we consider “modernity.” This accessible edition of some of Bellarmine’s most important works in fresh translations will be interesting for a wide readership of both scholars of political thought and the educated general public.
Robert Bellarmine (1542–1621) was a Jesuit cardinal and a celebrated professor of theology at the Roman College, of which he became rector in 1592. He was also a highly ranked member of the Inquisition and of the Congregation of the Index, as well as Pope Clement VIII’s main advisor in theological matters. However, Bellarmine’s work risked being included in the Index of Prohibited Books for insufficient support of papal authority. At the same time, he was considered a major enemy of the absolute authority of sovereigns, such as James I of England.
Stefania Tutino is an Assistant Professor of History, University of California, Santa Barbara.
Knud Haakonssen is Professor of Intellectual History and Director of the Centre for Intellectual History at the University of Sussex, England.
520 pages, Paperback
First published January 31, 2012
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About the author
Robert Bellarmine
298 books38 followersSaint Robert Bellarmine, SJ was an Italian bishop, cardinal, theologian, and an influental figure of the Counter-Reformation. He was canonized a saint in 1930 by Pope Pius XI and named a Doctor of the Church in 1931. He is also known as Roberto Bellarmino.
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March 17, 2026
Bellarmine (d.1621) was an important Counter-Reformation figure and his significance can be seen in the fact that some Protestant universities established chairs which were explicitly designed to fund theologians to refute his claims.
Part of what makes Bellarmine still a significant theological figure is that he brought an enormous erudition and intellectual clarity to the topics which he wrote on. Each issue that he deals with has a section on Scripture, a section on historical sources and another on ‘rational’ arguments to support his case. Whether readers agree or disagree with his overall (Catholic) position, his writings are a fascinating overview of the ‘state of the question’ as he understood it in in the early seventeenth century.
In this book the focus is upon Bellarmine’s political texts. The first is his treatise on temporal and spiritual authority. Then there is a similar, albeit longer work, which was re-refuting an Anglican treatise which was arguing for the divine right of the king (ie the independence of the King from any papal claims of temporal or spiritual authority).
The first treatise is probably the most accessible, as it is a relatively simple and clear exposition of the question of whether, and to what extent, lay magistrates should be involved in matters of faith or morals. Bellarmine’s position is very clear. Lay rulers should protect the Church and promote it (chp.18) and they should arrest and punish heretics (chp.21).
The 'English' treatise is far longer and it felt a little messy, in the sense that it was dealing with a lot of different aspects of the issues, which to some extent were dictated by the context that Bellarmine was responding to.
This translation is a good clear text. It uses modern English and a flowing style which makes the texts very readable. Perhaps a few more paragraph breaks or divisions would have been helpful, especially if readers want to refer to very specific parts of the text without using page numbers.
Overall, this is a text which will be of interest to readers focused upon political issues (especially the relationship of Church and State) as well as the particularities of relationships between Catholic and Anglican views at the time of King James
Part of what makes Bellarmine still a significant theological figure is that he brought an enormous erudition and intellectual clarity to the topics which he wrote on. Each issue that he deals with has a section on Scripture, a section on historical sources and another on ‘rational’ arguments to support his case. Whether readers agree or disagree with his overall (Catholic) position, his writings are a fascinating overview of the ‘state of the question’ as he understood it in in the early seventeenth century.
In this book the focus is upon Bellarmine’s political texts. The first is his treatise on temporal and spiritual authority. Then there is a similar, albeit longer work, which was re-refuting an Anglican treatise which was arguing for the divine right of the king (ie the independence of the King from any papal claims of temporal or spiritual authority).
The first treatise is probably the most accessible, as it is a relatively simple and clear exposition of the question of whether, and to what extent, lay magistrates should be involved in matters of faith or morals. Bellarmine’s position is very clear. Lay rulers should protect the Church and promote it (chp.18) and they should arrest and punish heretics (chp.21).
The 'English' treatise is far longer and it felt a little messy, in the sense that it was dealing with a lot of different aspects of the issues, which to some extent were dictated by the context that Bellarmine was responding to.
This translation is a good clear text. It uses modern English and a flowing style which makes the texts very readable. Perhaps a few more paragraph breaks or divisions would have been helpful, especially if readers want to refer to very specific parts of the text without using page numbers.
Overall, this is a text which will be of interest to readers focused upon political issues (especially the relationship of Church and State) as well as the particularities of relationships between Catholic and Anglican views at the time of King James
Displaying 1 of 1 review