Articles

Justice, Power, and Persuasion in Patristic Accounts of Christ’s Victory over Satan

Brian Dunkle, SJ

Abstract

Brian Dunkle, SJ, explores patristic accounts of Christ’s victory over Satan, focusing on the theme of "economic righteousness." From Irenaeus to Augustine, theologians argue that redemption is just because it is rational and noncoercive rather than violent. Dunkle traces how Augustine transforms this motif from a defense of divine self-consistency into a foundational ethical principle: the priority of justice over power. This patristic perspective offers enduring insights for modern social and political ethics.

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