The Carolingian Reception of 2 Thessalonians 2:3-12 and its Insights for Contemporary Catholic Perspective on Evil

The Carolingian reading of 2 Thess 2:3-12, particularly by Rabanus Maurus and Haimo of Auxerre, discloses its anthropological dimension. By portraying Antichrist as the embodiment of evil in its diverse manifestations, these authors provide some insights into the contemporary comprehension of evil from the Catholic perspective. The human being, conceived as a bipartite reality encompassing both the mystery of lawlessness and the mystery of providence, possesses the capacity to confront and overcome its dualistic condition through the responsible use of freedom. The existence of evil appears to facilitate the conscious maturation of the body of Christ inside believers, fostering operational attitudes necessary for the destruction of the body of Antichrist.