The Application of Biblical Exegesis to Political Treatises Regarding the First Book of Juan de Mariana’s De Rege et Regis Institutione

Abstract

The following paper analyses the common phenomenon of biblical exegesis among biblical humanists, focusing on the work De Rege et Regis institutione by the Spanish humanist Juan de Mariana. After a brief introduction on Humanism and the importance of the study of the Holy Scripture, the author provides relevant information about Mariana. Then, the paper proceeds with an analysis of the presence of biblical explanations and interpretations included in the first book of De Rege et Regis institutione, as applied to Juan de Mariana’s ideas on statecraft and the legitimacy of deposing unjust rulers.