Mercy and Monarchy

Abstract

This article compares De clementia, a somewhat neglected minor work of the Roman Stoic philosopher L. Annaeus Seneca, and Paul’s Letter to the Romans. First, Seneca’s ideas about rule as a god-given task of moral improvement of the subjects and the role of mercy (clementia) within it are analysed. Then, Seneca’s argument is compared with Paul’s thoughts concerning salvation by grace in his Letter to the Romans. Seneca’s short political treatise De clementia shows a considerable number of interesting and specific agreements with Paul’s reasoning in the Letter to the Romans, even more than his other writings, which have been in the focus of scholarly investigation. Finally, some suggestions are made about the possible source(s) of the convergences and how they could be interpreted.