Eschatology: or, The Catholic Doctrine of the Last Things: A Dogmatic Treatise

by Joseph Pohle, Arthur Preuss (Editor)

The end times have captivated the imaginations of Christians throughout the centuries. Significant portions of Scripture are devoted to Christ's return, and countless theological works have been written on death, heaven and hell, the apocalypse, and other eschatological topics. This volume adds an important voice to the volumes of literature already written on the subject. Pohle writes lengthy chapters on death, heaven, hell, purgatory, along with the resurrection and the last judgment.

168 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1917

About the author

Father Joseph Pohle, SJ, PhD

After completing his studies at Trier, Germany, he attended the German College in Rome, as well as the Gregorianum. He received his PhD. in philosophy in 1874, his S.T.D. in 1879. He was ordained in 1878 as a priest in the Society of Jesus.

In 1889, at the request of Bishop John Keane, he joined the founding faculty of the Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C., as Professor of Apologetics.

He returned to Germany in 1894 as Professor of Dogma at Münster. He transferred to Breslau in 1897, where he continued scholarly pursuits until his death, including 24 articles for the 1913 Catholic Encyclopedia.

Reviews

[Mike · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good book.

[Alan Fuller · Rating 3 out of 5]

Eschatology is the doctrine of the last things. Catholic Eschatology breaks down into eschatology of the individual, and eschatology of the human race as a whole. Individual judgment, heaven, hell, and purgatory are discussed under the topic of individual eschatology. Preceding signs, resurrection, and the general judgment fall under eschatology for the human race. Scripture as well as the writings of various Christian teachers found throughout the ages are used to support the teachings.

Catholic eschatology is not so different from other non-millenarian Christian teachings other than the idea of purgatory. I always thought of purgatory as exclusive Catholic teaching, but according to Wikipedia the Eastern Orthodox Church, Oriental Orthodox Churches, elements of the Anglican, Lutheran, and Methodist traditions, and even Rabbinic Judaism hold to similar ideas. Purgatory signifies a process of cleansing whether it is a place or a state. The author appeals to Isa 35:8, 1 Cor 3:11-15, 1 Cor 15:29, and apocryphal passages 2 Maccabees 12:42-45, Wisdom 7:25, Tobit 4:18. The objections of Reformers are noted.