The Prophetic Faith of Our Fathers, vol. 2

VIII. Malvenda-Antichrist Only Appears Before End

THOMAS MALVENDA (15661628), Spanish Dominican exegete, Hebrew scholar, and historical critic, was born in Valencia, Spain. Entering the Dominican order in his youth, he was al ready teaching philosophy and theology at thirty five. Malvenda’s criticism of Baronius’ Annalesled the latter to call him to Rome as a critical adviser, and to aid in annotating the Index Expurgatorius. Malvenda’s own De Antichrislo (Concerning the Antichrist) was published at Rome in 1604. ⁶⁷ In 1608 he re turned to Spain, where he undertook the translation of a new version of the Old Testament in Latin, with comments. It was completed only to Ezekiel when he died. PFF2 504.5

In this work Malvenda cites the views of Ephraim of Syria, Jerome, Chrysostom, Cyril, Augustine, Theodoret, Prosper, Gregory, Bede, and others, to show that leaders of the early church expected a Jewish Antichrist just before the end of the world; this he considers a most thoroughly established matter, and declares that “Antichrist will not come unless near the end of the age.” ⁶⁸ Thus he rests on the fathers, ignoring the swelling chorus of more recent Catholic witness. PFF2 505.1

In chapter 32 Malvenda emphasizes that no one can know “the exact and predetermined time when antichrist will come and the world be brought to an end.” Two chapter headings reveal Malvenda’s strong support of Ribera’s futurism-“Antichrist Not To Come Unless Near the End of the Age” (chap. 31), and “Exact Time of the Coming of Antichrist and of the End of the Age to Be Wholly Unknown to Man” (chap. 32). PFF2 505.2