This thesis examines the relationship between Western eschatological traditions and Bishop Burchard of Worms' extended exegesis on the subject of ‘speculative theology’ within Decretum, Liber Vicesimus (c. 1012-1025). Its purpose is to explore the influence of eschatological theology upon the composition of canon law and its relationship with the administration of pastoral care in the early eleventh century. This will be achieved by investigating the authorities Burchard employed, and the unique ways in which he structured his interpretation of the subject. Chapter one reviews the scholarship on early medieval eschatological exegesis, canon law, and penance, alongside that on Burchard of Worms. Chapter two provides an overview of the history of early medieval western eschatological exegesis (c. 33-1050) and the general conditions that contemporary ecclesiastics would have experienced in relation to the study and construction of eschatological texts. Chapter three considers the historical context for the composition of the Decretum and the manuscript traditions of the Liber Vicesimus. Chapters four, five, and six, extensively analyse the structures and contents of the Liber Vicesimus: Burchard and his team of compilers are shown to have drawn extensively and developed their interpretation of eschatology from Gregory the Greats’ exegetical works, as well as identifying other unique influences. Consequently the thesis demonstrates how Gregory’s exegetical works played a central role in building the textual foundations which shaped the theological parameters governing the eschatological thoughts, beliefs, and writings, of many ecclesiastics during this period. The thesis concludes that Gregory’s work provided churchmen with an authoritative moral framework and rhetoric for the discussion of eschatological phenomena that could be utilised in a variety of ways. It also suggests new ways in which historians should interpret the written traditions that shaped the structure and content of orthodox eschatological texts in this period.

[pt] O presente trabalho debruçou-se sobre o discurso escatológico de Mateus, especificamente sobre Mt 25,31-46, que relaciona o julgamento do Filho do Homem, esperado para os últimos dias, com a prática da justiça, manifesta na realização das obras de misericórdia. Compreende-se que o contexto histórico da comunidade mateana era o pós-guerra de 70 d.C. Esses eventos catastróficos provocaram uma grave crise de identidade nas comunidades judaicas, que passaram a reorganizar a vida na centralidade da Torá, devido à ausência do Templo, que havia sido destruído pelos romanos. Tal ausência também culminou com a perda da liderança judaica, fazendo com que os diversos grupos judaicos, existentes na época, concorressem entre si para assumirem essa função. Entendiam-se como intérpretes autorizados da Torá e, portanto, o verdadeiro Israel. Dentre eles, formou-se uma coalizão que estava em conflito direto com a comunidade mateana, agravando ainda mais a crise que ela vivia. O evangelho de Mateus foi escrito com os propósitos de: levar ordenamento e sentido para a sua comunidade; e consolar os seus membros, profundamente marcados por estes eventos. Para tal, o evangelista fez uso da visão de mundo da escatologia apocalíptica como o julgamento no final dos tempos pelo Filho do Homem e a retribuição dos justos e ímpios. O objetivo deste estudo foi analisar a perícope de Mt 25,31-46, a fim de compreender o ambiente em que o evangelho foi produzido; assim como, a resposta encontrada pelo evangelista em relação à situação de crise no pós-guerra; e os pontos de convergência e divergência com outros grupos judaicos do mesmo período, em especial, o judaísmo formativo, com quem a comunidade mateana está em conflito. Essa análise foi feita por meio da abordagem diacrônica do método histórico crítico, e sincrônica a partir abordagem dos textos fonte e contextual. / [en] The present work focused on the eschatological discourse of Matthew, specifically on Mt 25:31-46, which relates the judgment of the Son of Man, expected for the last days, to the practice of justice manifested in the works of mercy. It is understood that the historical context of the Matthean community was the post-war period of 70 AD. These catastrophic events caused a severe identity crisis among Jewish communities, which began to reorganize their lives around the centrality of the Torah due to the absence of the Temple, which had been destroyed by the Romans. This absence also led to the loss of Jewish leadership, causing various Jewish groups existing at the time to compete for that role. They saw themselves as authorized interpreters of the Torah and therefore the true Israel. Among them, a coalition was formed that was in direct conflict with the Matthean community, further aggravating the crisis it was experiencing. The Gospel of Matthew was written with the purposes of bringing order and meaning to its community, and comforting its members, deeply affected by these events. To this end, the evangelist made use of the worldview of apocalyptic eschatology, such as the judgment at the end of time by the Son of Man and the retribution of the righteous and the wicked. The objective of this study was to analyze the pericope of Mt 25:31-46 in order to understand the environment in which the Gospel was produced, as well as the response found by the evangelist regarding the post-war crisis, and the points of convergence and divergence with other Jewish groups of the same period, especially formative Judaism, with whom the Matthean community is in conflict. This analysis was conducted through the diachronic approach of the historical-critical method, and the synchronic approach of source and contextual texts.