Praised and Maligned: Receptions of Erasmus’ Paraphrases on the New Testament

Abstract

Erasmus was not only the first to have the Greek text of the New Testament printed together with his Latin translation, but he also paraphrased the books of the New Testament—with the exception of the Apocalypse. These Paraphrases were highly successful as evidenced by their many editions and translations. Even an English translation was to be found in every parish in the Church of England. There was also opposition. Theologians from Spain and France scrutinized them for Lutheran ideas, and, of course, found them. However, the interest in the paraphrases was not diminished by this criticism and they had an intense reception in the sixteenth century and a long-lasting one stretching after Erasmus’ death. Parts were included in commentaries on the New Testament, sometimes with reference to the original author, more often without his name.