Paraphrases of Erasmus
Encyclopedia
The Paraphrases were Latin
Biblical paraphrase
s, rewritings of the Gospel
s by Desiderius Erasmus
. They were composed between 1517 and 1524 and occasionally revised by Erasmus during the remaining years of his life.
The publication history of the Paraphrases is complicated. Erasmus began with the Pauline Epistles
. The paraphrase of Romans
was published in quarto
by Dirk Martens in Louvain
in November 1517 and reprinted by Erasmus's friend Johann Froben
in January of the following year; it sold well and was soon reprinted in octavo
. Corinthians was published by Martens in February 1519 and reprinted in Basel
by Froben in March; Galatians
appeared later that year, with editions from both publishers. The remaining Epistles followed in 1520 and 1521, the last to appear being Hebrews
. In the autumn of 1521 Erasmus moved from Louvain to Basel, and from that time Froben published the first editions of the remaining Paraphrases. Erasmus now turned to the Gospels, Matthew
appearing in March 1522 (in both folio and octavo - from now on there are no more quartos), John
in February (folio) and March (octavo) 1523, Luke
in August 1523, and Mark
in early 1524 (with a title page dated 1523). Acts
followed quickly, the dedication copy being dated February 13, 1524. Froben published a complete edition in two volumes, the first, "a stout octavo volume of 400 leaves dated 1523 and called Tomus secundus," contained the Epistles, and the Tomus primus, containing the Gospels and Acts, appeared the following year. "This was a considerable investment, and the firm kept it in their list for ten years," resetting portions as needed without a change of date. The Paraphrases were reissued in various formats and combinations during the following decades; Roger Mynors
writes: "When one is faced with one of these editions in folio, one has to remember that a purchaser would see them as composed of separable parts, out of which sets could be made up in any way that supply might dictate."
Edward VI of England
ordered the paraphrases to be put up "in some convenient place" for reading in all parish churches. The command was in Edward's Injunctions of 1547. A translation
into English
, overseen by Nicholas Udall
, was made nearly immediately, with the future Queen Mary
, Edward's half-sister, performing the translation of the Gospel of John
. Since Edward was only ten years old at the time (although already Protestant), it is likely that the elevation of Erasmus's text came about through the influence of one of his guardians or Thomas Cranmer
.
Latin
Latin is an Italic language originally spoken in Latium and Ancient Rome. It, along with most European languages, is a descendant of the ancient Proto-Indo-European language. Although it is considered a dead language, a number of scholars and members of the Christian clergy speak it fluently, and...
Biblical paraphrase
Biblical paraphrase
A Biblical paraphrase is a literary work that has as its goal not the translation of the Bible but, rather, the rendering of the Bible into a work that retells all or part of the Bible in a manner that accords with a particular set of theological or political doctrines...
s, rewritings of the Gospel
Gospel
A gospel is an account, often written, that describes the life of Jesus of Nazareth. In a more general sense the term "gospel" may refer to the good news message of the New Testament. It is primarily used in reference to the four canonical gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John...
s by Desiderius Erasmus
Desiderius Erasmus
Desiderius Erasmus Roterodamus , known as Erasmus of Rotterdam, was a Dutch Renaissance humanist, Catholic priest, and a theologian....
. They were composed between 1517 and 1524 and occasionally revised by Erasmus during the remaining years of his life.
The publication history of the Paraphrases is complicated. Erasmus began with the Pauline Epistles
Pauline epistles
The Pauline epistles, Epistles of Paul, or Letters of Paul, are the thirteen New Testament books which have the name Paul as the first word, hence claiming authorship by Paul the Apostle. Among these letters are some of the earliest extant Christian documents...
. The paraphrase of Romans
Epistle to the Romans
The Epistle of Paul to the Romans, often shortened to Romans, is the sixth book in the New Testament. Biblical scholars agree that it was composed by the Apostle Paul to explain that Salvation is offered through the Gospel of Jesus Christ...
was published in quarto
Quarto
Quarto could refer to:* Quarto, a size or format of a book in which four leaves of a book are created from a standard size sheet of paper* For specific information about quarto texts of William Shakespeare's works, see:...
by Dirk Martens in Louvain
Leuven
Leuven is the capital of the province of Flemish Brabant in the Flemish Region, Belgium...
in November 1517 and reprinted by Erasmus's friend Johann Froben
Johann Froben
Johann Froben, in Latin: Johannes Frobenius , was a famous printer and publisher in Basel...
in January of the following year; it sold well and was soon reprinted in octavo
Octavo
Octavo to is a technical term describing the format of a book.Octavo may also refer to:* Octavo is a grimoire in the Discworld series by Terry Pratchett...
. Corinthians was published by Martens in February 1519 and reprinted in Basel
Basel
Basel or Basle In the national languages of Switzerland the city is also known as Bâle , Basilea and Basilea is Switzerland's third most populous city with about 166,000 inhabitants. Located where the Swiss, French and German borders meet, Basel also has suburbs in France and Germany...
by Froben in March; Galatians
Epistle to the Galatians
The Epistle of Paul to the Galatians, often shortened to Galatians, is the ninth book of the New Testament. It is a letter from Paul of Tarsus to a number of Early Christian communities in the Roman province of Galatia in central Anatolia...
appeared later that year, with editions from both publishers. The remaining Epistles followed in 1520 and 1521, the last to appear being Hebrews
Epistle to the Hebrews
The Epistle to the Hebrews is one of the books in the New Testament. Its author is not known.The primary purpose of the Letter to the Hebrews is to exhort Christians to persevere in the face of persecution. The central thought of the entire Epistle is the doctrine of the Person of Christ and his...
. In the autumn of 1521 Erasmus moved from Louvain to Basel, and from that time Froben published the first editions of the remaining Paraphrases. Erasmus now turned to the Gospels, Matthew
Gospel of Matthew
The Gospel According to Matthew is one of the four canonical gospels, one of the three synoptic gospels, and the first book of the New Testament. It tells of the life, ministry, death, and resurrection of Jesus of Nazareth...
appearing in March 1522 (in both folio and octavo - from now on there are no more quartos), John
Gospel of John
The Gospel According to John , commonly referred to as the Gospel of John or simply John, and often referred to in New Testament scholarship as the Fourth Gospel, is an account of the public ministry of Jesus...
in February (folio) and March (octavo) 1523, Luke
Gospel of Luke
The Gospel According to Luke , commonly shortened to the Gospel of Luke or simply Luke, is the third and longest of the four canonical Gospels. This synoptic gospel is an account of the life and ministry of Jesus of Nazareth. It details his story from the events of his birth to his Ascension.The...
in August 1523, and Mark
Gospel of Mark
The Gospel According to Mark , commonly shortened to the Gospel of Mark or simply Mark, is the second book of the New Testament. This canonical account of the life of Jesus of Nazareth is one of the three synoptic gospels. It was thought to be an epitome, which accounts for its place as the second...
in early 1524 (with a title page dated 1523). Acts
ACTS
Acts or ACTS may refer to:Christianity* Acts of the Apostles , a genre of early Christian literature* Acts of the Apostles, the fifth book in the Bible's New Testament...
followed quickly, the dedication copy being dated February 13, 1524. Froben published a complete edition in two volumes, the first, "a stout octavo volume of 400 leaves dated 1523 and called Tomus secundus," contained the Epistles, and the Tomus primus, containing the Gospels and Acts, appeared the following year. "This was a considerable investment, and the firm kept it in their list for ten years," resetting portions as needed without a change of date. The Paraphrases were reissued in various formats and combinations during the following decades; Roger Mynors
Roger Mynors
Sir Roger Aubrey Baskerville Mynors was a British academic and classical scholar.Mynors was educated at Summer Fields School, Oxford and won a scholarship to Eton. He was Newcastle Scholar at Balliol College, Oxford. At Eton and Balliol, he was a friend of Cyril Connolly. He was Hertford and...
writes: "When one is faced with one of these editions in folio, one has to remember that a purchaser would see them as composed of separable parts, out of which sets could be made up in any way that supply might dictate."
Edward VI of England
Edward VI of England
Edward VI was the King of England and Ireland from 28 January 1547 until his death. He was crowned on 20 February at the age of nine. The son of Henry VIII and Jane Seymour, Edward was the third monarch of the Tudor dynasty and England's first monarch who was raised as a Protestant...
ordered the paraphrases to be put up "in some convenient place" for reading in all parish churches. The command was in Edward's Injunctions of 1547. A translation
The first tome or volume of the Paraphrase of Erasmus vpon the newe testamente
The First tome or volume of the Paraphrase of Erasmus vpon the newe testamente edited by Nicholas Udall, first published in January 1548 by Edward Whitchurch, is the first volume of a book combining an English translation of the New Testament interleaved with an English translation of Desiderius...
into English
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
, overseen by Nicholas Udall
Nicholas Udall
Nicholas Udall was an English playwright, cleric, pederast and schoolmaster, the author of Ralph Roister Doister, generally regarded as the first comedy written in the English language.-Biography:...
, was made nearly immediately, with the future Queen Mary
Mary I of England
Mary I was queen regnant of England and Ireland from July 1553 until her death.She was the only surviving child born of the ill-fated marriage of Henry VIII and his first wife Catherine of Aragon. Her younger half-brother, Edward VI, succeeded Henry in 1547...
, Edward's half-sister, performing the translation of the Gospel of John
Gospel of John
The Gospel According to John , commonly referred to as the Gospel of John or simply John, and often referred to in New Testament scholarship as the Fourth Gospel, is an account of the public ministry of Jesus...
. Since Edward was only ten years old at the time (although already Protestant), it is likely that the elevation of Erasmus's text came about through the influence of one of his guardians or Thomas Cranmer
Thomas Cranmer
Thomas Cranmer was a leader of the English Reformation and Archbishop of Canterbury during the reigns of Henry VIII, Edward VI and, for a short time, Mary I. He helped build a favourable case for Henry's divorce from Catherine of Aragon which resulted in the separation of the English Church from...
.