Erasmus's Biblical Scholarship

Timeline

1. 1522–1524Basel · SwitzerlandErasmus published the fifth edition of the Greek New Testament (Novum Instrumentum) in Basel, continuing to collate and revise the text with a parallel Latin translation and scholarly annotations, providing an authoritative Greek basis for reformers such as Luther and Zwingli.
2. 1522–1526Basel · SwitzerlandErasmus completed Latin paraphrases (Paraphrases) of the four Gospels and the Acts of the Apostles, explaining scripture in accessible language to guide ordinary believers toward direct understanding of the Bible; these became among the most widely read religious works of sixteenth-century Europe.
3. 1524–1527Europe · EuropeErasmus published On Free Will in response to Luther, arguing that humans retain freedom of will in salvation, directly opposing Luther's doctrine of justification by faith. The debate marked a profound rift between humanist scholarly reason and Reformation theology; Erasmus thereafter remained more firmly within the Catholic Church.