Erasme

Erasme, known in English as Erasmus of Rotterdam and in French as Erasme, was a Dutch Renaissance humanist, Catholic priest, and theologian who played a central role in Christian humanism. He promoted scholarly learning, ethical reform, and a return to the sources of Christian faith, aiming to reform the church from within rather than break with it.

Born in 1466 in Rotterdam, Erasme came from modest origins and entered the Augustinian order before pursuing secular priesthood. He studied at major European centers, including the University of Paris, and spent long periods traveling and teaching across Europe. He established important scholarly networks and finally settled in Basel, where he produced much of his influential work and died in 1536.

Major works and ideas include The Praise of Folly (1509), a satirical critique of religious and social practices; Adagia (1500), a collection of proverbs illustrating classical and contemporary usage; Colloquia, educational dialogues modeling language and moral instruction; and the Novum Instrumentum omne (1516), a newly edited Greek New Testament with Latin translation and annotations that shaped biblical scholarship. He advocated the philosophia Christi, a focus on Christ’s teachings and the early Christian sources, and he defended a degree of free will in De libero arbitrio (1524), opposing rigid doctrinal determinism.

Erasme’s legacy lies in his insistence on returning to original texts, rigorous philology, and humane reform of church life through education and moral renewal. His work influenced both Catholic reformers and Protestant thinkers and remains a foundational reference in the study of Christian humanism. He died in Basel in 1536.