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Handout #144 |
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The Religion of Erasmus |
| Erasmus pinned all his hopes on a better
knowledge of scripture. Not only is it necessary to rediscover the
original text, Hebrew, Greek and Latin, but it is necessary to translate
the Bible into all languages. Scripture contains the true wisdom of life,
the philosophy of Christ accessible to all men.
What audience did Christ himself have? Was it not a mixed crowd which contained the blind, the lame, beggars, tax-collectors, centurions, workers, women and children? Can he complain at being read by those by whom he wanted to be understood? In truth the laborer will read him and even the Turks. If Christ did not prevent them from hearing his words, I will not prevent them from reading his books. Christ desires his philosophy to be spread as widely as possible. He died for all and he wants to be known by all. This goal will be achieved if his books are translated into every language of every country or if, thanks to the princes, the people are taught the three languages (Hebrew, Greek and Latin) in which this divine philosophy was founded. Finally, what indecency is there in reciting the gospel in one's native language, the tongue which everyone understands: The French in French, the English in English, the German in German, the Indian in Indian? It seems to me far more indecent and even ridiculous that uninstructed people and women should sing the psalms and Sunday prayer, like parrots, in Latin, without understanding what they are saying! Erasmus, 'Note to the reader' in his Paraphrases of St. Matthew (1552 A.D.) |
