Erasmus (ca. 1467-1536)
“[Luther has erred in two things] He has attacked the pope in his crown and the monks in their bellies.” (spoken 1520)
Erasmus, witty reformer.
In 1520, Erasmus is the most famous and respected scholar in all of Christendom. Just four years earlier, he issued a Greek New Testament which revealed how corrupt the text of the Latin Vulgate was. As a result of that and his other writings, many voices are calling for reform. The loudest is Martin Luther.
It has now been three years since this Augustinian monk nailed 95 theses on the door in Wittenberg. Since then, much has happened. Luther has defended his theology before the Augustinians and when face to face with the pope’s agent, Cajetan, has refused to recant. For political reasons, Frederick the Wise has refused to turn Luther over to the pope when ordered to do so. Luther has questioned papal infallibility in debate with Johann Eck and has begun preaching a series of sermons based on the New Testament. Just this year, Luther has printed a number of provocative books: To the Christian Nobility, On the Babylonian Captivity of the Church, and The Freedom of a Christian. The Pope has issued a bull (formal proclamation) giving Luther 60 days to recant or be excommunicated. In response, Luther has burned the papal bull and canon law—laws issued by the church.
The leaders of Christendom are rightfully disturbed. Like many other people, they can see the arrogance and wicked life-styles of the popes, cardinals, and bishops. They, too, find the swarms of begging monks an unproductive plague on their lands. But the church has justified its practices with Bible quotes and scholarship for a long time now, and in their hearts many wonder just what the truth really is. Elector Frederick III of Saxony “the wise” is no exception. He has shielded Luther, but he wonders, is he shielding heresy? Is Luther right, or is the teaching of the old church to be followed?
Events bring Frederick and Erasmus together in Cologne on December 5, 1520. Now Frederick can get the lowdown on Luther from the wisest, most respected Christian scholar in the world—a man who is so esteemed that he is claimed by every faction in the current strife: Catholic, Lutheran, Anabaptist and Humanist. Standing by his fire, Frederick asks Erasmus confidentially if Luther has erred in his teaching or his writing.
This is before the days of sound bites. Erasmus smiles at the question. He is in no rush to get his ten seconds on the air. He takes his time to think out his reply and Frederick waits patiently.
The great scholar’s answer when it comes is worth waiting for; it has been quoted with delight for centuries. Has Luther erred? Spalatin wrote down the response.
“Yes, in two things,” says Erasmus. “He has attacked the pope in his crown and the monks in their bellies.”
Recognizing the kernel of truth in this, everyone in the room chuckles. Frederick continues to support Luther although he never fully accepts his theology.
—Dan Graves
Dig a Little Deeper
- Bainton, Roland. Erasmus of Christendom. New York: Scribner, 1969.
- ———– Here I Stand; a Life of Martin Luther. New York: Mentor, 1950.
- “Erasmus.” Encyclopedia Americana. Chicago: Encyclopedia Americana corp., 1956.
- Faulkner, John Alfred. Erasmus; the Scholar. Cincinnati: Jennings and Graham, 1907.
- Mangan, John Joseph. Life, Character and Influence of Disiderius Erasmus. New York: Macmillan, 1927.
- Murray, Robert H. Luther and Erasmus. London: Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge, 1920; p.76.
- Zweig, Stephan. Erasmus. New York, The Viking Press, 1934.
