A scholar who greatly influenced Zwingli. In 1516 his Greek New Testament, with its preface, urged the translation of Scripture into the common tongues of Europe. Soon new versions appeared in German, French, and English. In 1524 a significant conflict between Luther and Erasmus erupted. In that year Erasmus’s Diatribe on Free Will appeared. It made clear the cardinal differences between the two men. Luther believed that the human will was enslaved, totally unable, apart form grace, to love or serve God. But Erasmus considered this a dangerous doctrine since it threatened to relieve man of his moral responsibility.
[tags]BlogRodent, church-history, ChurchRodent, Erasmus, history[/tags]