Erasmus – Post 2 – Was his Greek Text Done Hastily and only for Money?
Let me begin by stating that only the Lord knows all of the reasons Erasmus did his text. What we do know is what he wrote in the preface:
“Christ wishes His mysteries to be published as widely as possible. I would wish all women to read the gospel and the epistles of St. Paul, and wish that they were translated into all languages of all Christian people, that they might be read and known, not merely by the Scotch and the Irish, but even by the Turks and the Saracens. I wish that the husbandmen might sing parts of them at his plow, that the weaver may warble them at his shuttle, that the traveler may with their narratives beguile the weariness of the way.” – Cloud – Myths about Modern Bible Versions
Erasmus had been collecting Greek manuscripts and studying them for some time. When the opportunity came to complete such a work, he accepted it!
It would also be fair to note that errors done in “haste” were corrected in later editions and, therefore do not play much of a part in the English translation discussion.
I should also note the ability of God to use Erasmus’s situation to have His Word first published in a future stronghold of Protestantism by a bookseller eager to get it into the hands of the people as apposed to Spain by the Roman Catholic Church who’s every intent was to keep the Word of God OUT of the people’s hands.
A few questions posed: Was Erasmus working just for the money? Was the final product filled with mistakes or were they corrected? And, could God’s hand have been in it to have it done where and when He wanted it to be done?
Comments welcome!
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