Several years ago I painstakingly translated Erasmus's Annotations on Matthew 3:2 from the original Latin into English.[1] It took me several hundred hours of intense research as I translated word-for-word through the entire text. It was during the coronavirus pandemic, and I had the time and the opportunity (Eph. 5:16), and thus I did so, to the glory of God. The Bible says: "And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him" (Col. 3:17, NKJV).
Fast-forward to the present day. I was greatly excited when, just yesterday in fact, I came across a statement by Martin Luther from 1524 in which he praises Erasmus for his work in linguistics, by which we are better able to understand the Scriptures. Luther's praise for Erasmus is from a letter that he wrote to him in April, 1524. In the letter, Luther commends Erasmus with these words:
"The whole world must bear witness to your successful cultivation of that literature by which we arrive at a true understanding of the Scriptures; and this gift of God has been magnificently and wonderfully displayed in you, calling for our thanks."[2] Luther no doubt means to signify Erasmus's work and erudition in the Greek and Latin, for as the church historian Philip Schaff notes, "his [Erasmus's] learning embraced only the literature in the Greek and Latin languages."[3]
While in this instance Luther's commendation was broad, historical records reveal that he specifically valued Erasmus's linguistic work on the critical concept of repentance, particularly from his Annotations on Matthew 3:2. The following statement by Luther is quoted by the 16th-century Roman Catholic theologian Ruard Tapper, in his "Response to Luther's Arguments". Tapper quotes Luther as follows:
"From Luther. 'Metanoia, which the old interpreter [i.e. Jerome, the translator of the Latin Vulgate] expresses as poenitentiam [repentance], it is called resipiscentia ['a coming to one’s senses'] or transmentatio ['a change of mind']: just as also Erasmus notes concerning chapter 3 of the gospel according to Matthew. Metanoeite, it is transmentamini [in Latin], that is, assume a different mind and perception, recover your senses, make a transition of mind and a Passover of spirit, so as to now be wise in heavenly things, instead of thus far you have been wise in earthly things [cf. Jn. 3:12-17]. Also Lactantius [in] book 6 of his Institutes informs, that poenitentia [repentance] in Greek is called Metanoia, that is resipiscentia. By no means therefore from use in sacred Scripture is repentance called sorrow, but a change of mind and [of one's own] judgment, and to repent is to be wise after an error, and to install a mind for right living.'"[4]
Similarly, in a letter to John Von Staupitz dated May 30, 1518, Luther writes about the Latin word poenitentiam ("penance," or "repentance," as it is variously translated), and says: "After this it happened that I learned -- thanks to the work and talent of the most learned men who teach us Greek and Hebrew with such great devotion -- that the word poenitentia means metanoia in Greek; it is derived from meta and noun, that is, from 'afterward' and 'mind.' Poenitentia or metanoia, therefore, means coming to one's right mind and a comprehension of one's own evil [i.e. sinfulness] after one has accepted the damage and recognized the error."[5] In a footnote after the words "thanks to the work and talent of the most learned men who teach us Greek...[etc.]," the editors include a footnote that says: "Luther is thinking mainly of Erasmus, who published the Greek text of the New Testament with notes in 1516".[6] Furthermore, at the end of Luther's statement on repentance quoted above, the editors say in another footnote: "Here Luther is apparently drawing on the explanation of the Greek word metanoeite, 'repent,' given by Erasmus in the Annotations to Matt. 3:2 in the 1516 edition of the Greek text of the New Testament".[7]
Luther's desire that "the whole world must bear witness" to Erasmus's "successful cultivation of that literature by which we arrive at a true understanding of the Scriptures" has come to fruition! By means of the internet, "the whole world" can now bear witness to the writings of Erasmus: particularly in regards to his Annotations on Matthew 3:2 and his understanding of the meaning of biblical repentance. Let us praise God this day for such great advances which make this possible. It reminds me of something that Daniel the prophet predicted, when he wrote that in the last days, "knowledge shall increase" (Dan. 12:4) -- in this case, the knowledge concerning biblical repentance and "a true understanding" thereof. Praise the Lord!
References:
[1] Jonathan Perreault, "The Annotations of Erasmus on Matthew 3:2" (FGFS, July 12, 2020).
[2] Philip Schaff, History of the Christian Church (Grand Rapids: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 1910), 8 Vols., Vol. VII, p. 402.
[3] Ibid., p. 434.
[4] Martin Luther, quoted by Ruard Tapper in his book Explicationis Articulorum Venerandae Facultatis Sacrae Theologiae (Lovanii: 1555), 2 vols., vol. 1, pp. 181-182 [pp. 185-186 in some editions], brackets and bold added. Translated from the Latin by Jonathan Perreault. Note: This quote appears in a section of Tapper's book titled "Responsio Ad Argumenta Lutheri" which translated means "Response to Luther's Arguments". This statement by Luther is also cited by Melchor Cano (1509-1560) in his book Melchioris Cani Episcopi Canariensis (Matriti: 1774), vol. 2, p. 446, in the section titled "De Definitione Poenitentiae". Cf. Melchioris Cani Opera, Melchioris Cani Episcopi Canariensis (Matriti: 1760), p. 530, in the section titled "De Definitione Poenitentiae". For more information, see the article by Jonathan Perreault, "The Meaning of Repentance: Quotes from the Ancients, Lexicons, and Theologians" (FGFS, May 28, 2021).
[5] Martin Luther, "To John von Staupitz, Wittenberg, May 30, 1518." Luther's Works. Edited and Translated by Gottfried G. Krodel (Philadelphia: Fortress Press, 1963), vol. 48, p. 66, bold added.
[6] Gottfried G. Krodel, ed., Luther's Works, vol. 48, p. 66, footnote 6, bold added.
[7] Gottfried G. Krodel, ed., Luther's Works, vol. 48, p. 66, footnote 9, bold added.
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