Erasmus of Christendom (Hendrickson Classic Biographies)

Publisher: Hendrickson Publishers
ISBN: 9781619707269
Type: hardcover

Born the illegitimate son of a priest, and plagued throughout
life by illness and poverty, Erasmus of Rotterdam was sought
everywhere for his wit and erudition. No man in Europe had
so many friends in high places: a lifelong cosmopolitan, he
moved from country to country, lodging in palaces and in the
households of public printers, a friend of Thomas More and
Henry VIII and a correspondent of Luther and the pope.
A true man of letters, Erasmus wrote and translated tirelessly;
arguing, teaching, campaigning for the purification of
the church. He ridiculed worldly prelates, but deplored
Reformers who broke from Rome. On all occasions he spoke
for moderation in thought and action, for classical humanism
and a Christianity of the inward spirit. Still, he lived to see
many of his friends imprisoned, beheaded, or burned for their
beliefs, and he himself was accused of heresy.
Through charming and frequently humorous glimpses of
the people and scenes of Erasmus’s life, Professor Bainton
suggests the amplitude of his hero’s nature. “An affectionate
appreciation…” Time Magazine calls Erasmus of Christendom.
“In Bainton’s view, the current revolution in the church makes
the Erasmian message even more pertinent—and perhaps
more poignant—than ever before.”
Woodcut images and illustrations throughout.
Hendrickson Classic Biographies feature enduring stories
about real people whose lives have been touched and
transformed by God, and who in turn have touched others with
God’s love. Each story has been carefully selected, gently edited
if necessary, and freshly typeset, making every account—be
it ancient or contemporary—a compelling read. Great lives
reaching across the ages to touch lives today, encouraging,
challenging, and inspiring.
Author Bio
A specialist in Reformation history, Roland H. Bainton was for forty-two years Titus Street Professor of ecclesiastical history at Yale, and he continued his writing well into his twenty years of retirement. Bainton wore his scholarship lightly and had a lively, readable style. His most popular book was Here I Stand: A Life of Martin Luther (1950)—which sold more than a million copies.