What Do a Spoiled Egyptian, a Captive Woman, and a Pythagorean Have in Common?: Erasmus on Tradition
What Do a Spoiled Egyptian, a Captive Woman, and a Pythagorean Have in Common?: Erasmus on Tradition
This chapter discusses Erasmus's most famous protreptic, the Paraclesis, which not only issues a call to the philosophy of Christ but does so with the help of some of the same pagan philosophers summoned in the adage. Not only do the teachings of some pagan philosophers coincide with Christian doctrine, but also their ancient wisdom, like passages of Scripture, can inspire exegetical activity conducive to pious living. Closely associated with his philological efforts to improve both the Greek text of the New Testament and its Latin translation, Erasmus's program for cooperation between pagan and Christian antiquity encounters steady resistance within the Church. On the other hand, his sermon-like essays based on worldly learning enjoyed enormous popularity, both individually and as part of the collection of roughly 4,000 proverbs called the Adagiorum chiliades.
Keywords: most famous protreptic, Paraclesis, philosophy of Christ, pagan philosophers, Christian doctrine, Scripture, exegetical activity
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