Abstract
Translating the Bible has never been an easy task, least of all at the times of theological controversy. A New Latin translation by Erasmus of Rotterdam, executed on the eve of the Reformation, met much criticism on philological and theological level. Franciscus Titelmans, a young, Franciscan scholar from Leuven, addressed in his Collationes quinque numerous issued regarding the translation of the Epistle to the Romans. This article focuses on Romans 5:12. Titelmans claimed that Erasmus’s translation of this verse threatened the dogma of original sin and promoted the resurgence of Pelagianism. The article analyses his arguments showing that although he was not entirely alien to philology, he relied more on the Church Fathers and the authority of the Church in his translation. Philological and logical arguments served only as auxiliary proofs for the meaning that had been established by patristic commentaries. Consequently, this debate mirrors diverse attitudes of both scholars. The Humanist opted for sound philology, even if it resulted in questionable theological statements, the Franciscan for sound theology, even if it led to imperfect philological choices. Although specific arguments of this debate are outdated and hardly relevant to modern-day biblical studies, divergent attitudes of its protagonists are well reflected in current debates, making it worth
Highlights
Publication of Desiderius Erasmus’s Novum Instrumentum in 1516 revolutionised biblical studies
Was the humanist from Rotterdam the first to publish the Greek text of the New Testament but he annotated it with a critical apparatus, explaining textual variations and provided a new Latin translation – purer and more elegant than the old Vulgate
This article aims to present criticism voiced against humanist translations by a young Franciscan lecturer in the Sacred Scripture from Leuven, Franciscus Titelmans
Summary
Publication of Desiderius Erasmus’s Novum Instrumentum in 1516 revolutionised biblical studies. This article aims to present criticism voiced against humanist translations by a young Franciscan lecturer in the Sacred Scripture from Leuven, Franciscus Titelmans.. This article aims to present criticism voiced against humanist translations by a young Franciscan lecturer in the Sacred Scripture from Leuven, Franciscus Titelmans.3 He begun by criticising Erasmus during his lectures and in 1529, despite some opposition from the Humanist’s friends, he published his polemic against Erasmus as well as Lorenzo Valla and Jacques Lefèvre under the title: Collationes Quinque Super Epistulam Sancti Pauli Apostoli ad Romanos.. He is known better as an author of immensely popular philosophical textbooks than as a biblical scholar, it was the latter to which he devoted most of his energy.5 As an exegete he has only caught scholars’ attention as a critic of humanists and has been portrayed as a backword conservative and bitter reactionist.. By studying only one side of the polemic, one cannot understand its meaning and misses its significance for present-day biblical studies as well
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