The Oxford Reformers: John Colet, Erasmus, and Thomas More

by Frederic Seebohm

"The Oxford Reformers: John Colet, Erasmus, and Thomas More" by Frederic Seebohm is a historical account written during the late 19th century. The work focuses on the collaborative efforts and shared intellectual pursuits of three prominent figures of the Renaissance: John Colet, Erasmus, and Thomas More, particularly in the context of their reformative ideologies that emerged during the transition from medieval to modern thought. The beginning of the book introduces John Colet's return from Italy to Oxford around 1496, highlighting the significance of his upcoming lectures on St. Paul's Epistles, which marks a shift towards a renewed focus on Scripture at the University, a subject largely neglected by scholars of his time. Colet's unorthodox approach to biblical interpretation and education is presented as a pivotal moment, likely to stir both curiosity and resistance from the traditional academic establishment at Oxford. This sets the stage for the exploration of how Colet, Erasmus, and More sought to navigate the complexities and contradictions of their era, as well as their influence on each other's reformative visions.