Sapientia and Stultitia in John Colet's Commentary on First Corinthians

While John Colet, friend of Erasmus and founder of St Paul's School, London, was himself widely read in Classical and pagan authors, he famously characterized pagan books as having the 'savour of the Demon' and exhorted minor clergy to reject human or secular wisdom. This article seek...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Reformation & Renaissance review
Main Author: Gianoutsos, Jamie A. (Author)
Format: Electronic Article
Language:English
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Published: Routledge, Taylor and Francis Group [2019]
In: Reformation & Renaissance review
IxTheo Classification:HC New Testament
KAG Church history 1500-1648; Reformation; humanism; Renaissance
KDE Anglican Church
Further subjects:B Augustine
B Wisdom
B 1 Corinthians
B John Colet
B Reform
B Humanism
Online Access: Volltext (Resolving-System)
Description
Summary:While John Colet, friend of Erasmus and founder of St Paul's School, London, was himself widely read in Classical and pagan authors, he famously characterized pagan books as having the 'savour of the Demon' and exhorted minor clergy to reject human or secular wisdom. This article seeks to resolve the apparent tension between Colet's disparagement of human wisdom in his commentary on First Corinthians and his own use of pagan learning and humanist activities. Through a close analysis of Colet's understanding of human and divine wisdom and human stultitia (foolishness) in the commentary, the article argues that Colet's principal concern in reproaching human wisdom (sapientia) was the moral purity of his audience. The article concludes by considering how Colet's view of secular wisdom, thus conceived, represented an early expression of his commitment to religious, ecclesiastical and moral reform.
ISSN:1743-1727
Contains:Enthalten in: Reformation & Renaissance review
Persistent identifiers:DOI: 10.1080/14622459.2019.1612979