Desiderius Erasmus was probably born in Rotterdam in 1466. His father's name was Gerhard, his mother's Margaretha; they were never married. Their son's name given at birth was Gerhardus Gerhardi, which he changed later to Desiderius Erasmus, having the same meaning in Latin and Greek.
After the death of his parents at the age of fifteen, his guardians entered him into a seminary. His guardians were influenced to enter him into a seminary because he had already exhibited early scholarly abilities at the age of nine while at Deventer where it was predicted by many there that Erasmus would one day be the most learned man in Germany.
Erasmus was unhappy, and his hatred of monkery increased with each passing year at the monastery. In 1491, the bishop of Cambray, desiring a capable Latinist as his secretary for a projected, obtained permission for Erasmus to leave the convent. Subsequently, he was ordained priest in 1492. However, in 1506 he succeeded in obtaining from pope Julius II a reversal of his of his monastic vows.
While resident in the Netherlands, and sometimes at Basel, his great landmark work was completed in 1516, the first edition of the New Testament in Greek, accompanied by a new Latin translation. Because of this work, his fame spread throughout all Europe. The second edition of his Greek New Testament appeared in 1519.
The literary industry of Erasmus is renown during his entire life. He had a love for the ancient classics, and had a knack for spreading his love for the writings to others. But, of all his writings, the only ones that are likely to retain a lasting place in literature are the Colloquies, and the Panegyric on Folly, both writings of his youth, and regarded by him rather as pastime.
Furthermore, he was the literary precursor of the Reformation. His exegetical writings prepared the way for later expositors, opened a new era in biblical criticism, and also aided in giving the Bible its Protestant position as the rule of faith. His satires upon the monks, upon the scholastic theology
in general, and upon Church abuses, contributed largely to prepare the rupture with the papacy in Rome.
On July 11-12, 1536, Erasmus died from dysentery and died during the night. He left all his property to the poor.
The numerous writings of Erasmus were collected and published after his death in 1540-41, nine volumes in all. Erasmus edited many of the church fathers, including Origen, Irenaeus, Cyprian, Augustine, Chrysostom, Lactantius.
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