Basel 1516: Erasmus’ Edition of the New Testament

In 1516, Erasmus of Rotterdam’s version of the New Testament, featuring the editio princeps of the Greek text, a revised Latin translation and comprehensive annotations, was published by Johann Froben in Basel. The edition proved to be of great significance for the history of scholarship and books. It marked a milestone in classical text publishing and laid the foundation for the reception of the Biblical text during the Reformation and Counter-Reformation. The Greek text was also to remain the standard form - textus receptus - for centuries. With the extended and revised Erasmus editions of 1519, 1522, 1527 and 1535, the work enjoyed unique commercial success. The contents of this volume are based on a conference held in Basel in anticipation of the first edition’s forthcoming 500thanniversary. Contributions by 15 internationally acknowledged specialists provide a comprehensive overview of the latest research results on this epochal edition. The philological pre-history, the Greek text and additions (forewords, annotations, Erasmus’ Latin translation) as well as communication and reception of the work are highlighted. It also offers new insights into Erasmus’ publication activities and the history of the Biblical text.