Laurentius Valla (1407-1457): Renaissance Critic and Biblical Theologian

Authors

Marvin W. Anderson, Bethel Seminary, St. Paul

Publication Date

1-1-1968

Document Type

Article

Keywords

renaissance, humanism, laurentius valla, philological, italy, arabic, hebrew, kristeller, theology, catholic, christian

Submission Type

Bible Study; Lecture; Sermon Prep

Abstract

When Laurentius Valla penned those words, he was writing the fuse scientific treatise on Latin grammar since John Duns Scotus. Leonardo Bruni died in the same year Valla’s treatise appeared. The year 1444 marks the return of Renaissance scholars to a philological analysis of classical texts. This method, which Valla soon applied to Biblical study, revolutionized medieval Biblical scholarship in the century before Trent. Valla's purpose was to revitalize Catholic faith. Protestants and Catholics still owe their fresh awareness of Scripture to the labors of Valla.

Disciplines

History of Christianity

Submission Cost

Free

Submission Audience

Laity; Ministers; Scholars

Recommended Citation

Anderson, Marvin W. (1968) "Laurentius Valla (1407-1457): Renaissance Critic and Biblical Theologian," Concordia Theological Monthly: Vol. 39, Article 3.
Available at: https://scholar.csl.edu/ctm/vol39/iss1/3