This essay seeks to understand the basis of this hermeneutical revolution. In order to do so, the background of Erasmus will be examined from the perspective of his Christian humanism and biblical scholarship. The hermeneutics of Erasmus will be analyzed noting the influencing sources and attempting to show the historical development in Erasmus' hermeneutical thought. Finally, the impact of Erasmus upon Reformation and post-Reformation hermeneutics will be evaluated. This will include an attempt to discover the significance of Erasmus for hermeneutical studies in our own day.
Some controversies repeat themselves in church history.
Today we are seeing a replay of the controversy on how to interpret the Bible. Since we can gain important insights by studying what believers have said in the past about hermeneutics, the goal of this discussion is to learn what the Westminster Standards, particularly the Westminster Confession, can teach us about Bible interpretation. Since the publication of the first volume in 1987, the author has established himself as one of the leading scholars of the post-Reformation period. Muller's basic contention is that the Reformed scholastics should not be viewed as deviating from the pristine, Christocentric theology of Calvin, but rather as preserving the essence of the Reformed faith articulated by the Reformers. It is incorrect to compare Calvin against the Calvinists as if Calvin was the only founder of Reformed thought.