<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><p>Scholars have debated whether the sentiment of sixteenth century reformers against material forms of worship derived from certain Neo-Platonic ideas proliferating in parts of Europe and disseminated by Erasmus or from strictly Scriptural principles that were initially formulated by the Old Testament prophets and given fuller expression in the New. This essay studies the reformers′ interpretation of the phrase logikē latreia at Romans 12:1, as well as other key passages. It concludes that, whether consciously or subconsciously, the reformers borrowed language concerning the material-spiritual dichotomy of worship, not directly from Neo-Platonists, but from a commonplace used by numerous Roman writers. Early Church Fathers had long ago turned the same commonplace against pagan rivals, but now the reformers were employing it against the Catholic Church itself.</p></abstract>

Scholars have debated whether the sentiment of sixteenth century reformers against material forms of worship derived from certain Neo-Platonic ideas proliferating in parts of Europe and disseminated by Erasmus or from strictly Scriptural principles that were initially formulated by the Old Testament prophets and given fuller expression in the New. This essay studies the reformers′ interpretation of the phrase logikē latreia at Romans 12:1, as well as other key passages. It concludes that, whether consciously or subconsciously, the reformers borrowed language concerning the material-spiritual dichotomy of worship, not directly from Neo-Platonists, but from a commonplace used by numerous Roman writers. Early Church Fathers had long ago turned the same commonplace against pagan rivals, but now the reformers were employing it against the Catholic Church itself.

The Logikē Latreia of Romans 12: 1 and Its Interpretation Among Christian Humanists

Perichoresis

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 License.

Scholars have debated whether the sentiment of sixteenth century reformers against material forms of worship derived from certain Neo-Platonic ideas...

The Logikē Latreia of Romans 12: 1 and Its Interpretation Among Christian Humanists

Published Online: Apr 20, 2017

Page range: 47 - 66

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1515/perc-2017-0003

Keywords
worship, Romans 12:1, Erasmus, Calvin, Neo-Platonism

© 2017

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 License.

The Logikē Latreia of Romans 12: 1 and Its Interpretation Among Christian Humanists

Published Online: Apr 20, 2017

Page range: 47 - 66

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1515/perc-2017-0003

Keywordsworship, Romans 12:1, Erasmus, Calvin, Neo-Platonism

© 2017

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 License.

Keywords
worship, Romans 12:1, Erasmus, Calvin, Neo-Platonism