Printing and Modern Bibles — Hebrew and Greek Source Editions

Erasmus Publishes the Greek New Testament

AD 1516
A Visit With Jesus

Desiderius Erasmus published the first Greek New Testament to reach the market, accompanied by a revised Latin text.

Full Account

Erasmus prepared his edition quickly from a small group of late Greek manuscripts available at Basel. Where his manuscripts were incomplete, he sometimes relied on the Latin tradition or editorial reconstruction. Corrected editions followed in 1519, 1522, 1527, and 1535. Despite its limitations, the work supplied Greek text used by Reformers and later editors.

Historical Significance

Erasmus helped restore direct study of the Greek New Testament to western scholarship and strongly influenced early Protestant translations.

People, Places and Sources