Buchbesprechungen might promise to be the most interesting, ogy in the later , and the unfortunately breaks off after chapter 2. editors are to be congratulated for mak- Despite its limitations, this volume offers ing it available in English. a rich resource for the consideration of the relationship of philosophy and theol- Charlotte Methuen, Oxford

Bullinger, Heinrich, Briefwechsel. the first half of the year. In addition to Bd. 11: Briefe des Jahres 1541, bearb. second-hand accounts channeled von Rainer Henrich, Alexandra Kess through Basel and Constance, Bullinger und Christian Moser. Zürich: Theolo- also received direct reports from Regens- gischer Verlag 2005 (Heinrich Bullinger burg, most notably from Rudolf Werke, Abt. 2, Bd. 11), 385 S., ISBN 3- Gwalther, who attended the colloquy in 290-17339-9 the train of the Landgraf of Hesse, as well as from the Hessian theologians In 1541 Heinrich Bullinger completed who participated in the colloquy. As the his first decade as Zurich’s Antistes. The editors point out, these letters provide a latest volume in the critical edition of valuable supplement to the ongoing Bullinger’s correspondence presents the critical edition of documents related to reformer not only as an active force in the colloquies. shaping ecclesiastical and educational Closer to home, the prospect of Calvin’s policy at home but also as an engaged return to Geneva, as well as Farel’s diffi- observer of ecclesio-political develop- culties in Neuchâtel, bring the Fran- ments outside of Zurich. cophone reformers back to Bullinger’s Bullinger’s correspondence from this attention, and readers can watch the year reveals a communication network spread of the plague and its devastating centered in Switzerland and southern consequences via the letters sent to the but that extended to East Fri- Zurich Antistes. The letters of students sia and, through the mediation of the sent to study in the Empire attest to Bul- merchant Richard Hilles, into England. linger’s leading role in determining Zu- Basel and Constance continue to provide rich’s educational policies, and corre- the bulk of Bullinger’s correspondence: spondence with Biel concerning the boys thirty of the 144 letters exchanged during sent from that city to study in Zurich this year are with the Baslers Oswald shed light on Bullinger’s influence there Myconius and Simon Grynaeus, and an- as well. other twenty-five are to or from the In comparison with earlier years, theo- Constance reformers logical topics take up a smaller share of and Konrad Zwick. Bullinger in turn Bullinger’s correspondence. Most note- passed on information to Johannes worthy are a lengthy letter dealing with Comander and Johannes Travers in Christology and the Lord’s Supper, ad- Graubünden, continued to correspond dressed to the Stuttgart jurist Nicolaus with Joachim Vadian in St. Gallen, and Müller/Maier and an equally detailed re- received occasional reports from Eras- sponse to a treatise by Simon Grynaeus mus Ritter in Bern. on the sacrament, both written at the end The exchange of news about the religious of July. Just as interesting is Vadian’s colloquies at Worms and Regensburg translation and virtual commentary on dominates the correspondence through three Frankish documents that Bullinger

230 Zwingliana XXXIII, 2006 Buchbesprechungen had loaned him; the letter attests to Va- tinuity despite the turnover, and if this dian’s impressive philological skill and volume is any indication, we can expect historical knowledge. that future volumes will continue to This volume is the first produced by a maintain the same high editorial stan- new editorial team, following the depar- dards as those covering the first decade ture of Hans-Ulrich Bächtold and Kurt of Bullinger’s Zurich ministry. Jakob Rüetschi. Rainer Henrich’s pres- ence on the editorial team provides con- Amy Nelson Burnett, Lincoln NE

Christine Christ-von Wedel, others or appears unique. Comparisons von Rotterdam: Anwalt eines neuzeit- and contrasts with Luther and Zwingli lichen Christentums, Münster: LIT abound. The crucial element in Erasmus’ Verlag, 2003. 286 Seiten. ISBN 3-8258- , that which sets him apart and 6678-5 makes him an «advocate of a modern Christianity,» is his «historical ap- Christine Christ-von Wedel joins a proach.» This historischer Ansatz is the chorus of scholars who over the last gen- controlling concept of a book, grounded eration have published biographies of or in a thorough reading of Erasmus’ works introductions to Erasmus. Hers is a fresh and conversant with the relevant and clear voice, a welcome addition to scholarly literature, that analyzes Eras- the choir. An English translation would mus’ thought in a methodical way. give that voice the wider resonance that it The author begins by tracing the emerg- deserves in shaping a new generation of ence of Erasmus’ historical approach, for Erasmus scholars. which his discovery and publication in The book is an admirable introduction to 1505 of Valla’s Annotationes in Novum Erasmus’ theology. Pace Jacques Cho- Testamentum was the decisive point of marat, Christ-von Wedel insists that Er- departure. For Erasmus was the asmus was a theologian. She makes it heart of theology. Not surprisingly, clear that he produced no theological Christ-von Wedel argues that he turned system; yet he offered a «vision of God’s theologians into historians (87) and revelation in history that points beyond highlights his «historical interpretation» history» (191). Whereas Rudolf Padberg, (97–111). To her credit, she frequently Léon-Ernest Halkin, and James Tracy, draws on the Paraphrases on the New among others, have given us a Catholic Testament, a source not used often Erasmus, Christ-von Wedel’s Erasmus enough for investigating Erasmian exe- has a more Protestant orientation, al- gesis and theology. A substantial section though «he remained loyal to the Roman on Erasmus’ theology examines his view Church» (10). on attaining knowledge about God as Several features make this book intellec- well as his doctrine (Lehre) of creation, tually stimulating. In placing Erasmus’ God, justification, the human will, and ideas in the context of thinkers such as concept of faith. Given the usually care- Aquinas, Raimundus Sabundus, Agrippa ful and comprehensive analysis of theo- von Nettesheim, Vives, Johann Eck, logical themes, the terse statement–with- Luther, Melanchthon, Zwingli, Bulling- out much elaboration–that Erasmus er, and Calvin, it shows at which points rejected original sin comes as a tantaliz- his theology resembles the positions of ing surprise (166). A discussion of Eras-

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