Erasmus–More Correspondence (1518)

On March 5, 1518, Desiderius Erasmus sent Sir Thomas More a copy of Martin Luther’s Ninety-Five Theses. The simple act of forwarding a document shows how quickly the indulgence controversy traveled from Wittenberg to the desks of Europe’s most influential Christian thinkers. Letters and printed pamphlets were shrinking distances, and the church faced a moment when ideas could ignite nations.

Erasmus, the renowned scholar of Rotterdam, had long called Christians back to Scripture, repentance, and moral renewal. Though wary of turmoil, he believed reform should be pursued through learning, prayerful discernment, and patient correction. His posture echoed, “Test all things. Hold fast to what is good” (1 Thessalonians 5:21). Erasmus feared that unguarded zeal could harden into factions, and that pride could masquerade as piety.

More, based in London and increasingly burdened with public responsibility, received the theses with the concern of a watchman. He valued truth and the unity of Christ’s church, recognizing that false teaching and needless division could both wound souls. His vigilance reflects the charge, “Stand firm in the faith; be men of courage; be strong” (1 Corinthians 16:13). For More, courage was not loudness but steadiness—holding the line when confusion swelled.

Indulgences and the Shock of Wittenberg

Luther’s theses, originally directed toward the preaching and sale of indulgences, questioned claims that seemed to trade on fear and to treat forgiveness as a transaction. The controversy touched ordinary believers, because it pressed a central question: how sinners are reconciled to God. “For by grace you have been saved through faith… not by works” (Ephesians 2:8–9) became a rallying point for many who desired clarity and assurance before God.

A Lesson in Reform with Charity

This 1518 exchange is a reminder that upheaval tests the Christian heart. Heroism may look like intellectual honesty, refusing rumors, and speaking truth without spite. Faithfulness means bringing every claim under God’s Word, seeking purity without self-righteousness, and striving for reform that honors Christ rather than exalting parties. Even in conflict, believers are called to contend with charity, praying for a clean conscience, a humble spirit, and a steadfast love for the church Christ purchased with His blood.