Reformation

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= ‍‍Contribution to the Reformation   = Desiderius Erasmus's greatest contribution to the Reformation was undoubtedly the publication of his Greek-Latin New Testament in 1516. The New Testament casted a new light on the the perception of religion. It allowed others to see the church for what it was and what needed to so desperately be fixed. Erasmus's New Testament was primarily used by Martin Luther in 1522 to translate the content from its original Latin form to the native language German for the first time. It was also used by William Tyndale in 1526 who translated the work into English. The spread of the content within the New Testament eventually led to the popularity of the Reformation.

Erasmus also laid the foundation for the Reformation not just by the writing of the New Testament, but with the spread of his own beliefs. Led by Erasmus, the humanists condemned the corruption within the church. Erasmus believed that true religion depended upon inward devotion rather than outward displays of ceremony and ritual. By favoring the moral reform of the church and de-emphasizing the practice of didactic ritual, Erasmus ultimately laid the groundwork for Martin Luther, who eventually sparked the beginning of the reformation. ‍‍‍ ‍‍‍‍‍ ‍‍‍‍‍‍‍