In his The Handbook of the Militant Christian (1503), Desiderius Erasmus (1466-1536) wrote the following about the importance of Scripture and (1) its transformative abilities as well as (2) witness to the transformation of sinners into saints:
Now since faith is the only gateway to Christ, the first rule I would lay down is that we ought to place great reliance on the Scriptures. This belief should not be, as is the case with most Christians, something cold, careless, and calculated, but rather should come from a fullness of heart. Be convinced that there is not a single item contained in Holy Writ that does not pertain to your salvation. The fact that the majority of mankind considers heaven and hell as some kind of legend or old wives’ tale ought not to disturb you. Even if the entire world appear made, even though the angels revolt and the very elements change, the truth cannot lie. What God has foretold must inevitably take place.
If you believe God exists, then you must believe that He speaks the truth. Convince yourself that nothing you perceive with your senses is as true as what you read in the Scriptures. The will of heaven, Truth Itself, has inspired it; the prophets of old have made it known; the blood of the martyrs has proven it; and the constant belief of countless generations has testified to it. Christ Himself in His life here below has exemplified its pervading truth. Even the demons have confessed its veracity since they believe in it just as much as they fear it. Certainly the very beauty of the message it contains should in itself convince anyone who reads it. If such be the case, would it not be sheer madness not to believe? Take, for example, the many incredible things that were foretold by the prophets concerning Christ. Not one of them has not taken place. Do you think for a moment that He who did not deceive them would try to deceive others? If these prophets did not lie, certainly Christ, the greatest of all prophets, did not deceive us . . . Too many of our theologians and teachers only make this matter worse by adapting the words of Scripture to the justification of their own crimes. In truth Scripture should be a source of that norm of behavior that can correct them. Too often rulers today, reading that all power is from God, justify the perpetration of most horrible crimes. How many do not try to establish a new order of charity that engenders a greater regard for their own possessions than for their neighbor’s, that sets their own life and fame over all others? Men will not defend the good name of their neighbor if by doing so they in any way tarnish their own. Who will not forsake their neighbor in time of danger, in order to save themselves? Pointing to the fact that many great saints were also great sinners is hardly a commendable thing. Out of fear of death, Peter denied Christ, yet he willingly died for Him later on. Do you think this is sufficient reason to deny Christ on so many occasions? Paul sinned in persecuting Christ, but once he was aware of this, he immediately changed his ways. Matthew was summoned but once and he immediately abandoned his position as a tax collector to follow Christ. It is indeed a sad state of affairs when we have given to vices the names of virtues, when we are more diligent in defending our vices than in correcting them, and when we even turn to Scripture to condone them. You have imitated David and Mary Magdalene as sinners; imitate them, also, in their repentance and love of God. (The Essential Erasmus: Selected and Newly Translated with Introduction and Commentary [comp., and trans. John P. Dolan; New York: Mentor Book, 1964], 53, 75)
