Yesterday while visiting Basel Minster, a cathedral commissioned in 1019 and one of the main features of Basel, Switzerland, I laid my eyes on the final resting place of an old hero of mine.

Desiderius Erasmus Roterodamus, or Erasmus of Rotterdam, was a scholar whose work synced with the Protestant Reformation. I remember him from a class on the topic, a theologian who tried to connect the various interests, but eventually both sides of the debate ran him over—road kill of the Reformation.

However, I think of him fondly for this one quote:

When I get a little money, I buy books; if any is left, I buy food and clothes.

Erasmus of Rotterdam

This reminds me of Paul’s instructions to Timothy—When you come, bring the cloak that I left with Carpus at Troas, also the books, and above all the parchments (2 Timothy 4:13).

I also love books. Perhaps not to the level of Erasmus, but I buy books over many other worthy items. And like Paul, I drag a few good books around with me wherever I go.

So, while it was nice to see the final resting place of Erasmus, a few hours in his library would have been way better.

2 Timothy 4 in reading through the Bible in 2021