Simply Put Ad Fontes
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Dec 16, 2025 Barry Cooper dives into the Reformation's rallying cry to return to the original sources of wisdom found in Scripture. He emphasizes the significance of studying the original languages to avoid translation errors. The discussion highlights the efforts of figures like Tyndale and Luther in making Scripture accessible to everyone. Notably, Cooper ties the drive for accurate translations to key theological debates, urging listeners to engage with the Bible directly. A call to prioritize personal study of Scripture wraps up this insightful exploration.
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Mineral Water As A Source Metaphor
- Barry Cooper compares bottled mineral water marketing to returning to Scripture at its pure source.
- He uses the mineral-water example to show people prefer water from its protected source over downstream, impure water.
Ad Fontes: Return To The Fountainhead
- 'Ad fontes' means returning to the fountainhead, a rallying cry of the Reformation to get back to Scripture.
- The Reformers insisted on the original languages because translations can introduce doctrinal impurities.
Reformers Challenged The Vulgate
- Barry recounts how the Vulgate's poor translations spurred reformers like Erasmus, Luther, and Tyndale to return to Greek and Hebrew.
- He highlights Erasmus's Greek New Testament and subsequent vernacular translations that exposed translation-driven doctrinal errors.