Johann Reuchlin (1455-1522)

Koenig Prize in Catholic Biography 2016

This is the first biography in English of Johann Reuchlin (1455-1522), based upon the new critical edition of his correspondence. Reuchlin became most famous as the Catholic defender of Jewish books at the beginning of the 16th century, clarifying the Catholic Church’s position toward the Jews. The book contributes to the celebration of the 50th anniversary of the Declaration on Relations with the Jews of the Second Vatican Council in 1965.

Franz Posset, PhD, Dipl.-Theol., is internationally known as Catholic Luther scholar, specializing in the theology and history of the Renaissance and Reformation, author of Pater Bernhardus: Martin Luther and Bernard of Clairvaux (1999), The Front-Runner of the Catholic Reformation (on Johann von Staupitz) (2003), Renaissance Monks (2005), The Real Luther (2011), Marcus Marulus and the Biblia Latina of 1489 (2013), and a book in German, Unser Martin. Martin Luther aus der Sicht katholischer Sympathisanten (2015).

Franz Posset, Beaver Dam, WI, USA.

"Reuchlin interacted with many great humanists of his time, so the thorough research of Posset and the full indices should encourage researchers to consult this biography for details about both friends and enemies of this great scholar. Thirty-one illustrations (some in color) plus a chronology, bibliography, and indices of personal names and biblical references enhance the value of the book for those interested in European intellectual history of the time and in Reuchlin’s contemporaries."
Lawrence E. Frizzell in: Studies in Christian-Jewish Relations 13/1 (2018), 13

"In conclusion, a book like that of Franz Posset does not deserve just a review, it deserves laudation! From my point of view, it is the best and the most reliable biography of the great humanist of Pforzheim. This book will take pride of place in any reputable humanist and theological library."
Rajmund Pietkiewicz in: The Biblical Annals 7/3 (2017): 393 - 398

"Die große Stärke von Possets Buch besteht in der schieren Fülle des dargebotenen Materials. [...] Besonders hervorzuheben ist, dass Posset zahlreiche, teils rare Bildquellen erschlossen hat, die dem Buch dankenswerter Weise in zumeist guten Abbildungen beigegeben sind."
Jan-Hendryk de Boer in: H-Soz-Kult, 16.03.2016,

"Vor 50 Jahren hat die römisch-katholische Kirche in der Erklärung Nostra aetate des Zweiten Vatikanischen Konzils ihre Beziehung zum Judentum auf eine neue Basis gestellt und den traditionellen christlichen Antijudaismus überwunden. Franz Posset stellt in seiner auf dem neuesten Stand der Forschung gearbeiteten Biographie Johannes Reuchlin als einen Mann vor, der 500 Jahre früher diesen Weg einschlug, damals aber vom Papst gebremst wurde. Die Gründe dafür sind, wie Posset überzeugend darlegt, vielfältiger, als es auf den ersten Blick erscheint. Zwar hatte Reuchlin bei seinem Kampf gegen die Vernichtung der 'Judenbücher' Befürworter bis in die höchsten Kreise der römischen Kurie. Die antirömische Polemik mancher deutscher Unterstützer und der sich abzeichnende Konflikt zwischen Martin Luther und Rom schadeten ihm jedoch. Posset zeigt, wie Reuchlin, der von Haus aus Jurist war, durch seine intensive Beschäftigung mit der hebräischen Sprache und der jüdischen Literatur, insbesondere der Kabbala, zum 'Laientheologen' wurde und eine Brücke zwischen Christentum und Judentum zu schlagen versuchte. Es gelingt ihm auf eindrucksvolle Weise, das faszinierende Denken Reuchlins für heutige Leser lebendig werden zu lassen."
Peter Walter, Professor of Dogmatic Theology, University of Freiburg, Germany.

"Franz Posset makes a convincing case for viewing Reuchlin as a Catholic lay theologian, deeply influenced by the budding humanism of the period, especially its concern for understanding the sacred books of the past in their original languages. This concern led Reuchlin to master Hebrew for study of the Old Testament, to examine aspects of post-biblical Jewish literature, to find important wisdom therein, and to defend the Jews and their books against intense assault. Posset treats these aspects of Reuchlin at great length and with scrupulous care, thus creating an invaluable guide to the perspectives of this major Christian thinker on Judaism and the Jews and a significant contribution to the literature on Christian-Jewish relations over the ages."
Robert Chazan, Professor of Jewish History, New York University, USA.

"The German humanist Johannes Reuchlin is famous for his defense of Jewish literature in the sixteenth century. In recent years many fine studies have been published which concentrate on different aspects of his life and scholarly achievements. A new and all-comprising biography, however, is eagerly awaited. This gap has now been filled by Franz Posset's opus. Profoundly researched and excellently written, Posset places Reuchlin in the tradition of the medieval catholic church. This book could be a standard for many generations to come."
Hans Peterse, Lecturer in History, University of Münster, Germany.