John Colet (c. 1467–1519)
John Colet was a Catholic priest, theologian, and educator who helped usher the spirit of Renaissance humanism into England at the dawn of the Reformation. Though he never left the Roman Church, his bold calls for reform, his pioneering approach to Scripture, and his influence on figures like Erasmus mark him as one of the most important proto-reformers of the early 16th century.
Early Life and Education
Colet was born around 1467 in London, the eldest of twenty-two children of Sir Henry Colet, a wealthy mercer and two-time Lord Mayor. After studying at Magdalen College, Oxford, he grew disenchanted with the rigid and abstract logic of scholastic theology. In the early 1490s, he traveled through France and Italy, where he studied Greek and Latin and came into contact with leading humanist thinkers. He returned to England transformed, armed with the tools to read Scripture and the Church Fathers in their original languages and intent on renewing Christian learning.
Humanist Teaching and Erasmus
Upon his return to Oxford, Colet began lecturing on the epistles of Paul. His method broke from scholastic convention: he sought to understand Scripture through grammar, history, and authorial intent. His lectures attracted wide attention, including the admiration of the young Desiderius Erasmus. The two formed a lasting friendship, and Erasmus later praised Colet as one of the most devout and sincere Christians he had ever known.
Colet’s emphasis on returning to biblical sources, combined with his deep moral seriousness, made him a leading figure in English humanism. His influence helped shape Erasmus’s own scriptural scholarship, which would in turn influence reformers across Europe.
Dean of St. Paul’s and the Call for Reform
In 1505, Colet was appointed Dean of St. Paul’s Cathedral in London. There, he preached with fiery conviction against the pride, worldliness, and corruption of the clergy. His most famous sermon, delivered before the English clergy at the opening of convocation in 1512, denounced bishops as political schemers and urged a return to apostolic humility and holiness.
Though Colet remained loyal to the Catholic Church and avoided doctrinal controversy, his message was clear: the Church was in moral crisis and needed deep reform. He became a symbol of conscience within the pre-Reformation Church, a voice calling for change from within.
St. Paul’s School and Educational Legacy
In 1509, Colet used his personal fortune to found St. Paul’s School in London. He personally wrote its statutes, recruited William Lily as headmaster, and oversaw the curriculum. The school emphasized Latin, Greek, classical authors, and Scripture. Colet viewed education as a sacred duty—a way to form the conscience and shape the future of the Church.
This was one of the first institutions in England to embody Renaissance humanism in full, and it set a new standard for religious and classical education. His model helped train a generation of morally serious, literate Christians, many of whom would later find themselves aligned with or sympathetic to Protestant reform.
Writings and Thought
Though Colet published little during his lifetime, several of his works survive and are accessible today:
Commentary on the Epistles of Paul – Based on his Oxford lectures; circulated in manuscript form.
Convocation Sermon (1512) – A searing call for clerical reform, widely circulated and still studied.
Letters – His correspondence with Erasmus reveals his theology, convictions, and deep piety.
Treatises on Dionysian Hierarchies – Lesser-known works reflecting his interest in spiritual order and Church discipline.
These writings are available in modern editions, including The Life and Letters of John Colet by J. H. Lupton and several digitized texts via Google Books and the Internet Archive.
Why He’s a Proto-Reformer
John Colet is considered a proto-reformer not because he broke with Catholic doctrine, but because he challenged the Church’s moral decay and revived the centrality of Scripture. He rejected scholasticism in favor of a humanist return to the sources. He insisted that theology must serve the Church’s spiritual life—not idle speculation. He helped shape Erasmus, who in turn influenced Luther and others. And he laid institutional foundations for reform through education and public preaching.
Colet died in 1519, two years after Martin Luther posted his Ninety-Five Theses. He did not live to see the Reformation, but he helped make it possible.
Legacy
John Colet’s legacy is one of vision, conviction, and reform. He called his generation to return to the humility of the apostles and the clarity of Scripture. He taught a new way of reading the Bible, not through layers of commentary but by understanding the words and minds of its authors. He founded a school that would teach generations to think, to read, and to believe with both intellect and conscience.
Though he remained Catholic, his life echoed the same cry that would later shake the world: the Church must be reformed, and that reform must begin with truth, holiness, and the Word of God.
Books on John Colet and His Context
The Life and Letters of John Colet
By J. H. Lupton (originally published 1887)
The most detailed traditional biography of Colet. Includes translated letters, biographical commentary, and theological insights. Still a foundational reference.
Available on Internet Archive and Google Books.
John Colet: Renaissance Humanist and Dean of St. Paul’s
By J. B. Trapp (1964)
A concise scholarly biography that situates Colet in the world of English humanism. Emphasizes his educational reforms and his role in shaping Erasmus and early reform movements.
John Colet: A Study of the English Church at the End of the Fifteenth Century
By F. M. Powicke (1927)
A historical study that analyzes Colet’s role in pre-Reformation reform within the Catholic Church. Valuable for understanding the religious landscape of late medieval England.
John Colet and the Platonic Tradition
By Harold Darby (1959)
An in-depth look at Colet’s use of Christian Platonism. Examines how classical philosophical ideas informed his theology and exegesis, especially through the lens of Pauline thought.
The Schoolmaster of St. Paul’s: A Life of John Colet
By R. W. Chambers (1949)
Biographical account focusing on Colet’s educational reforms and the founding of St. Paul’s School. Explores his pedagogical vision and humanist ideals.
Christian Humanism and the Reformation: Selected Writings of John Colet, Erasmus, and Thomas More
Edited by Erika Rummel (1997)
A primary source reader that places Colet alongside other key Christian humanists. Includes annotated texts and helpful contextual notes.
Collected Works of John Colet
Edited by J. H. Lupton (multi-volume, late 19th century)
Contains Colet’s existing writings, including his lectures on Paul, the 1512 convocation sermon, and other theological pieces. Essential for firsthand study.
The Mind of John Colet
By C. H. Herford (1930)
Philosophical and theological exploration of Colet’s inner life, worldview, and moral seriousness. Focuses on the pastoral tone of his reformist critique.
John Colet and Marsilio Ficino: A Study in Renaissance Humanism
By Geraldine M. Murphy (1945)
Compares Colet’s Christian Platonism with Ficino’s Florentine Neoplatonism. Illuminates intellectual connections between English and Italian humanist thought.
The Reformation in England to the Accession of Elizabeth I
By H. Maynard Smith (1933)
A broad historical survey of the English Church before the Elizabethan settlement. Includes detailed discussion of Colet’s reformist role and theological influence.
Renaissance Thought and the Arts: Collected Essays
By Paul Oskar Kristeller (second edition 1980)
A leading scholar of Renaissance philosophy offers context for understanding Colet’s intellectual setting. Helpful for grasping the broader landscape of humanism.
The English Reformers and the Papacy
By J. A. F. Thomson (1974)
Traces early English resistance to papal authority. Discusses Colet as a key voice calling for reform from within the Catholic Church without directly challenging its authority.
Early Tudor Humanism: Twenty Years of Modern Scholarship
Edited by Charles B. Schmitt (1982)
A collected volume of essays on humanism in England, featuring multiple references to Colet’s role in education, moral reform, and his relationship with Erasmus.
English Humanists: From Colet to Milton
By Hardin Craig (1940)
Surveys the major figures of English humanism from the late fifteenth century through the seventeenth. Positions Colet as a foundational figure in the tradition.
The Intellectual Origins of the English Reformation
By A. G. Dickens (1964)
Examines the pre-Reformation reform movements in England. Colet is treated as an essential bridge between late medieval reform and early Protestant developments.
Humanism and Reform: The Church in Europe, England and Scotland, 1400–1643
By James K. Cameron (1991)
Puts Colet’s reform efforts in a European context, showing how moral reform within Catholic structures helped set the stage for later ecclesial divisions.
The Roots of Reform: Tradition, Emergence, and Rupture in the Western Church
By Peter Marshall (2016)
Explores the long history of reform within the Western Church, including figures like Colet. Emphasizes continuity and the way Colet’s thought blended tradition with innovation.
Reformers before the Reformation: The Fifteenth-Century Religious Movement in the Latin Church
By Heiko A. Oberman (1966)
Classic work on pre-Reformation figures. While focused more broadly on continental movements, it provides a framework for understanding Colet as part of a trans-European trend.
John Colet and the English Church
By R. L. P. Milburn (1957)
Examines Colet’s ecclesiology, his theory of Church reform, and his practical efforts at moral renewal within the English clergy. Emphasizes his loyalty to Rome despite his critiques.
Erasmus of Rotterdam
By Roland H. Bainton (1969)
A biographical and theological portrait of Erasmus with frequent references to Colet. Bainton explores their friendship and how Colet’s influence shaped Erasmus’s early outlook.
