In the biblical passage of Is. 56, 3-7 the prophet establishes a profound connection between the eunuch and the stranger, figures traditionally excluded from the community of Israel, but whom God surprisingly welcomes into his people (in accordance with the universalistic perspective of the Trito Isaiah). In the patristic commentary this connection is mostly broken, and we specialize on the figure of the eunuch who, in the light of Jesus’ words on eunuchia (Mt. 19, 10-12), becomes a reference for a (...) new consideration of continence for the Kingdom. As prophesied by Isaiah, he who is not fruitful by nature, or rather by choice, is raised, by a divine gift, to a new generation: he is the dry wood that flowers and bears fruits. (shrink)

In the main editions of the Commentary by Jerome on the prophet Habakkuk one can read a gloss (« quia scarabaeus uel cantharus uermis est stercoris ») which cannot be found in the manuscript that is usually consulted. The codices show different readings which in most cases quote a corrupt text. Considering that the above-mentioned note does not appear in the pre-Erasmian editions one can draw the conclusion that Erasmus himself corrected the text, adding the meaningful note. To confirm what (...) has been said one can add other corrections, perhaps less significant but which nevertheless can be equally attributed to the hand of the Rotterdam Humanist. (shrink)