Ideas: A History of Thought and Invention, from Fire to Freud

by Peter Watson

The practice of numbering biblical verses, introduced by the printer Robert Stephanus in Geneva in 1551, also played a part. Being able to find their way around the scriptures more easily for many people only pointed up the many glaring inconsistencies and conflicting truths. Anabaptists pointed out that Genesis supported polygamy. In Mark’s gospel, on the other hand, Jesus said ‘a man…shall cleave to his wife’ (10:6). Divorce is permitted in Deuteronomy but not in Matthew.7 The book of Kings encourages the non-payment of taxes, whereas Matthew’s gospel says they must be paid. Many other practices and traditions, sanctified by time, and which the laity assumed were in the scriptures, were actually nowhere to be found. These included papal authority, the celibacy of priests, transubstantiation, infant baptism, the canonisation of saints and the impossibility of salvation outside the Catholic church.8