Reformation Heritage Books

Vermigli’s A Commentary on Aristotle’s Nicomachean Ethics illustrates his profound knowledge of Aristotle and his commentators, but it equally shows that his final criterion for truth was not philosophy but Scripture. While Vermigli’s comments do full justice to the text of Aristotle, he also demonstrates the limitations and legitimate extent of natural reasoning. While he valued the contribution of Aristotle, he displayed a commitment to God’s Word as the final authority on human happiness and destiny. Thus, Vermigli’s only non-scriptural commentary reinforces the understanding that the Protestant scholastics maintained a grand allegiance to Scripture.

Author  Peter Martyr Vermigli (September 8, 1499 – November 12, 1562), sometimes simply Peter Martyr, was an Italian theologian of the Reformation period.