Erastian

1 definition found

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  Erastian \E*ras"tian\ (?; 106), n. (Eccl. Hist.)
     One of the followers of Thomas Erastus, a German physician
     and theologian of the 16th century. He held that the
     punishment of all offenses should be referred to the civil
     power, and that holy communion was open to all. In the
     present day, an Erastian is one who would see the church


     placed entirely under the control of the State. --Shipley.
     [1913 Webster]