Castellio, Sebastian (1515–1563)

French teacher and translator. He was an early follower of the reformer John Calvin, but they later quarrelled over doctrinal issues and Castellio's humanist sympathies. Calvin's support for the execution of Servetus in 1553 led Castellio to write his best-known work, De Haereticis/On Heresy, a defence of religious toleration. He translated the Bible into French and into Latin.

Born at St Martin de Fresne, near Nantua in Savoy, Castellio was educated at Lyons and kept a school there. After reading Calvin's Institutio he went to Strasbourg in 1540 and, having met Calvin, he was converted to the reformed religion and accompanied Calvin to Geneva.

He was appointed rector of the college at Geneva, but his humanism later brought him into conflict with Calvin and in 1544 he was forced to move to Basel. In 1552 he was appointed professor of Greek at Basel. He deplored the execution of Servetus and broke entirely with Calvin and Beza after the publication of his plea for religious tolerance.

Castellio's Latin Bible, a version noted for its classical elegance, appeared 1546–51 and was dedicated to Edward VI of England. His French version was published in 1555. He was also a translator of Greek and Latin classics. His work on predestination was not published until 1578 and his answer to Calvin's criticisms appeared in 1612.