 The Erasmian concept of piety was “principled rather than prescriptive” (as O’Malley puts it, CWE 66: xix). It is ironic (and perhaps meant ironically) that Erasmus chose to present his counsel in the form of twenty-two rules since his overall message is that there are no fixed rules and no need for definitions and pronouncements. These are the hallmark of institutional theology, whereas the philosophy of Christ does not require formal training or attendance at university. It is open to anyone: “no one is prevented from being godly; and, I shall boldly add, no one is prevented from being a theologian” (CWE 41: 415). Every Christian must study the bible, however, Erasmus says.