Luther didn’t start the fire: John Wycliffe (1324-1384)

From here: John Wycliffe lived almost 200 years before the Reformation, but his beliefs and […]

JDK / 10.29.10

From here: John Wycliffe lived almost 200 years before the Reformation, but his beliefs and teachings closely match those of Luther, Calvin and other reformers. As a man ahead of his time, historians have called Wycliffe the “Morning star of the Reformation.” Born in the 1300s, Wycliffe criticized abuses and false teachings in the Church. In 1382 he translated an English Bible—the first complete European translation done in nearly 1,000 years. The Lollards, itinerant preachers he sent throughout England, inspired a spiritual revolution.But the Lollardy movement was short-lived. The Church expelled Wycliffe from his teaching position at Oxford, and 44 years after he died, the Pope ordered his bones exhumed and burned. Intense persecution stamped out his followers and teachings. It would be hundreds of years before men like Martin Luther resurrected the reforms of which Wycliffe dreamed.

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COMMENTS


One response to “Luther didn’t start the fire: John Wycliffe (1324-1384)”

  1. Howard says:

    I believe Wycliffe trained those who returned to Bohemia who influenced Jon Hus who, in turn, would so affirm the work of Luther (the claim made that he was a follower of Hus, and reading him, Luther found this true, comes to mind), thus God has woven the cords to bring the brilliant light of the Gospel back so clearly into our world…
    The Lord gave the word, and great was the company of those who proclaimed it!

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