"The Bible is for the government of the people, by the people and for the people."
~John Wycliffe~
John Wycliffe
~John Wycliffe~
John WycliffeDuring the 14th century John Wycliffe was an English theologian. He was an influential voice against the abuses of the Roman Catholic Church: the greatest power of his day. He founded the Lollard movement (a precursor to the protestant reformation) and became known as the Morning Star of the Reformation.
John Wycliffe was a fearless defender of Liberty. He believed that all men, regardless of their station in life, should have access to the Bible in their own language. He was the first to translate the entire Bible from Latin into English. As a result of his effort to make the Bible available to the common people translating it into English, literacy spread all over England. This frightened the Roman Church because the people began to think and had the courage to act on their convictions being unafraid of persecution from the Church. The Catholic Church began burning his followers (the Lollards) at the stake. John Wycliffe believed he would end his life either by being burned at the stake or in a prison in Rome. In spite of this, Wycliffe and his followers would not recant. Wycliffe died a natural death while preaching at his church. Forty years later the Pope ordered his bones dug up and burned, hoping that this would destroy his influence. Yet 1oo years later, it was said, if you met two men on the street one of them would be a follower of John Wycliffe.
The freedom we enjoy in this country today is a result of John Wycliffe's work.
John Wycliffe was a fearless defender of Liberty. He believed that all men, regardless of their station in life, should have access to the Bible in their own language. He was the first to translate the entire Bible from Latin into English. As a result of his effort to make the Bible available to the common people translating it into English, literacy spread all over England. This frightened the Roman Church because the people began to think and had the courage to act on their convictions being unafraid of persecution from the Church. The Catholic Church began burning his followers (the Lollards) at the stake. John Wycliffe believed he would end his life either by being burned at the stake or in a prison in Rome. In spite of this, Wycliffe and his followers would not recant. Wycliffe died a natural death while preaching at his church. Forty years later the Pope ordered his bones dug up and burned, hoping that this would destroy his influence. Yet 1oo years later, it was said, if you met two men on the street one of them would be a follower of John Wycliffe.
The freedom we enjoy in this country today is a result of John Wycliffe's work.
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