Now to Him who is able to do exceeding abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us, to Him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations forever and ever. Amen.
Ephesians 3:20-21
John Wycliffe was called the morning star of the Reformation by John Foxe. There is much debate as to if the reformation in England was a continuation of Wycliffe’s work or if the writings of Martin Luther were responsible. Wycliffe was a remarkable man with a zeal and love for Christ and the Church on earth. Wycliffe criticised the office of the papacy and the authority of Rome in England. Wycliffe rejected the practice of praying to the dead, the cult of saints, confession of sins to a priest, and the doctrine of transubstantiation, at a time in England when very few people believed what he did. Preaching against the Catholic Church on the matters which Wycliffe held dear was punishable by death.
The first English translation of Holy Scripture dates to 1382 which is the work of John Wycliffe. He believed that the common people of England ought to be able to read God’s Word in their own language and not rely on the Latin translation available only to priests. The common man in England could not read nor understand Latin so people had to depend on the priests to teach them, trusting in the process that the priests were faithful to the text of the Bible.
In May 1377 Pope Gregory XI issued five papal bulls condemning Wycliffe. But still, he remained faithful to the Word of God and would not recant what he said against Rome. Wycliffe is a very important figure in English history and biblical translations as his work and testimony paved the way for William Tyndale and the Authorised (King James) Version. Without his work, we would not have the blessings and privileges we have today.
Ask yourself the following questions.
1. Do you have a passion and zeal for the Word of God?
2. Do you have a love for the local assembly?
3. What is your calling to the local assembly?
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