John Wycliffe: Often described as the ‘Morning Star’ of the reformation, John Wycliffe was on of the greatest reformers. Just like the morning star appears just before dawn and sheds light amidst darkness so this fearless reformer stood alone, advocating Biblical principles and ideas that were far ahead of his time.

<p>John Wycliffe: Often described as the ‘Morning Star’ of the reformation, John Wycliffe was on of the greatest reformers. Just like the morning star appears just before dawn and sheds light amidst darkness so this fearless reformer stood alone, advocating Biblical principles and ideas that were far ahead of his time.</p>

Lineage Journey

Adam Ramdin

The Great Controversy

01 The Destruction of Jerusalem

02 Persecution in the First Centuries

03 An Era of Spiritual Darkness

04 The Waldenses

05 John Wycliffe

06 Huss and Jerome

07 Luther’s Separation from Rome

08 Luther Before the Diet

09 The Swiss Reformer

10 Progress of Reform in Germany

11 Protest of the Princes

12 The French Reformation

13 The Netherlands & Scandinavia

14 Later English Reformers

15 The Bible & The French Revolution

16 The Pilgrim Fathers

17 Heralds of The Morning

18 An American Reformer

19 Light Through Darkness

20 A Great Religious Awakening

21 A Warning Rejected

22 Prophecies Fulfilled

23 What is the Sanctuary?

24 In the Holy of Holies

25 God’s Law Immutable

27 Modern Revivals

28 Facing Life’s Record

29 The Origin of Evil

30 Enmity Between Man and Satan

31 Agency of Evil Spirits


John Wycliffe's Reformation Season 2 Episode 3 John Wycliffe John Wycliffe was unrivaled in his time and has rightly been described by several commentators as 1 of the greatest reformers. His breadth of intellect, his firmness to stand for principle, and his rediscovery of biblical ideas that had been lost for centuries sets him apart from his contemporaries. John Wycliffe lived over a hundred years before Luther, Zwingli, Calvin, and the later English reformers, but he laid the groundwork and provided the foundation that paved the way for them. Standing alone as a voice calling for change, he was a reformer before the term became popular, advocating for a return to biblical literacy and a reform of the church. 🎵 In the 14th century, Britain was plagued with poor roads, infighting between the English, Scots, Welsh, and French, sickness, plagues, and spiritual darkness.

The issue of England's relation with the papal court was a hot topic as Parliament voted in 1366 to stop paying the 1, 000 marks a year that had been agreed 150 years previous prior to the signing of Magna Carta by King John. England at the time was completely Catholic. There were no other denominations or religions that you could join. [♪ MUSIC ♪ John Wycliffe was born in Hipswell, North Yorkshire, and then educated here in Oxford at Merton College. Later he became a master at Balliol College in 1361, and over the next several years he was responsible for various parishes while still holding a job here at the university.

It was while he was here in Oxford that he came onto Rome's radar for denouncing the friars and their lazy lifestyle, and also he was the first in his era who used the term Antichrist in connection with Rome. [♪ music ♪ There were several attempts by Rome to silence John Wycliffe, especially towards the end of his life, in 1377, 1382, and 1383. Each time he was brought before various councils, but he was unflinching in his convictions. He was also protected by influential friends, but another key situation that helped him was the papal schism of 1378 onwards where there was not 1, but 2 rival popes, each claiming to be the right 1. In the midst of this confusion and uncertainty, he was left to carry on his work with less hindrances.

John Wycliffe also realized that he'll be far more effective if he trained other people, and he set about to train young men known as the Lollards or Bible men who traversed the whole country preaching the gospel. [♪ music ♪ The greatest of Wycliffe's achievements came at the end of his life whilst he was here in the parish of Lutterworth, and it was a translation of the Latin Vulgate Bible into the English language. Today it's hard to grasp the significance of this event because the Bible is freely available, but at the time it was against the law to own a copy of the Bible or even read it in the common language. Wycliffe's adversaries saw his translation as being dangerous in the English language and they described it as, the gospel pearl is thrown before swine and trodden underfoot and that which used to be so dear to both clergy and laity has become a joke, and this precious gem of the clergy has been turned into the sport of the laity.' Wycliffe, though, declared plainly, Christ and his apostles taught the people in the language best known to them. It is certain that the truth of the Christian faith becomes more evident the more the faith is known.

Therefore, the doctrine should not only be in Latin but in the common tongue. [♪ music ♪ Wycliffe's translation was not without fault, but now there was light where there had previously only been darkness. The light from his word pierced through the darkness and began to peel back the layers of night, the morning star that shines just before sunrise had arrived. Wycliffe died a few years after completing his translation and was buried nearby, but he was not left to rest in the ground. [♪ music ♪ At the Council of Constance Wycliffe was declared a heretic and a decree was made to dig up his bones and burn them to ashes.

At first the Bishop of Lincoln refused as he was a former friend of his, and the next bishop delayed several years. After burning his bones to ashes, they were disposed of here in the River Swift, but in trying to insult and denigrate this fearless leader, they instead provided a beautiful illustration of the power of his work and the Word of God. [♪ music ♪ The River Swift flows into the River Avon, made famous by Stratford-upon-Avon. The River Avon flows into the Bristol Channel, and the Bristol Channel flows into the Atlantic Ocean, And so the impact of John Wycliffe's work and the translation of the Bible he made spread over the whole world. The flicker became a flame and the flame became a fire, and the fire was unstoppable.

The impact of John Wycliffe's life left a legacy far bigger than the short life that he lived. What type of legacy are you leaving behind? May it be 1 of principle, conviction, a love of God, and an unshakeable desire to see the gospel spread in our lifetime. May we live a life where the influence spreads like these waters around the world. ♪♪ ♪♪ you

Series

The Great Controversy

05 John Wycliffe

Description

Parent Series

Sponsor

Recorded

Other Teachings in Series

01 The Destruction of Jerusalem

6m

02 Persecution in the First Centuries

5m

03 An Era of Spiritual Darkness

5m

04 The Waldenses

7m

05 John Wycliffe

6m

06 Huss and Jerome

8m

07 Luther’s Separation from Rome

7m

08 Luther Before the Diet

7m

09 The Swiss Reformer

6m

10 Progress of Reform in Germany

4m

11 Protest of the Princes

5m

12 The French Reformation

6m

13 The Netherlands & Scandinavia

7m

14 Later English Reformers

7m

15 The Bible & The French Revolution

8m

16 The Pilgrim Fathers

7m

17 Heralds of The Morning

6m

18 An American Reformer

6m

19 Light Through Darkness

4m

20 A Great Religious Awakening

4m

21 A Warning Rejected

4m

22 Prophecies Fulfilled

5m

23 What is the Sanctuary?

5m

24 In the Holy of Holies

5m

25 God’s Law Immutable

6m

27 Modern Revivals

5m

28 Facing Life’s Record

5m

29 The Origin of Evil

5m

30 Enmity Between Man and Satan

5m

31 Agency of Evil Spirits

5m

Sound Doctrine