CHHI 301 The_Foundation_of_Orthodoxy_and_the_Canon ESSAY 2018.pdf

Biography: John Wycliffe and John Huss – Reformers

Christy Long

Liberty University

LIBERTY UNIVERSITY

Biography: John Wycliffe and John Huss - Reformers

CHHI-301-D11

Biography: John Wycliffe and John Huss – Reformers

Christy Long

Liberty University

John Wycliffe Biography

John Wycliffe was a was born in 1330 just outside of London. He was a theologian, a

philosopher, a preacher and one of his biggest accomplishments: A bible translator. Like the

reformers of the Protestant Reform, Wycliffe was highly critical of the Papacy and believed the

in authority of the scriptures and scripture alone. His legacy and work are comparted to that of

Martin Luther, the lead Protestant Reformer. Wycliffe’s theology was that the only basis for

Christianity was the scriptures themselves. Wycliffe was known for regarding scripture as the

living, breathing book of God. All authority came from scripture and scripture alone. Wycliffe

preached on all the heretical ideas of the Catholic church and preached they were no way in line

with scripture. He also gave many discourse on the Bible which had never been done before.

wrote, “Om Civil Dominion”, in 1376, which declared, “England belongs to no pope. The pope

is but a man, subject to sin; but Christ is the Lord of Lords, and this kingdom is held directly and

solely of Christ alone.” These writings brought charges against Wycliffe and he was to appear

before the Bishops at St, Paul’s Cathedral to answer questions of treaty brought against him by

the Church. A riot broke out during the council because one of the administering Marshals of

Biography: John Wycliffe and John Huss – Reformers

Christy Long

Liberty University

England, Lord Percy, invited Wycliffe to sit rather than stand. This outraged the Bishops, but

Wycliffe escaped unharmed, but the Church was more enraged then ever. A few years later,

Wycliffe wrote, “On the truth of Holy Scripture”, this work stated that the bible was “infallible”,

and completely without error. Wycliffe’s most notable work was translating the New testament

into English, the first translation into English, which some scholars debate. Wycliffe died in

1384 after complications from a stroke, however, years later, the Catholic Church, still filled with

opinions, all practices. These are his marching orders. Prove all by the Word of God; measure

all by the measure of the Bible; compare all with the standard of the Bible; weigh all in the

balances of the Bible; examine all by the light of the Bible; test all in the crucible of the Bible.

That which cannot abide the fire of the Bible, reject, refuse, repudiate, and cast away. This is

the flag which he nailed to the mast. May it never be lowered!”

— John Wycliffe

John Huss Biography

Biography: John Wycliffe and John Huss – Reformers

Christy Long

Liberty University

John Huss, also known as Jan Hus, was born in 1369 in the Kingdom of Bohemia, which is the

present day Czech Republic. Early in his life he had to support himself and did so by singing

and serving in churches. He traveled to Prague where he earned his Master’s degree and became

ordained as a priest. He was appointed preacher to the Bethlehem Chapel around 1403. He was

also very influenced by John Wycliffe and studied and agreed with Wycliffe’s teachings.

However, in 1403, Wycliffe’s work was absolutely forbidden in the Roman Catholic Church, but

teachings were anti-Catholic and he even delivered the message in Czech rather then Latin at

Bethlehem Chapel, which was under the direction of the pope. Huss began teaching almost

identical of what Wycliffe taught, although Huss was teaching the heresy within the Catholic

church. The King of Bohemia supported Huss, so no danger came his way. However, when

Pope John XXIII authorized the selling of “indulgences”, which is basically people, “paying

money” to get rid of their sin, Huss could no longer stay silent. Huss began preaching and

teaching directly against the papacy. As did Wycliffe, he preached that authority came from God

alone and that scripture was the authority, not man. He preached that Christ alone was the head

of the church and it was blasphemy what the Roman Catholic church was doing. At this point,

Biography: John Wycliffe and John Huss – Reformers

Christy Long

Liberty University

said that Huss’s last words were, “Lord Jesus, I endure this cruel death for you. I ask you to have

mercy on my enemies.”

blood. Father in Heaven, do not hold against them the sins which my enemies commit against

me, and let mine eyes see them blissfully with thee, when their souls fly to thy throne after an

easy death. Oh Holy Spirit, enlighten their deceived hearts, so that the truth of the holy Gospel

may open their eyes and its praise be spread everywhere, forever and ever, Amen." – John

Biography: John Wycliffe and John Huss – Reformers

Christy Long

Liberty University