Heretic Reformer

John Wycliffe was so despised by the church because of his reform efforts that 20 years after his death in 1384, declared a heretic by a church council, his bones were exhumed, burned, and strewn in the river.

Wycliffe predates Martin Luther and the Reformation that was so effectual by about 150 years, but he addressed many of the same issues. He criticized church teaching that had no authority in the Bible. He denounced excessive practices that abused church authority, like selling indulgences for forgiveness and the Pope's demand for taxes. Most importantly, Wycliffe translated the New Testament into English, putting the Bible in people's hands rather than depending on the church for interpretation. The church tried to destroy copies of his translation, but copies survived.

His life's work laid the foundation for the ideas that took hold later in the Reformation that changed the church and the world.

You can read more here.

Comments

[dave]

Essentially, the Reformation was an Augustinian Revival, summed up in Luther's Bondage of the Will, and Calvin's Institutes. More concisely, known as the Five Points of Calvinism. I used to bet the guys at work $100 if they could find one church in a hundred mile radius that taught these principles. Not that I'm the gambling type, but only recently, several decades later, I have heard mention of one.

[n]

Essentially, the Reformation was an Augustinian Revival, summed up in Luther's Bondage of the Will, and Calvin's Institutes.

Whew! That's a lot of different types of folks lumped together...not being an expert on all (or any) of them, I'd have to do my research to see if that holds...

[dave]

@ n: If you would like to cut to the chase, start with the Augustine and Pelagius debates, and the Church Council of Ephesus in 431 A.D. that declared Augustine’s position to be the Biblical view, and Pelagius’s position as being heresy.

Now, study the 5 points of Calvinism, from a pro Calvinist perspective.

Then read Luther’s Bondage of the Will. Pay attention especially to his Scripture refutations of Erasmus’s arguments for “Free Will”.

[goat head 5]

Augustine,

Wrong then.

Wrong now.

Wrong for America.

Goat Head 5