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John Wycliffe: Divine Intervention
“T
by Jonathon Wright
he steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord, And He delights in his way,” (Psalms 37:23, NKJV).
John Wycliffe (1324-1384) was born in Wycliffe,
Yorkshire, England, and was named after the city of his birth. He, like most boys in England, was surrounded by religious hypocrisy and social upheaval. When he was a young adult, some representatives of the Catholic Church collected five times the amount of taxes necessary. Wycliffe opposed such unjust actions in the church and stood up for the poor man. The church saw him
interfering with their business. As time further progressed, he spoke and wrote about other evils and false doctrines in the church. Later, he would translate the Bible into English and believed the Bible was for the “common man.” This idea was another strike against him. The church did not appreciate uneducated men questioning its interpretation of scripture. Several councils
Plague delayed his getting a doctorate by many years. It
in the Catholic Church formed to discuss the matter.
was not until after he received his doctorate that the church
However, they did not condemn him as a heretic until after
came after him. If the Lord had not moved in his life and
his death. There are four main reasons for this which show
saved his soul, he would not have thought to be a pastor or
God’s work in his life.
translate the Bible. He definitely would not have been the
First, God surrounded him with friends and a university that would protect him. A friend named John Gault was a
Wycliffe we know. Fourth, Wycliffe would suffer health problems toward
distant heir to the throne of England and offered him some
the end of his life. Even though these problems led to his
immunity. Furthermore, his connection with Oxford College
death, the timing could not have come at a more opportune
provided a measure of protection. Many Renaissance
time. All the pieces of his work were in place and continue
philosophers came out of Oxford. The ever-changing
even today. Because his life was declining, they did not have
philosophies of life enabled him to be bold in his stance
the heart to go after him. People rallied to support him.
against the church. God sure does have a way of putting the
Many years later, they convicted him as a heretic, but it was
right people, in the right place, at the right time.
too little too late. Sometimes it is hard to recognize God’s
Second, one of the last councils that met to discuss
hand in the events of our lives. We just trust that He cares
Wycliffe adjourned due to an earthquake. It later became
and is watching over us. May we all commit to being the
known as the Earthquake Synod. This further delayed the
good people He has called us to be.
Third, God enabled Wycliffe to survive the Black Plague of Death. He had a conversion experience with the Lord during this time. Also, the problems associated with the
54 // December 2021
About The Author
proceedings regarding his trials. Jonathon Wright currently lives in Cleveland, Tennessee, and has been a member of the Church of God for about twenty years. He is a graduate of Lee University and Beacon University where he earned a BA and MA in Biblical Studies. He loves studying the Bible and has done so for over thirty years, but only now has God given him a desire and the opportunity to be a writer. He is currently beginning the process of writing a book on Genesis entitled, God’s Good Prophetic Plan: From Beginning to End.
