John Wycliffe: The Man Who Gave the Bible to the People -1384

On January 16, 1384, John Wycliffe died quietly in England after suffering a series of strokes. He was never executed, never formally imprisoned, and never saw a printing press. Yet centuries later, church authorities would declare him a heretic, exhume his bones, burn them, and scatter his ashes into a river. That alone tells us how deeply his life and work threatened the religious system of his day.

John Wycliffe lived in the 14th century, long before Luther, Calvin, or the Protestant Reformation. At the time, the Bible existed almost exclusively in Latin, accessible only to clergy and scholars. The church held tight control over Scripture, insisting that the people did not need direct access to God’s Word. John completely rejected this idea. He believed Scripture, not the church, was the highest authority, and that every believer had the right to read God’s Word in their own language. This conviction made him dangerous.

John was a brilliant Oxford scholar, respected for his intellect, logic, and theology. But he did not use his education to protect his status. Instead, he used it to challenge corruption, wealth-driven religion, and the growing power of the papacy. He openly criticized indulgences, denied the doctrine of transubstantiation, and taught that Christ, not the pope, was the true head of the Church.

One of the least-known facts about Wycliffe is that he did not merely translate Scripture he mobilized it. He trained and sent out preachers known as the Lollards, ordinary men who traveled throughout England reading Scripture aloud, teaching the Bible in English, and calling people to repentance and holiness. This was radical. It bypassed church hierarchy and placed God’s Word directly into the lives of the common people.

Wycliffe’s English Bible was translated from the Latin Vulgate and copied by hand each copy taking months to produce. Owning one was illegal. Reading one publicly could result in imprisonment or death. Yet the people wanted it. They risked everything for the Word of God.

Though Wycliffe died of natural causes, his influence did not die with him. In 1415, decades after his death, the Council of Constance condemned him as a heretic. In 1428, church officials ordered his remains exhumed, burned, and his ashes thrown into the River Swift. Their intent was to erase his legacy. Instead, it amplified it. His writings influenced Jan Hus, whose execution would further ignite reform, and eventually shaped the theology of the Protestant Reformation itself.

Why John Wycliffe still matters today

John Wycliffe forces the modern church to confront an uncomfortable reality: access to Scripture has always been resisted by those who benefit from controlling it. He believed that a Bible kept from the people was a church drifting from Christ.

This is a reminder to us all:

• Scripture is meant to be read, not managed

• Authority flows from God’s Word, not religious institutions

• Faith matures when believers are trusted with truth

• Obedience often begins by questioning what others say cannot be questioned

He also challenges modern Christians who possess dozens of Bibles yet rarely read them. People once died just to hear Scripture in their own language. Today, many neglect it despite complete freedom and access. John Wycliffe did not seek to start a movement. He sought to be faithful. He believed the Word of God belonged to the people of God, even if it cost him his reputation, safety, and legacy.

He never saw the Reformation. Though it seems the Reformation would not have happened without him. His question still echoes today: Who truly holds authority? The Word of God, or those who claim to speak for it?