The Word Unleashed: John Wycliffe and the Vernacular Bible Revolution

The Word Unleashed: John Wycliffe and the Vernacular Bible Revolution

Episode Description

What if reading the Bible in your own language was considered heresy? In 14th-century England, that's exactly what the Church believed—and people died for defying that belief.

Join Professor Rachel Chen in conversation with Bishop Andy Lewter, Harvard-trained church historian, as they explore the remarkable life of John Wycliffe—the "Morning Star of the Reformation"—and his dangerous dream of making Scripture accessible to ordinary people.

Discover how the Roman Catholic Church used the mystery of Latin liturgy to maintain spiritual control, why Church authorities feared vernacular Bibles, and how Wycliffe's revolutionary "Lollard" preachers spread biblical teaching across England despite brutal persecution.

From Wycliffe's pioneering English translation in the 1380s to Tyndale's martyrdom and Luther's bestselling German Bible, this episode traces the three-century struggle that transformed Christianity and empowered millions to encounter God's word directly.

In This Episode:

• The mysterium tremendum: How incomprehensible Latin created spiritual power—and enabled control
• Wycliffe's radical reforms: English Bibles, Lollard preachers, and challenging Church wealth
• Why translating Scripture was considered heresy—and why people died for it
• The spread of vernacular Bibles across Europe in the 15th-17th centuries
• How printing technology turned Bibles into revolutionary documents
• Wycliffe's enduring legacy and what it means for believers today

Perfect for: Church history enthusiasts, Reformation scholars, anyone interested in how ordinary people gained access to Scripture, and believers curious about the Bible they hold in their hands.