John Wycliffe was an English Theologian, preacher,translator, reformist and university teacher who was known as an early dissident in the Roman Catholic Church during the 14th century.
Life Wycliffe was born in the factory village of modern-day Hipswell in the North Riding of Yorkshire, England in the mid-1320s. His family was long settled in Yorkshire. The family was quite large, covering much territory.
John Wycliffe
Wycliffe was educated at Balliol Collge and received the Degree of Doctor of Theology in 1372. His living was fairly nice and was granted by papal provision a prebend in a well known church. He preached all over the world and had many followers, known as Lollards. He lead a rebellious movement which preached anticlerical and biblically-centered reforms.
His writings were focused around Evangelical povery, logical writings, and metaphysical writings. He questioned Evangelical povery, and hated clerical and monastic endowments.
Most of the controversy came about through his radical movements, especially when he denied the doctrine of Transubstantiation. His position towards it reflected Lutheran ideans. Both the friars and the State itself turned from him.
It is probable that he was paralyzed during the last years of his life, and eventually that he died of a stroke.
Most of his writings have been published and edited by the Wycliffe Society. Two "Wyclifite" versions of the Bible exist as well.
John Wycliffe (1320-1384)
Table of Contents
Introduction
John Wycliffe was an English Theologian, preacher,translator, reformist and university teacher who was known as an early dissident in the Roman Catholic Church during the 14th century.
Life
Wycliffe was born in the factory village of modern-day Hipswell in the North Riding of Yorkshire, England in the mid-1320s. His family was long settled in Yorkshire. The family was quite large, covering much territory.
Wycliffe was educated at Balliol Collge and received the Degree of Doctor of Theology in 1372. His living was fairly nice and was granted by papal provision a prebend in a well known church. He preached all over the world and had many followers, known as Lollards. He lead a rebellious movement which preached anticlerical and biblically-centered reforms.
His writings were focused around Evangelical povery, logical writings, and metaphysical writings. He questioned Evangelical povery, and hated clerical and monastic endowments.
Most of the controversy came about through his radical movements, especially when he denied the doctrine of Transubstantiation. His position towards it reflected Lutheran ideans. Both the friars and the State itself turned from him.
It is probable that he was paralyzed during the last years of his life, and eventually that he died of a stroke.
Most of his writings have been published and edited by the Wycliffe Society. Two "Wyclifite" versions of the Bible exist as well.
Sources
John Wycliffe
Catholic Encyclopedia