Page 61 - History of Christianity I - Student Textbook

The Bible says that we are to avoid vain repetitions.
Matthew 6:7: "But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they
think that they shall be heard for their much speaking." The word vain means “empty” or “useless”.
It is repeating worthless phrases in prayers or songs that will not help a person connect with God or be
heard by Him. Our Heavenly Father is not concerned with word count, flowery expressions, or
mantras; He desires “truth in the inward being.” Psalm 51:6.

Sometimes in our music, we repeat over and over again a word or phrase which eventually become
empty or useless. Often the repetition gets in the way of the message. We should be careful not to
think that repeating words or phrases makes our prayers or music more receptive to God!

1337-1453 – Hundred Years War

The Hundred Years War was an intermittent struggle between England and France in the 14th–15th century over
a series of disputes, including the question of the legitimate succession to the French crown. The struggle
involved several generations of English and French claimants to the crown and actually occupied a period of
more than 100 years. By convention it is said to have started in 1337 and ended in 1453, but there had been
periodic fighting over the question of English fiefs in France going back to the 12th century.
(https://www.britannica.com/event/Hundred-Years-War)

Wycliffe Oversees English Bible Translation – 1380

John Wycliffe was the leading scholar of his time. Throughout England, people respected his
wisdom. University education was still a rather new phenomenon, and Wycliffe may be largely
responsible for the early reputation of Oxford, where he studied and taught. His life was
marked by controversy. He said what he thought and he questioned his Catholic teachings.
He questioned the church’s right to temporal power and wealth. He questioned the sale of
indulgences. He questioned the doctrine of transubstantiation.

By 1377, Wycliffe’s writings were declared heretical and were burned, and he was stripped of
his position at Oxford and forbidden to disseminate his views. So, he had plenty of time to work on his bible
translation. Everyone, he declared, should be able to read the Bible in his own language. “Forasmuch as the
bible contains Christ, that is all that is necessary for salvation, it is necessary for all men, not for priests alone!”
Using a hand-copied version of the Vulgate, Wycliffe labored to make the Scriptures intelligible to his
nd
countrymen. By the 2 edition, his translation was known as the “Wycliffe’s Bible” and was distributed, illegally,
by the Lollards.

Wycliffe suffered a stroke in church and died December 31, 1384. Thirty-one years later, the council of
Constance excommunicated him, and in 1428 his bones were exhumed, burned, and the ashes scattered on the
river Swift. (At this point, he did not much care).

No one knew how swiftly his ideas would scatter through Europe. The effect of his teachings on later leaders,
such as John Hus, earned Wycliffe the name “The Morning Star of the Reformation.” He himself managed to
stay within the Roman church all his life, but in the hearts and minds of his hearers, the Reformation was already
quietly underway!

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