Today we recognise the anniversary of the death of Jan Hus, a Czech theologian and priest who actively promoted John Wycliffe’s ideas, including the view that people should be permitted to read the Bible in their own language, and not be threatened with execution for owning a Bible in any language other than Latin.
He held these beliefs when such views were considered heresy, and a deviation from the teaching of the established church of the time. This proved to be a dangerous thing for Hus, since the civil authorities generally saw heresy as a criminal offense, and punishable by death.
He was challenged by church authorities regarding his views, but Hus stood firm, though declaring himself willing to recant if his errors should be proven to him from the Bible. After his trial on 8 June 1415, several other attempts were made to induce him to recant, which he resisted.
Finally, Hus was burned at the stake in on 6 July 1415, with Wycliffe’s manuscript Bibles and writings used as kindling for the fire. The last words of John Hus were that, “in 100 years, God will raise up a man whose calls for reform cannot be suppressed.” Almost exactly 100 years later, in 1517, Martin Luther nailed his famous 95 Theses of Contention into the church door at Wittenberg, and the Protestant Reformation was born.
Another 600 years or so later, and there are still over 350 million people in the world without access to God’s word in their mother tongue, the language they understand best. But more translation is going on today than at any other time in history…we are seeing God working in and through the work of Bible translation throughout the world. Wycliffe Bible Translators’ vision is that by working with churches, organisations and individuals from around the world all people will have access to God’s word in a language that they truly understand.
It is our privilege to be involved in what God is doing. Could you be a part of this? Give the story.
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