Protestant Bible: A Journey Through Centuries

When John Wycliffe was a scholar at Oxford, in 1360, the Vulgate was still the only "legal" Bible. Wycliffe thought the average person, who could not read Latin, should have a way to study the Bible and to think about its meaning. Wycliffe disagreed that the church possessed the only accurate interpretation.

Between 1360 and 1382, Wycliffe and some of his Oxford associates translated the Vulgate New Testament into English. Wycliffe did not use any Hebrew or Greek manuscripts for his translation.

At first English officials supported Wycliffe. They especially agreed England should not have to pay huge amounts of money to the Catholic church. As Wycliffe's thinking became more radical, however, secular authorities distanced themselves even as support from common people grew. Wycliffe had given the people what they never previously had: a way to understand the Bible in their own language.

As the Church's authority began to tighten around Wycliffe, he was expelled from Oxford in 1382. He suffered a series of strokes, preventing authorities from taking further action against him at the time. He died on December 31, 1384.

The Church wasn't finished with John Wycliffe, however. His books were banned - then burned - and, 44 years later, his body was disinterred and burned. His ashes were thrown into the River Swift.