Dr Paul Allen

English: John Wycliffe in his study (Photo credit: Wikipedia ) John Wycliffe’s body had been buried outside St. Mary’s Church for more than forty years when his grave was disturbed. Upon the orders of Pope Martin V , his remains were exhumed, his bones burned and the ashes scattered on the river Swift. This act of desecration was deemed fitting for one who had been posthumously condemned as a heretic. But, as Donald Roberts says so eloquently, it was by no means the end of his legacy for, “As history has revealed, Wycliffe's bones were much more easily dispersed than his teachings, for out of a sea of controversy and angry disputation rose his greatest contribution—the English Bible.” St. Mary’s Church in Lutterworth is now more than 800 years old and remains an active congregation. Visitors to that church will have the opportunity to see many artifacts related to the life and ministry of John Wycliffe, none of them more noteworthy than the pulpit. Wycliffe’s pulpit is the

Image via Wikipedia Following criticism from many quarters and official rebuke from the Presbyterian Church in America (PCA), Wycliffe Bible Translators and its primary implementing partner, SIL International , issued new guidelines in August saying familial language for God should normally be maintained in the text of Bible translations . SIL convened an August meeting in Istanbul for translators and consultants to set standards. They then released a  best practices statement   that reaffirms belief in the eternal deity of Jesus Christ and says, "Scripture translations should promote understanding of the term ' Son of God ' in all its richness, including his filial relationship with the Father, while avoiding any possible implication of sexual activity by God." Many Muslims balk at the Bible's familial language, because the Qur'an teaches that God could not have a son. Yet  critics have pushed back against some translations promoted by scholars connecte

Image via Wikipedia In many respects, the life of Jerome of Prague paralleled that of his teacher and friend Jan Hus . Hus welcomed the writings of Wycliffe to Bohemia . There he preached reformation a century before Luther. Jerome was also convinced of the Wycliffian truths. At Hus's suggestion Jerome sailed to England and studied at Oxford, Wycliffe's old seat of learning. For the next several years, Jerome moved about a good deal, spreading reform doctrines in Paris , Jerusalem, Heidelberg, Vienna , Russia, Lithuania, Hungary and Cologne . In his native Bohemia he sided with nationalistic students. He denounced a bull proclaiming an indulgence for a crusade against Naples. When Hus was arrested by the Council of Constance , Jerome secretly followed, hoping to defend his friend. He discovered he could do nothing but was in great danger himself, and so he went to neighboring Idelberg and asked for safe conduct.  Unwilling to do nothing, he had placards posted throu