John Wycliffe (1328-84): Wycliffe insisted that Christ and not the pope was the head of the church. The Bible and not the church was the sole authority of the Christian. By 1382 he made the New Testament available to the people in their own language. Nicholas of Hereford translated the Old Testament into English in 1384. Thus, for the first time, Englishmen were able to read the Bible in their own language. Wycliffe also opposed the teaching of transubstantiation.
John Hus (1373-1415): Hus read and adopted the teachings of Wycliffe. Hus tried to reform the church along lines taught by Wycliffe. When Hus refused to recant his teachings, he was burned at the stake by order from the Council of Constance (1414-1418) which was authorised by Pope John XXIII.
Savonarola (1452-98): Wycliffe and Hus were considered heretics because they taught the Bible as the sole authority. Savonarola, however, was more interested in reforming the church at Florence (Italy). He became a monk in 1474. In 1490, he attempted to reform the state and the church in Florence. He preached against the evil life of the pope. Consequently, he was sentenced to death by hanging.
Martin Luther (1483-1546): His father had wanted Martin Luther to become a lawyer. In 1505 Luther, however, promised Saint Anne to become a monk if he were spared his life during a thunderstorm. He thus entered the monastery two weeks later and was ordained in 1507 where he performed his first mass. He taught theology for one semester which only made his soul struggle. He was urged by Staupitz to study the Bible. Whilst in Rome, he saw the corruption and luxury of the church. In 1511 Luther became a professor of Bible and received his doctor of theology degree. He held the position of lecturer in biblical theology until his death. It was in the university in Wittenberg that he understood the doctrine of justification by faith. He taught from various Bible books, including Romans, Galatians, and Hebrews. Whilst preparing these lectures, he found peace in his soul that he could not find in rites or acts of asceticism.
After reading Romans 1:17, he was convinced that only faith in Christ could make one righteous before God. From then on, sola fide or justification by faith, and sola scriptura, the teaching that Scripture is the only authority for sinful men in seeking salvation became main points in his understanding of theology. In 1517 Tetzel the deceitful agent of Archbishop Albert began selling indulgences near Wittenberg. Luther and those who followed him in their new found Christian faith resented the exploitation of the people by the selling of indulgences. Tetzel claimed that repentance was not necessary as indulgences ensured complete forgiveness of sins. On 31st October 1517 Luther posted his 95 theses on the door of the Castle Church in Wittenberg that exposed the errors of the then Roman Catholic church, in particular, the sale of indulgences. In those times all who opposed the Roman Catholic church faced the sure prospect of death. Luther knew the consequences. Yet he refused to recant in an inquisition, that is, retract from his newfound understanding of justification by faith alone, unless he could be convinced of wrong by Scripture or reason. But by God’s protection Luther was spared death. This started the Christian reformation that paved the way for the proclamation of salvation by faith in Jesus Christ alone.
Luther and many others risked their lives to guard the purity of the gospel. We must do likewise by working hard at studying theology and the Bible, and by love, gentleness with courage, guard and proclaim the gospel and the truth.