MARTYRS

I am ending Part 1 of my “metaphors” section with an essay or martyrs, people who die intentionally for a cause. It may be due to religious, political or personal beliefs, but the result is certain death. A source on Wikipedia defines it this way: “A martyr is an individual who suffers persecution, severe loss, or death for refusing to renounce their religious, political, or deeply held beliefs. Originating from the Greek word "witness," it signifies someone whose sacrifice acts as a testament to their faith or cause.”

The history of the church is replete with martyrs, and we have records of many of them. The most complete record is by John Foxe, who was born in Lincolnshire County, England in 1516 and died in 1587. 

His book, now called Foxes Book of Martyrs was published in 1563 and for over 400 years it has been a memorial to the martyrs of the Church of Christ. Foxe attended Magdalen College (the college of C.S. Lewis) and, as an affirmed Protestant, was influenced by the Reformation doctrines. Although he disowned the Roman church into which he was born and raised, he attempted reconciliation and was known for his tolerance.

The Bible was written in three ancient languages: Hebrew and Aramaic for the Old Testament, and koine Greek for the New Testament. The Old Testament was primarily Hebrew, with minor Aramaic parts, while the New Testament was written in common Greek (koine), which was widely used throughout the Roman Mediterranean.

The first Bible was printed around 1454–1455 and is called the Gutenberg Bible. It was published in Latin (the Latin Vulgate) and was the primary Bible of Western Christianity for over 1,500 years. St. Jerome established it in the late 4th century as the official Latin text of the Roman Catholic Church and remained its mainstay until 1979. Before the Vulgate Old Latin was used.

The early stories in Foxes book were from current events that he witnessed or heard about. They show examples of courage and love that are inspirational to our Scriptural heritage.

Here are some who were mainly responsible for us having an English Bible.

John Wycliffe (1377-1384). He entered Royal service to negotiate with the Pope’s representative on the issue of tribute payments to Rome. He was an eminent Oxford scholar. The Catholic church opposed him because of these reoccurring themes in his sermons: The meaning of the Eucharist, the so-called supremacy of the pope, church rules vs. the rule of Christ, and the churches punishment of transgressors. In 1382 he was summoned to defend his position and declared a heretic, largely because of his translation of the Scriptures into English. He died in his sleep at age 56, but his detractors burned his body and threw the ashes into the river.

John Huss (1372-1415). He followed the teachings and writings of Wycliffe and was proclaimed a heretic. He was made to wear priestly robes and led to a fire where they burned his books and bound him to a stake with a chain, where he was burned. Out of his death the Hussites were formed.

Jerome of Prague (1370-1416). He translated Wycliffe’s works into Czeck and was burned at the stake. His last words were, “This soul in flames I offer Christ to thee.”

William Tyndale (1494-1533). He declared “I defy the pope, and all his laws. If God spares my life, it will not be many years before I will cause every boy who works on a farm plowing fields to know more of the Scripture than the Pope does.” He was a scholar of Greek and Hebrew, and his translation is responsible for much of the wording and phrasing in the King James bible. He was burned at the stake.

When we read of these men (and countless other men and women) we should be overcome with thankfulness because we have the Bible to read. Like the men on the road to Emmaus when Jesus walked with them and taught them, my heart “burns within me” when I think of what it cost to give me the Bible. When I came to Christ, like Paul, scales fell from my eyes.

We don’t venerate the Bible for the men who translated it, but “since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.”

The scene in Revelation 6.9-11 reminds us that martyrs have a special place in the kingdom of God. They will be honored and not forgotten. Their resurrected and glorified bodies will be a witness to God’s mercy and love, as well as his judgment.

I receive a publication monthly called “The Voice of the Martyrs,” with stories of Christian persecution and of martyrs around the world. Such people, like those described in Hebrews chapter 11, “died still believing what God had promised them. They did not receive what was promised, but they saw it all from a distance and welcomed it. They agreed that they were foreigners and nomads here on earth.” All these people died still believing what God had promised them. They did not receive what was promised, but they saw it all from a distance and welcomed it. They agreed that they were foreigners and nomads here on earth)” (Hebrews 11.13).

We would do well to think of the martyrs and thank God for their faithfulness.