John Wycliffe (Wyclif)

A pioneer of the English Reformation. He studied at Oxford University, where he lectured in philosophy and theology. The anti-papal king and John of Gaunt recognized the usefulness of Wycliffe, who recognized the superiority of royal power, and protected him. In 1374, he was sent to Bruges as a royal envoy to negotiate with the Pope. After returning to England, he preached apostolic poverty, mainly in London, and gained fame as a popular preacher. In 1377, he was criticized for his words and actions, and Pope Gregory XI (reigned 1370-1378) condemned him for 19 articles of "error." In 1378, when the church schism occurred, he went so far as to declare the Pope the Antichrist. He sent his disciples, whom he called "poor priests," to various places to spread the gospel to the people, translated the Bible into English, and compiled a large number of works, including De ecclesia (1379) and Trialogus (1383), a summary of his theories. When he criticized the doctrine of transubstantiation in De eucharistia (1381), his heretical nature became clear. In 1382, the Synod of Blackfriars declared his ten articles to be heretical, while his relationship with John Ball, the theoretical leader of the Peasant Revolt the previous year, was suspected, and he lost the protection of high-ranking government officials, so he retired to Lutterworth in the same year. He died there on December 31, two years later. Based on the decision of the Council of Constance in 1415, his body was taken out of his tomb in the spring of 1428 to be cremated, and his ashes were scattered in the nearby River Swift. His teachings were inherited by the Lollards in England, and were incorporated into the religious thought of Johann Hus of the University of Prague on the continent, becoming the source of each religious reform. This is why many manuscripts of Wycliffe can be found in Eastern Europe.

[Toshiaki Suzuki January 19, 2018]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

イギリス宗教改革の先駆者。オックスフォード大学に学び、同校で哲学、神学を講じた。反教皇政策をとる国王やジョン・オブ・ゴーントは、王権の優位を認めるウィクリフの利用価値を認めて保護し、1374年ブリュージュへ国王使節として教皇側との交渉に派遣。帰国後、ロンドンを中心に使徒的清貧を説き、民衆説教者としても名声を博した。教会の財産保有など現教会体制への批判を強めたため、1377年その言動がとがめられ、教皇グレゴリウス11世Gregorius Ⅺ（在位1370～1378）より、19か条に及ぶ「誤謬(ごびゅう)」の指弾を受けた。1378年教会分裂を機に教皇をアンチ・クリストと断定するまでに至る。弟子を「貧しき司祭」と称して各地に送り、民衆に福音(ふくいん)を伝え、聖書の英訳も手がけ、『教会論』De ecclesia（1379）、彼の学説の総決算『トリアログス』Trialogus（1383）を含む膨大な著作をまとめた。『聖餐(せいさん)論』De eucharistia（1381）で化体説を批判するに及び、異端的性格を明確にした。1382年、ブラックフライヤーズ教会会議Synod of Blackfriarsで、彼の主張の10か条が異端と断定される一方、前年の農民一揆(いっき)の理論的指導者ジョン・ボールとの関係が疑われ、政府高官からの保護も失い、同年ラタワースに隠棲(いんせい)。2年後の12月31日同所で死去。1415年コンスタンツ公会議での決定に基づき、1428年春彼の遺骸(いがい)は、焼かれるべく、墓より取り出され、その灰は近くのスウィフト川にまかれた。彼の教説は、イギリスではロラーズに受け継がれ、大陸ではプラハ大学のヨハン・フスの宗教思想の根幹に取り入れられるなど、それぞれの宗教改革の源流ともなっている。ウィクリフの写本が東欧で多数みいだせるのもそのためである。

［鈴木利章　2018年1月19日］

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