Becket, Wyclif, and Salvation by Wisdom

By Fr. John Laffoon on December 28, 2023 in From Our Pastors, Spiritual Formation

Who has learned your counsel, unless you have given wisdom and sent your holy spirit from on high? And thus the paths of those on earth were set right, and people were taught what pleases you, and were saved by wisdom. – Wisdom of Solomon 9:17-18

On December 29, we remember the life, ministry, and martyrdom of the archbishop of Canterbury Thomas Becket (c. 1118-1170). On Sunday we remember the life and ministry of John Wyclif (c. 1330–1384), who helped translate the Bible into English. These men are remembered for their remarkable courage and willingness to bear witness to Christ and his Church. At the same time, like every other Christian, they both had noticeable flaws. The life and ministry of these two men so angered Church and State leaders that they ordered their bones to be dug up, burned, and scattered posthumously. As we look at a little more of their lives together, I would like us to consider this question: “Were these bold men also wise men?”

Friday’s morning prayer includes an apocryphal reading from chapter 9 of Wisdom of Solomon. The final verse of the chapter concludes by declaring that people were “saved by wisdom”. Hopefully we are familiar with the five solas of the Reformation – sola scriptura (Scripture alone), solus Christus (Christ alone), sola fide (faith alone), sola gratia (grace alone), and soli Deo gloria (glory to God alone).^[1]Wisdom alone is not one of the solas. Nevertheless, perhaps we should not too quickly dismiss this intriguing phrase from Wisdom of Solomon. Let’s continue to consider the phrase in light of the lives of Archbishop Thomas and John Wyclif.

Archbishop Thomas sincerely believed that his friend King Henry II did not have the God given right to punish clergy via the state courts who had been convicted via the ecclesiastical (church) courts. At first this sounds reasonable. However, King Henry had witnessed terrible abuses within the ecclesiastical courts that often made them a mere farce. Archbishop Thomas gave in at first, but then firmly planted his feet, even excommunicating other bishops over the matter. Finally, King Henry II gave in. However, some of his faithful knights heard his complaints about Archbishop Thomas and proceeded to murder him, supposedly without the king’s knowledge, in the cathedral in front of many witnesses. King Henry II repented greatly and publicly. However, years later Henry VIII ordered Archbishop Thomas’ bones to be dug up, burned, and scattered. He hated this man who had sincerely believed that the Church had authority over the State. Clearly Archbishop Thomas was a brave man. Was he also a wise man in taking this position?

John Wyclif took stands not only against State leaders, but also again Church leaders. He saw and courageously pointed out many corrupt and erroneous practices within both. They had become largely indistinguishable during his lifetime. Wyclif’s writings are often harsh and unkind to his many enemies. Anglican Church Historian Moorman writes that he “was far more interested in ideas and debates than he was in people.”^[2] Moorman also cites a striking quote about him from M. Deanesly’s The Lollard Bible, “So much a scholar and so little a saint.” Nevertheless, Wyclif helped to get the Bible translated into English. He desired the people to know what it said so that they could better know Biblical truths and be inspired to join him in his vociferous pushback against his enemies within the Church and State.

To thank Wyclif for all his good work, and questionable polemics, his writings were condemned and forty-three years later Church authorities ordered his bones to be dug up, burned, and scattered. Nevertheless, we English speakers today are truly grateful for Wyclif’s desire and work to make Scripture known in English. Wyclif was a brave man. Was he also a wise man in taking his positions?

Arguments could be made various ways as to the wisdom of each of these Church leaders, both concerning their lives generally and concerning the specific positions they stood for so adamantly. Even if one were to thoroughly read all of their extant writings and secondary sources about them, much would still be speculation. A fair amount of myth, legend, and hagiography have made their way into the stories about these two men. Nevertheless, I believe we can say with great confidence, despite their flaws, both of these men had immeasurable wisdom. Why do I believe we can have this great confidence? We can because they professed to be saved by Wisdom.

I stand strongly by the five solas of the Reformation. Yet, I also believe that all who are saved are saved by Wisdom. We are not saved by standing for the right thing, or by being the kindest people, or by being the smartest people, or by being dishonored in life or posthumously. How can I say this and still hold to the five solas? I can say this because Scripture, not just an apocryphal book, says it:

For Jews demand signs and Greeks seek wisdom, but we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and folly to Gentiles, but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. – 1 Cor 1:22-24

Wisdom saves us not because we get enough knowledge or live consistently according to wise principles. Wisdom saves us because, as Paul declares, Christ IS the wisdom of God! Therefore, “wisdom” is fully subsumed into solus Christus (Christ alone). As best as we can tell from their writings, and writings about them, Becket and Wyclif truly believed in Jesus as their Lord, Savior, and Wisdom. Regardless of any other foolish or wise decisions they made throughout their lives, by believing in Jesus they had true salvation by Wisdom. In Christ, this salvific Wisdom, is our too.

^[1] Matthew Barett, “The Five Solas”.

^[2] Moorman, John R H. 1994. A History of the Church in England. Harrisburg, PA: Morehouse Pub, 119.