October 25 – John Knox: The Thunder of the Scottish Reformation

Among the Reformers of the sixteenth century, few were as fiery and uncompromising as John Knox, the leader of the Reformation in Scotland. A disciple of John Calvin, Knox brought the truths of the gospel to his homeland with boldness that shook both church and state. His preaching earned him enemies in high places, yet his legacy transformed Scotland and laid the foundation for Presbyterianism worldwide.

Early Life and Conversion

John Knox was born in 1514 near Haddington, Scotland. Trained as a Catholic priest, he also worked as a notary. For years, he lived within the traditional structures of the medieval church. But the spread of Reformation teaching from the continent, particularly the influence of George Wishart, changed everything.

Wishart, a fiery preacher of the gospel, was eventually martyred in 1546. Knox, who had been his bodyguard and supporter, was deeply affected by his death. Soon after, Knox publicly embraced the Reformation, committing himself to the authority of Scripture and the sufficiency of Christ’s sacrifice.

Captivity and Growth

In 1547, Knox was captured during a siege of St. Andrews Castle by French forces and spent nineteen months as a galley slave. This brutal period tested his faith, but he remained steadfast, later saying that God had preserved him even in chains.

After his release, Knox spent time in England during the reign of Edward VI, where he preached and influenced the development of the Book of Common Prayer. But under Mary Tudor’s Catholic reign, he fled to the continent. It was in Geneva that he came under the influence of John Calvin, whose theology and church order deeply shaped Knox’s convictions.

The Return to Scotland

In 1559, Knox returned to Scotland. There, he thundered against idolatry, papal authority, and false worship. His fiery sermons stirred the people and emboldened nobles to support reform. Under his leadership, the Scottish Parliament of 1560 abolished papal authority and approved a Reformed confession of faith.

Knox helped establish a church governed not by bishops but by elders and ministers, rooted in Scripture and accountable to Christ. This Presbyterian model spread far beyond Scotland in the centuries to come.

Theology and Convictions

Knox’s theology echoed the central truths of the Reformation:

• Sola Scriptura: The Bible alone governs the faith and practice of the church.

• Sola Fide: Justification is by faith in Christ, apart from works.

• Purity of Worship: He rejected images, relics, and ceremonies, insisting on simple, biblical worship.

• Christ Alone as Head of the Church: He opposed both papal supremacy and royal interference in the governance of the church.

Knox also believed passionately in the duty of rulers to uphold true religion, a conviction that often brought him into conflict with monarchs.

Conflict with Queens

Knox’s boldness was nowhere more evident than in his confrontations with Mary, Queen of Scots. He openly opposed her Catholic practices and her political alliances. In several dramatic interviews, Mary wept as Knox declared that her idolatry would bring God’s judgment. He feared God more than princes or queens, and his courage became legendary.

His opponents labeled him intolerant, but his uncompromising stand for truth helped secure Scotland’s embrace of the gospel.

Legacy

John Knox died in 1572, worn out from years of labor and conflict. At his funeral, one contemporary declared, “Here lies one who never feared any flesh.”

Knox’s legacy lives on in the Presbyterian tradition and in the spiritual transformation of Scotland. His thunderous preaching and uncompromising convictions made him one of the great voices of the Reformation.

Biblical Reflection

Knox’s life illustrates Proverbs 29:25:

“The fear of man brings a snare, but he who trusts in Yahweh will be exalted.”

Knox trusted God more than he feared kings, queens, or mobs. His boldness was rooted not in his personality but in his confidence in God’s Word.

Application for Today

From John Knox’s life we learn:

1. Fear God Above All – Courage in ministry comes not from natural strength but from trusting God’s Word.

2. Preach the Truth Boldly – Knox’s sermons shook nations. We may not stand before queens, but we are called to proclaim Christ faithfully.

3. Build on the Word – His establishment of a biblical church order shows the importance of structuring church life according to Scripture.

Conclusion

John Knox was not a man of compromise but of conviction. His thunderous preaching, his courage before rulers, and his commitment to God’s Word left a permanent mark on Scotland and the world. Though feared by many in his day, he lived to please only one Master. His life calls us to the same fearlessness, to stand firmly on the Word of God, and to proclaim Christ without apology.