John Rogers—Sealed with Blood: The Story of the First Protestant Martyr of Mary Tudor’s Reign
Overview
The life of John Rogers has been largely overlooked in recent Reformation scholarship, but, as Tim Shenton shows in this fresh biography, Rogers is rightfully placed alongside such pivotal figures as William Tyndale and Thomas Cranmer. Rogers excelled as a scholar, and his publication of what is called Matthew’s Bible was a critical step toward making the English people a “people of the book.”
Rogers died as a martyr during the reign of Mary I for what he was right to view as biblical convictions. This aspect of Roger’s life occupies significant space in this new biography, and rightly so. After all, we in the West sorely need to craft a theology of martyrdom—it would put backbone into our proclamation and living and help us remember brothers and sisters going through fiery trials even today. Remembering individuals such as Rogers is a great help in the development of such a theology.
Top Highlights
“Or to put it another way: as Rogers’s labours were largely used in the preparation of ‘the Great Bible’, on which was based the Bishop’s Bible, which in turn was the main foundation of the Authorized Version of 1611, ‘Rogers may be credited with having effectively aided in the production of the classical English translation of the Bible’.” (Page 27)
“After the Matthew’s Bible both men concentrated their efforts on the folio Bible, known as ‘the Great Bible’ (1539), which was a revision of the Matthew’s Bible but without the marginal notes, which, because of their Protestant bias, caused difficulties for some senior English clergy, who were still ‘nervous about allowing the laity to read the Bible in English’, especially if the notes led to it being read in a radically Protestant manner. In some ways the notes in the Matthew’s Bible were published too early in the Reformation to make it the favoured choice for use in the churches.” (Page 25)
“Unknown to Wolsey, several of the young graduates that he brought from Cambridge had already imbibed the Reformed teaching, which they soon began to spread among the Oxford students. ‘Thus the college, which Wolsey had gone to such trouble to establish, immediately became a focal point for the spreading of ‘Lutheran heresy’, even though he himself was opposed to such teachings.’” (Pages 12–13)
“In his haste Rogers used the manuscripts of Tyndale as far as he could and then, to satisfy the demands of his new employers, supplied the deficiencies from the published translation of Coverdale, which he corrected and altered as far as time would allow.” (Page 26)
Tim Shenton has produced yet another well-documented, gripping biography of a real hero of faith—John Rogers (d. 1555), renowned biblical editor and first Marian martyr. Follow Rogers’ fascinating career from Antwerp to Germany, and back again to England, where he was arrested, remained steadfast under intense interrogation, and paid the ultimate price for confessing Christ. This is a great book about an important epigone; hopefully, Rogers will no longer be marginalized! Highly recommended for teenagers and adults.
—Joel R. Beeke, Puritan Reformed Theological Seminary, Grand Rapids, Michigan
Shenton weaves a brilliant tapestry from original sources and introduces the reader to many compelling and complex personalities. Well-proportioned in its emphasis, this history will be a vital contribution to studies of Protestant martyrs in Queen Mary’s reign.
- Title: John Rogers—Sealed with Blood: The Story of the First Protestant Martyr of Mary Tudor’s Reign
- Author: Tim Shenton
- Series: Day One Christian Biography Collection
- Publisher: Day One Publications
- Publication Date: 2007
- Pages: 144