Facts about his early life are obscure, so obscure that his
birth is listed as coming sometime between 1505 and
1514—even 1515—according to some researchers. The
majority of reformed bodies, however, seem content to
use 2014 as the 500th anniversary. So, as his life is
celebrated, it would be useful to get a good, reliable,
biography of John Knox and read it. If you know nothing
about him, it will warm your heart and encourage your
faith. If you are familiar with him, it will rekindle your love
and respect for the man.
Early life, 1505–1546
1514, John Knox is born just south of
Edinburgh in Haddington to a well-to-do
family.
• 1528, As a teenager, Knox is troubled
with the rest of Scotland over the
treacherous execution at the stake of
aristocratic reformer, Patrick
Hamilton.
• 1536, Ordination to the Roman
priesthood following university
studies. Knox tutors children of
nobility.
Marker in the street outside the
Abbey of St. Andrews where
Patrick Hamilton was martyred
Embracing the Protestant Reformation, 1546–1547
• Scotland dominated by the Roman Church
• Scots were called to worship statues and relics, but no
one fed the souls of the people.
• Half the land of Scotland owned by the Roman Church.
• The Roman Church took in revenues 18 times more than
what the crown received.
• Bishops
• Often took office through political appointment
• Often held more than one bishopric, leading to absenteeism and
lack of accountability
• With the priests, bishops led openly immoral lives.
Cardinal Beaton, who betrayed Hamilton, consorted with a stable
of concubines who gave him 10 children.
THE CASTLE FALLS…
IS TAKEN
Confinement in the French galleys,KNOX
1547–1549
PRISONER AND PUT TO
WORK AS A GALLEY
SLAVE.
Exile in England, 1549–1554
The Bishop of Durham
Westminster hall:
home of parliament in
the 1550s
The Joys and Sorrows of Knox in Exile…
Revolution and
Cardinal Beaton and the clergy were meeting at
endthatofmoment
the regency,
1559–1560
to initiate reforms
to the church
because of pressures being brought by the
Reformers:
• No one could serve the church but a priest.
• If the priest committed adultery, he lost 1/3 of
his income and property (1st offense).
• You could not turn your benefice over to your
son (Beaton had 8).
• When word reached them that Knox had arrived
they quickly disbanded.
Reformation in Scotland, 1560–1561
STIRLING CASTLE
John Knox was committed to enduring whatever came for Christ’s sake. He
said with the Apostle Paul…
Romans 1:16 …I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God
for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the
In 1972, Ian Murray
gave a lecture on John Knox.
Greek.
He wrote:
by saying,
…my hope is to obtain such mercy, that if a sudden end
be not made of all my miseries by final death, which to
m e were no small advantage, that yet, by Him who
never despised the sobs of the sore afflicted, I shall be
so encouraged to fight, that England and Scotland shall
both know, that I am ready to suffer more than either
poverty or exile, for the profession of that doctrine, and
that heavenly religion, whereof it hath pleased His
merciful providence to make me, amongst others, a
simple soldier and witness-bearer to men.
He began that lecture
• Finds Protestant congregations springing up with the support
of the nobility.
• Knox elected as minister of the church in Edinburgh.
• …freeing the Protestants to establish Presbyterianism as the
country’s official church.
• 1560, Knox supervised the draft of the First
Scottish Confession of Faith and Book of
Discipline.
• Knox stood before kings and queens (Mary
Queen of Scots) in proclaiming the gospel and in
condemning idolatry.
• Knox’s legacy by the numbers: 750,000
Presbyterians in Scotland, 3 million in the
United States, and millions more worldwide.
Dear Brethren, be assured, that none other
doctrine doth establish faith, nor make man
humble and thankful unto God. And finally,
thatannone
other doctrine
makes (a)put
man
As a servant of the Lord, he was
evangelist.
One biographer
it this
careful
obey Godso,
according
his laid
way, that Knox was nobody and would
havetoremained
until theto
Lord
onlylifted
which
claim to him and he saw the truth commandment,
of the Gospel. Itbut
wasthat
thatdoctrine
event that
him
(di)spoils
all power
virtue,and
that
out of obscurity and put him insothe
way of man
thoseofwho
hated and
the truth
no portion
opposed
it. of his salvation consists within
himself; to the end that the whole praise of our
redemption may be referred to Christ Jesus
alone; whom the Father, of very love, has given
to death for the deliverance of his body, which
is the Church, to the which He was appointed
Head before the beginning of all times.
KNOX
…go on in your zeal and
constancy; true zeal doth not cool,
“I know not,” says he, “if ever so much piety and genius
but the longer it burns the more
were
lodged
in
such
a
frail
and
weak
body.
Certain
I
fervent it will grow. If it shall
am,
that
it will
to find one in whom the gifts
please
God,
thatbe
by difficult
your means
ofthe
the
Holy
Spirit
shone
light
of the
gospel
shallsobebright to the comfort of the
continued,
you have
the spared himself less in
Churchand
of that
Scotland.
None
honour
of being
instrumental
a mind; none was more
enduring
fatigues
of bodyinand
blessed
Reformation,
it shallthe
be duties of the province
intent
on discharging
useful and comfortable to
assigned to him.”
yourselves and your posterity.
Smeton
We have nothing, O Lord, that we may lay betwixt us and thy
judgement but thyne only mercie, freely offred to us in thy deare Son,
our Lord Jesus Christ, purchased to us by his death and passion. For if
thou wilt enter in judgement with thy creatures, and keepe in minde our
greivous synnes and offences, then can there no flesh escape
condemnation. And, therefore, we most humbly beseeche thee, O
Father of mercies, for Christ Jesus thy Sonnes sake, to take from us these
stony hearts, who so long have heard as well thy mercies as severe
judgements, and yet have not bene effectually moved with the same;
and give unto us hearts mollified by thy Spirit, that may both conceive
and kepe in mynde the reverence that is due unto thy Majestie . Looke,
O Lord, unto thy chosen children labouring under the imperfections of
the fleshe, and grant unto us that victorie that thou hast promised unto
us by Jesus Christ thy Sonne, our onely Saviour, Mediator, and Lawgiver:
To whome, with thee and the Holy Ghost, be all honour and praise, now
and ever.