Cranmer wrote a “how to read the Bible” guide for the second edition of The Great Bible. Entitled Preface to the Bible (1540) it drew on the theology of John Chrysostom (d.407) and Gregory of Nazianzus (d.390) regarding how the Bible should be read. Cranmer, as well as the other reformers, were at pains to show that the way they were reading the Bible was not new! In a world where we are often searching for the newest thing, Cranmer is helpful reminder that in the Christian faith, new does not equal better, and in fact rarely does. Forms may change, but content doesn’t.

Thomas Cranmer is often referred to as the architect of the English Reformation. He served in the top job in the English church as Archbishop of Canterbury. He helped with the original “Brexit” as he assisted King Henry VIII break from the Roman Church in his long quest for a male heir. This break gave birth structurally to the Church of England (Anglican/Episcopalian Church). Theologically, Cranmer swiftly pressed forward with the Reformation under Protestant King Edward VI. Under Catholic Queen Mary I, Cranmer would be amongst the martyrs of “Bloody Mary” who “baptized the English Reformation in blood.”[i]

Unfortunately, Cranmer is sometimes forgotten amongst the reformers of the sixteenth century. Luther and Calvin are usually familiar household names, Bucer and Melanchthon possibly known by seminary students, but Cranmer often falls by the wayside. He has so much to offer the Church today and is therefore worth getting to know. So, why should we engage Thomas Cranmer? Because he helps us thoughtfully engage with the tension between the unchanging authority of Scripture, and the changing forms of our church services.

The unchanging authority of Scripture: Cranmer treasured the Bible

Cranmer held to sola Scriptura, the first, or formal principle of the Reformation from which all other Protestant doctrines flow. He believed deeply in Scripture’s sufficiency, clarity, necessity, authority, and intelligibility, and therefore wanted the Bible translated into English to be read by the people. Cranmer worked hard to get an authorized English Bible into the hands of the English people, and joined in with the efforts of other English reformers like Thomas Cromwell, Miles Coverdale, John Rodgers, and William Tyndale.[ii] Tyndale’s last words at the stake were, “Lord, open the King of England’s eyes.” Two years later, in 1539, King Henry VIII placed a copy of the first authorized English translation, The Great Bible, in every church in England.

Cranmer wanted all English people to be able to access the Bible in their mother tongue. It was an evangelistic strategy for him, as many missionaries over the years can also testify. The cover page to The Great Bible depicted Henry VIII seated on his throne at the center, handing Bibles to Cranmer and Cromwell, who in turn are handing Bibles to the church and State leaders, who are handing them and reading them to the people.

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