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.
