Courage | The Missing Factor in the Battle for the Spanish Bible
COURAGE, THE MISSING FACTOR IN THE BATTLE FOR THE SPANISH BIBLE
By CA Donate
“Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer: behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days: be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life.” Revelation 2:10
I am often asked by folks thinking about embracing the RVG Spanish Bible if I paid a price for taking a stand, and if I thought it was worth it. My answer is always, “Not like others who have paid a heavier one!” And yes, there is a price one must pay for standing up to those who would ridicule, discredit, contend and even hurt one physically and emotionally for the sole reason of using the RVG. The brief biography you are about to read is one of courage, and valor. It happened during the Reformation era. This is the story of Juan Díaz.
Juan Díaz , or “Joannes Diasius”, was born in the year 1510 in the city of Cuenca, Spain. He was of nobility, and wanted to become a priest at an early age. As soon as he was old enough, he was sent to Alcalá de Henares to study theology. Afterwards, he went to Paris to deepen his knowledge of biblical languages. For the next 13 years, Juan became so proficient, that one of his friends, Francisco de Enzinas, would often request his help in matters of Bible translation. This is the same Francisco de Enzinas, who published a New Testament in Spanish in 1543, based on the Erasmus Received Text. It was Enzinas who later led Díaz to the Lord, according to Mario Méndez Bajarno, www.protestantedigital.com/ES/Maacin/articulo/3921/F-de-enzinas-la muerte-de-juan-diaz Historia de la filosofía en España hasta el Siglo XX.
So it is quite possible that the Enzinas New Testament was co editied by him and Díaz. On a trip to Geneva he made a couple of friends, Matthew Budé and Jean Cousin. John met John Calvin who encouraged to be a preacher. He was especially impressed with the way the Bible presented the doctrine of salvation by grace through faith alone.
Afterwards, Juan Diaz began to write sermons and essays about his newfound faith. One of his most well known books is called “Christianae religionis cristiana” (or The Sum of Christian Religion). This was published in 1541, the same year he and Enzinas and Bucer attended the Diet of Ratisbonne, in Bavaria-modern day Germany. This conference, by the way, was famous for promoting the Christian Protestant faith. Díaz was also a student of Phillippe Melancthon, the famous reformer who helped in the cause of the German reformation.
The main thesis of his book was his firm belief in Sola Scriptura (Only the Bible—and NOT the Vulgate which he rejected) as the basis of one´s real faith. This book, plus another one entitled Anotaciones, caused such an uproar, that he soon began to get threats against his life. He was literally on Spanish Inquisition´s “most wanted”. In fact, a dominic friar named Pedro de Maluenda, who knew Diaz from the time he was a seminary student, saw him and reported his whereabouts to the Catholic authorities, not before trying to persuade Diaz to return to Catholicism, or else he may have to die. See Historia de los Heterodoxos Españoles, Marcelino Menendez Pelayo, Vol.I, pages 835-837.
That threat didn´t deter him one bit. Instead, he continued fearlessly preaching and teaching, and winning many souls to Christ. His sermons were at times apologetic in nature, denouncing popery and the lies being taught in the Catholic Church. Word eventually got to his twin brother´s ear that Juan was a committed protestant Calvinist living in Germany. His brother was very angry, and swore he would try to stop Juan at any cost—convert him back to Catholicism or else. Alfonso then went to Germany and found him. He was living with Enzinas in a pastor´s home. The talking and deliberation went on and on. Nothing would convince Juan to return to Catholicism, not even money offered to him by his brother. As the discussion progressed, a knock was heard on the door. Alfonso answered and said it was a messenger with letters to be delivered to his brother. That messenger was Juan Prieto, Alfonso´s accomplice. When Juan came out to see, Menendez Pelayo says that his own brother struck him on the head with an ax, killing him on the spot. This happened on March 27, 1546 in Newburg ander Donau, Augsburg (see image), just a month after Martin Luther´s death. The authorities were summoned, Alfonso and Prieto were arrested, but due to pressures from Catholic authorities, both were released a while later. Menendez Pelayo reports that Alfonso was so sorry for what he had done, that he took his own life by hanging himself. Juan Diaz had paid the ultimate sacrifice as a martyr for the Book. It was his long time friend and co-laborer Francisco de Enzinas, under the pseudonym Senarcleus, who wrote the story of Diaz´ death entitled “Historia de la Muerte de Juan Díaz”. There are several versions of it, but I tend to believe the one I just related as told by Menendez Pelayo.
The question we all have to ask ourselves is this: what price are we willing to pay to stand for the pure words of God in Spanish? There are at least three types of believers that need to have the kind of courage Juan Díaz had:
The believer who fears what his or her family might say about his newly found faith in Christ.
The believer who fears what his circle of friends in the ministry who use a different version might say if they found out he is using or promoting the RVG. This includes missionaries, evangelists, Sunday school teachers and those involved in the printing and distribution of Scriptures.
The believer, better yet, the pastor who is 100% KJV but fears the pressure he will receive if he tries to tell his missionaries or Spanish ministry workers to use the RVG. He fears a church split, or loss of tithes.
To all, we say that God can give you the courage to face the issue, and be true to Him and His words.
Mark 8:38
John 14:23
Deuteronomy 31:6
Joshua 1:9
Hebrews 12:2
I can finally say in conclusion that no price can ever be too high to pay if it is for the honor and glory of Christ. The alternative is confusion, compromise, cowardness, and a cold heart. Many of us who have embraced the cause of the pure words of God in Spanish have certainly paid heavily one way or another. Some of us lost missionary support; others were cut off by their families. Some have been physically assaulted, or received threats by email or calls. Tears have been shed; churches have been split. Pastors have broken fellowship with other pastors. Lies of misinformation abound on the Internet accusing us of this or that. But again—we believe and declare: IT HAS BEEN WORTH IT!
Praise the Lord that if and when anyone reading this decides to embrace the RVG, that you are in very good company as Díaz was. I thank God for all my RVG friends all around Latin America and the USA. As someone who had already paid the price told me long ago, “Brother Carlos, jump right on in—the water´s warm!”
