John Knox (1514–1572)
John Knox was the fiery preacher who brought the Protestant Reformation to Scotland and shaped its character as a nation. Influenced by John Calvin in Geneva, Knox returned to Scotland determined to reform both church and state according to Scripture.
The Scottish Reformation
Knox's preaching catalyzed a popular reformation movement that culminated in the Scottish Parliament abolishing papal authority in 1560. The Scots Confession and the First Book of Discipline — documents Knox helped author — laid the foundations of Scottish Presbyterianism.
Knox and Mary Queen of Scots
Knox's confrontations with the Catholic Mary Queen of Scots are legendary. When accused of stirring rebellion, Knox replied that subjects were entitled to resist ungodly rulers. He famously prayed: "Give me Scotland, or I die."
Ellen White and the Great Controversy
Ellen White presents Knox as the bold prophet-type reformer who, like Elijah before Ahab, refused to bow to royal pressure when truth was at stake. His story illustrates the principle that God raises up fearless voices in every generation to call His people back to Scripture.