A short lecture by Adam Ramdin describing the Waldensians—a Christian movement in Northern Italy—tracing their roots from early centuries through medieval times. The speaker emphasizes that Waldensians (literally ‘people of the valleys’) preserved apostolic faith, Sabbath practice, missionary zeal, and Bible-centered doctrine despite persecution, and previews visits to their mountain hideouts and training practices.
Whilst the Celtic Church was maintaining the pure apostolic faith in the British Isles and evangelizing there as well, the Waldensians were doing the same here in Northern Italy. The word Waldensian means people of the valleys. Originally, though in Italian it was valencies with a V. It was translated into the French as vaudois. But in the 12th century the V changed to a W and one of the L's became a D. From where we get the name Waldensian today. The Waldensians did not see themselves as reformers. They did not see themselves as needing to separate from from Rome, for they said, we have never belonged to it. They said they are part of the apostolic faith and could trace their origins all the way back to the early centuries. In fact, when we look at the history of the Waldensians over several hundred years, if not millennia, we can see that they were around in the very early centuries, in the 4th century with vigilantes, we can see them in the 7th, the 8th, the 9th cent.
Some people say that the first Waldensian was Peter waldo in the 12th century, but this is not really accurate. Whilst it is true that Peter Waldo was a merchantman from Leon, he did sell all of his goods and commit his life to the preaching of the Gospel, he was not the first Waldensian and their roots trace back much before him. In fact, one of the early names for the Waldensians was actually the word insabhati, showing clearly that the Waldensians were Sabbath keepers, as they were named after the very day upon which they worshipped. As the Waldensians were coming up in the early centuries and the Roman Catholic Church was forming as well, both of them saw the heathens around them as a mission field. But whilst the Roman Catholic Church used the power of the law and the sword and political alliances to win people over, the Waldensians put their faith in the strength of God's word.
When you gaze on the magnificent mountains that surround us, you cannot but admit that God provided a safe retreat for his people to the Waldensians, was given the task of passing the light on to the Protestants of modern time and penetrating the darkness with true Bible doctrine. Indeed, they maintained longer than any group in the struggle to preserve the Bible and primitive Christianity. In upcoming episodes, we're going to see the caves and which they hid and where they met for worship. We're going to see the places where they trained their young people in how to study the Bible and in how to be missionaries. We're also going to climb mountains and see the cliffs over which the Waldensians were hurled to their death in times of persecution. Truly, the Waldensians stand to us today as a group of people who believed in the Bible, as a group of people who believed in mission service. They are a key part of our spiritual lineage today.
Why Is There so Much Killing in the Old Testament? Part 2 | Table Talk S03 E10
Why Is There so Much Killing in the Old Testament? Part 1 | Table Talk S03 E09
