Translator’s Preface
Petr Chelčický wrote On the Spiritual Battle circa 1421 in response to the position of Jakoubek ze Stříbra and the Táborite Hussites, an early Christian reformation community. In it, he explained his opposition to the Hussite use of physical force and violence to advance their legitimate spiritual aims in the face of the papal crusade declared against them. His first work, it is an extensive treatise on Christian spiritual battle. He expounds primarily from Paul’s teaching on spiritual warfare in Ephesians 6: 10–20 and clearly develops the basic idea that a Christian’s responsibility, above all, is the battle against the devil, the most cunning enemy of man, and against the flesh within man himself.
On the Spiritual Battle stands as an instructive clarion call at a significant point in history. Instead of heeding Chelčický’s call, the Táborite Hussites became renowned for having waged increasingly violent and widespread carnal war in the five papal crusades issued against them. Following their four previous victories, they lost the fifth and returned to their city in defeat. They are remembered in history for violent carnal warfare; their spiritual values and first, pure purposes remain largely forgotten and unfulfilled. To this day, Tábor’s annual festival continues to glorify its militaristic Hussite history.
Chelčický himself took a different path, always appealing to scripture in the face of perverted human traditions, and became the founding influence of the church known most commonly today as the Moravians. To this day the Moravians’ moving history of advancing God’s kingdom through prayer, missions, and sacrificial living is inspiring untold millions of young believers. Much more could be said, but it is clear that the eternal fruit for God’s kingdom of these two legacies could not stand in starker contrast. On the Spiritual Battle and its historical lessons sound the precious and timeless call to every generation to fully engage in the spiritual battle such that God’s kingdom comes in fullness on the earth.
Petr wrote like a common man. Largely self-taught, his spelling was not always correct, and when he used the word kopyto (hoof) instead of kapitola (chapter), his enemies did not miss their chance. “Doctor Kopytarum” (hoof doctor) they called him, and they made fun of his largest and most significant work, The Net of Faith, which he wrote between 1440 and 1443.[1]
By way of introduction, the first segment of the treatise addresses the true nature of the battle, with Satan and the flesh as the real enemies. The remaining text is divided into smaller sections in which Chelčický painstakingly explains Ephesians chapter 6 and its application to the circumstances facing the Hussites. Like the rest of his early writing, On the Spiritual Battle is stylistically sermonic prose. The source text for this translation is Eduard Petrů’s Little Writings (Drobné Spisy), published in 1966. I have used the World English Bible except where the translation was closer in the King James (KJV). A few quotations that do not agree with either translation have been marked with footnotes. It has been a privilege to translate On the Spiritual Battle, and with his heart and passion for this battle, justice, and truth, the “hoof doctor” has become a friend.
I must give special thanks to Jakub Smrčka at the Hussite Museum in Tábor and to Mirka Horecká for her help and collaboration.
Charis Enns
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