Peter Waldo (c. 1150 -1218)

A Character Sketch for Peter Waldo

Early life is obscure.

Dispersed his wealth around 1173-5 and began preaching a simple gospel message in Lyons and elsewhere in France.

His ministry attracted adherents who called themselves the “poor men of Lyons” or the “poor of spirit.”

In 1179 Waldo and his followers sought legitimization at Lateran Council III. Waldo’s poverty vows were accepted but he was not allowed to preach except by invitation.

Waldo made a fully orthodox deceleration of faith to Cardinal Henry Albano in 1180. But at the council of Verona (1884) Lucius III excommunicated the Walenses.

Some of Waldensian teachings approached Protestant ideas such as the rejection of purgatory and some sacraments, refusal to worship saints or praying for the dead.

In the late 1200’s and early 1300’s, Waldensianism flourished in France’s and Italy’s remote mountain areas. It was here that the name Waldenses became synonymous with heretic.

The Waldenses were important forerunners for the Protestant Reformation.

Writings of Waldo can be found in the Archivum Fratrum Praedicatorum and the Enchiridion Fontium Valdensium.

Personal Application

Waldo teaches a person to stick to scripture. Even though he and his followers faced extreme persecution, they would not bend on key areas of scripture.

This is an important lesson for all who seek to be involved in some type of ministry. Use the scriptures as a guide.

On the other side of the coin, should a person go to such extremes to make a point? To his credit, Waldo was standing alone when it came to defending the teachings of scripture. He did what he felt needed to do.