William Tyndal

William Tyndale was a remarkable man who devoted his life to translating the Bible into English, despite the opposition and persecution he faced from the authorities of his time. He was a scholar, a linguist, a reformer, and a martyr, whose legacy still influences millions of people today.

Tyndale was born in 1494 near the Welsh border of England, and studied at Oxford and Cambridge, where he mastered several languages, including Hebrew and Greek, the original languages of the Bible. He was deeply influenced by the works of Erasmus, who produced the first printed Greek New Testament, and Martin Luther, who sparked the Protestant Reformation in Germany.

Tyndale was convinced that the Bible should be available to everyone in their own language, so that they could read and understand God's word for themselves. He was dissatisfied with the existing English translations, which were based on the Latin Vulgate, a translation made in the fourth century by Jerome. Tyndale wanted to translate the Bible directly from the original languages, and to use clear and simple words that ordinary people could relate to.

However, Tyndale faced many obstacles in his mission. The Catholic Church and the English government were hostile to his project, fearing that it would undermine their authority and cause social unrest. They banned and burned any copies of Tyndale's translations that they could find, and tried to arrest and silence him. Tyndale had to flee England and work in secret in various places in Europe, such as Cologne, Worms, Antwerp, and Hamburg.

Despite the dangers and difficulties, Tyndale managed to complete and publish his translation of the New Testament in 1526, and later parts of the Old Testament, such as the Pentateuch, the historical books, and the prophet Jonah. He also wrote several books and pamphlets, such as The Obedience of a Christian Man and The Practice of Prelates, in which he defended his views and criticized the corruption and abuses of the church and the state.

Tyndale's translations were smuggled into England and circulated among the people, who eagerly read and studied them. They also influenced other English translators, such as Miles Coverdale, John Rogers, and Thomas Cranmer, who produced the Great Bible and the Bishops' Bible, authorized by the Church of England. Most importantly, Tyndale's translations formed the basis of the King James Version, which was published in 1611 and became the most widely used and beloved English Bible for centuries.

Tyndale's contribution to the Christian faith and the English language was immense. He not only made the Bible accessible to millions of people, but also enriched the language with many words and phrases that are still in use today, such as "scapegoat", "let there be light", "the powers that be", "the salt of the earth", and "the signs of the times". He also shaped the grammar, syntax, and style of the English language, making it more expressive, flexible, and elegant.

Tyndale paid a high price for his work. He was betrayed by a friend and arrested in 1535 in Belgium, where he was imprisoned for over a year. He was tried and convicted of heresy and treason, and sentenced to death. He was strangled and burned at the stake on October 6, 1536, near Brussels. His last words were "Lord, open the king of England's eyes".

Tyndale was a hero of the faith, who sacrificed his life for the sake of God's word and the people's salvation. He was a pioneer of the English language, who gave it a new power and beauty. He was a visionary of the Reformation, who inspired generations of Christians to seek the truth and follow Christ. He was William Tyndale, the father of the English Bible.

The Bible, translated into many different languages, cost the blood of many men of faith. Let us not forget that we, as individuals, are part of a much bigger story.

-Eric byFaithJustified