William Tyndale1494-1536

Presented by : Ferdinand TobiasWorld Christianity 2

Background/situation:• There was a rapid ignorance of the scripture on

the 16th century.• Bible reading is a crime to read especially the

Lollard.• The breach between the Renaissance and the

reformation which from the first had implicit now became manifest and acknowledge

Background/situation:

• The action of putting the scripture in the language of the masses is just a recent action to England.

• There was a continuous revolt of the German people against Papacy

1408 Constitution that prohibits translating the Bible into English or by any means:

“ It is a dangerous thing as witnessed blessed Saint Jerome to translate the text of the Holy Scripture out of one tongue to another, for in

the translation the same text is not always easily kept, as the same Saint Jerome confesseth, that

although he were inspired…

1408 Constitution that prohibits translating the Bible into English or by any means:

Continuation:

“… yet often times in this erred, we therefore decree and ordain that no man hereafter buy his own authority translate any text out of the scripture into English or any other tongue, and that no man read such book, pamphlet he will be excommunicated, and considered as heresy and error.”

Birth and Family

• 1494 Born in Stinchcombe, Gloucestershire

• Born as prosperous Yeoman family

• Alice Hunt and Thomas Tyndale

• He study the science of grammar school at Wooten-under –Edge

• He was exposed to different type of literature and poetry.

Education

Events in his life

• 1506 He was sent to Magdalen school in

Oxford at t he age of 12

• 1510 He entered at Oxford

• 1512 He took Bachelor of Arts degree in

Hertford

Events in his life

• 1515 He study Master of Arts from Oxford University and introduction to Lollard.

• 1516 Cambridge he was immersed in Lollard movement and continuous studies

Tyndale’s famous saying:

“If God spares my life, before many years pass I will make it possible for a boy behind the plow

to know more Scripture than you do”

Events in his life

1523 London he meets with Cuthbert Tunstall seeking permission to translate the Bible.

1524 Hamburg, Germany he seeks asylum and freedom to translate the New Testament, it was

also the time that Tyndale learned a German language.

Tyndale’s translation: 1525

“Cologne Fragment” -1525 Mathew Fragment

This was also the time that he printed his first Bible into English Bible from Greek.

He translated the book of Psalms and Pentateuch

(while Wycliffe translated the first English Bible from Latin)

Events in his life

1526 He began smuggling the first copies of his work to his country.

1528 He issued The Parable of the Wicked Mammon

“The vehicle of the printing press made possible the reformation, the enlightenment, and the

triumph of vernacular Bible”

Donald Blake – author of the Visual History of the English Bible

1534 He revised his New Testament and published it in Antwerp.

1535 He was betrayed by Henry Philip and he was imprisoned in Vilvorde, Brussels

Miles Coverdale had published Tyndale’s first edition of his complete translation

1536 August he was found guilty, on October 6th he was tied to stake and burned

Events in his life

Tyndale’s final words:

“Lord, open the King of

England’s eye”

Later on God’ answered his PRAYER…

It was NOT only the King’s EYEs open but…

Result:

There is now the permission that the Bible to be PRINTED in England

A year after his death the Matthew Bible appeared as the work of John Rogers. Matthew Bible is one of the edited compilation of Tyndale and Coverdale.

The Royalty sanctioned and authorized Bible, Tyndale’s New Testament

Tyndale’s Bible was printed in “Inexpensive” small in size where it can be transported or hidden.

His death shook the foundation of ENGLISH RELIGIOUS SOCIETY

In relation to King James Version:

They said that the famous translator of 1611 King James Versionrelied heavily upon the work of Tyndale.

It has been estimated that eighty- ninety percent of the King James version is the direct expression of Tyndale.

Tyndale’s use and commands of English language had a positive influence on the works of Shakespeare.

Truly in his short lifetime, the BIBLE was no longer only to be read by Priest and Clergy BUT also by the man behind the plow….

Conclusion Truly heroes battle by the use of swords…

Conclusion

because of his tireless commitment, being an uncompromising churchman,

and a fearless advocate can also say that…

“Pen is mightier than the Sword”For the common man to have right to explore the

SCRIPTURE IN HIS OWN TONGUE…

Bibliography

• Brake, Donald L. A Visual History of the English Bible. Grand Rapids Michigan: Baker Books, 2008. • Shelley, Bruce L. Church History in Plain Language. Nashville, Thomas Nelson Publishers, 1995. • Manschreck, Clyde L. A History of Christianity: The Church from the Reformation to the Present.

Vol. 2. Grand Rapids Michigan: Baker Book House, 1981. • Moynahan, Brian. God's Bestseller: William Tyndale, Thomas More, and the Writing of the English

Bible- a Story of Martyrdom and Betrayal. New York: Saint Martin's Press, 2002. • Ryken, Leland. The Word of God in English: Criteria for Excellence in Bible Translation. Wheaton,

Illinois: Crossway Books, 2002.

• Latourette, Kenneth S. Christianity in a Revolutionary Age: A History of Christianity in the Nineteenth and Twentieth Centuries. 5 vols. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1958.

• Nida, Eugene A. God’s Word in Man’s Language. Harper and Brother’s Publishers. New York, 1952.