Who was William Tyndale?

William Tyndale (born 1494 and died 1536) was the first to translate the New Testament from Greek into English. He was a native of Gloucester and began his studies at Oxford in 1510, later moving to Cambridge. By 1523 he had developed a passion to translate the scriptures. He sought permission and funds from the bishop of London to translate the New Testament. The bishop denied his request, and further queries convinced Tyndale the project was not welcomed anywhere in England.

His travels included the free cities of Europe—Hamburg, Wittenberg, Cologne, and finally to the Lutheran city of Worms. There, in 1525, his New Testament emerged: the first translation from Greek into the English language. It was quickly smuggled into England, where it received a less-than-enthusiastic response from the authorities. King Henry VIII, Cardinal Wolsey, and Sir Thomas More, among others, were furious.

By 1535 he had moved to Antwerp. A companion, Henry Phillips, lured Tyndale away from the safety of his quarters and into the arms of soldiers. Tyndale was accused of heresy. On Friday, October 6 1536, Tyndale was given a chance to recant. That refused, he was given a moment to pray. English historian John Foxe said he cried out, "Lord, open the King of England's eyes!" He was strangled then his body was burned.

His translation became an important source for all further English translations including the King James version of 1611.

More Info: en.wikipedia.org

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25 Comments

billyboy915

Jack Dodge, literacy generally means possessing the ability to read and write. I think your definition also includes a more extensive education in various subjects. While knowledge of religion is an aspect of a well rounded education, I believe your definition of literacy is too Christian oriented. Wouldn't a muslim who has read the Holy Quran, a Hindu who has read the Shreemad Bhagavad Gita, Upanishads, and Veda, a Buddhist who has read the Tripitakas, a Sikh who's read Guru Granth Sahib, a Jew who's read the Torah and/or the Talmud, a Baha'i-ist who's read the Kitáb-i-Aqdas, a Confucianist who's read chapters from the Book of Rites, namely the Great Learning - the Doctrine of Mean; the Analects, and Mencius, or a Jainist who's read the Agamas also be considered equally literate, without having read the Bible?

Playerkevin

Why were the English scared of this translation when one would have thought it a good thing for those who were.not Greek? Very suspicious and strange.

Bob Watt

Richard G Schwartz, That "ordinary" people could read and understand it for themselves and not to have to take "authority figures", who had their own agenda, word for it.

Heather Priestley

He was born in Gloucestershire not Gloucester. I live about 500yards from the farmhouse (original one has been demolished!) where William Tyndale was born. This is situated between Slimbridge and Berkeley.

Christina McKenzie

One of my grandsons graduated from Tyndall University and one is presently studying there.

Trevor Macey

quizzclub is basedin the western hemisphere where christianity is recognised as a good thing. Islam is cruel and murders any followers who turn away from it in many countries like Nigeria, iran, saudi arabia etc and is a very different system not worthy of comparison to modern christianity imho