William Tyndale and the English Bible

We live in a day and time when the Christian liberties that we have inherited from our forebears are being lost, but even in our present state of decline, we still have liberties that are far greater than most people have experienced in either the past or the present. Four hundred years ago in England, parents were executed, some burned at the stake, for teaching their children the Lords Prayer, the Ten Commandments and the Apostles Creed in their native tongue. Latin was fine but they dare not teach these things in English to their children.

The English Protestant Reformer William Tyndale was a gifted linguist. He was fluent in seven languages. William Tyndale was a very well educated man, having studied at both Oxford and Cambridge. Young Tyndale, gifted as he was, was greatly burdened because of the fact that the English people did not have access to the Bible in their own language. He determined to fill this need. He determioned to give his countrymen the Bible in English. In order for him to accomplish this burning desire, Tyndale had to leave England. He migrated to Germany, so he could continue translating the Scriptures from the original languages into English. In that day it was illegal to translate the Scriptures in English. Another reason for his going to the continent was to get his English translation of the Bible printed. Then he, and others, began smuggling the English Bibles back to England.

The English king, Henry VIII, had spies looking for Tyndale on the continent. They eventually caught up with William Tyndale and had him arrested. Tyndale was captured in the Netherlands, executed and his body burned was burned by his executioners.

Even though Tyndale didn't live to see it, his translation of the original languages into English became the basis for the eventual what became known as the "Authorized Version" under King James I. Ninety percent of the "King James Version" of the Bible is really William Tyndale's work.

Over the centuries great numbers of people have given their lives for the sake of getting God's Holy Word to people who are forbidden to have it. In the 20th century we witnessed large numbers of the faithful imprisoned and executed for daring to bring the Bible to those that don't have it.

We need to remember those that have suffered, many even unto death, and those who continue to suffer for the Faith of Jesus Christ. We have great peace and prosperity in America. Sadly, we often forget how very much we have been blessed. It is good for us to remember that our own liberty was purchased by the blood of those that went before us. We American Christians are often guilty of forgetting and ignoring the past. We need to remember the past so we can raise our own Ebenezer (I Samuel 7:12) to the LORD and teach our children to do the same.

Dominus Vobiscum,
Kenith