Voted as the 26th top Briton of all time on a BBC poll, William Tyndale sits comfortably amongst the most significant reformers. As a scholar and Bible translator he had a lasting impact on Britain and Europe shaping the English language and leaving a legacy lasting long past the premature end to his life.

<p>Voted as the 26th top Briton of all time on a BBC poll, William Tyndale sits comfortably amongst the most significant reformers. As a scholar and Bible translator he had a lasting impact on Britain and Europe shaping the English language and leaving a legacy lasting long past the premature end to his life.</p>

Adam Ramdin

Lineage: Season 1

Episode 1- Constantine: Compromise & Controversy

Episode 2- Scotland’s Braveheart

Episode 3- Holy Island

Episode 4- The Tide Turns

Episode 5- Dinooth & Columbanus

Episode 6- Waldenses: People of the Valleys

Episode 7- The Waldenses: A Mission Movement

Episode 8- The Waldenses: Lux Lucet In Tenebris

Episode 9- The Albigensian Massacre

Episode 10- Magna Carta: The Foundation of Freedom

Episode 11- John Wycliffe: The Morning Star

Episode 12- Bohemian Reformation: Huss & Jerome

Episode 13- Bohemian Reformation: Trial of Huss & Jerome

Episode 14- Bohemian Reformation: Burned for Their Faith

Episode 15- Bohemian Reformation: Hussite Wars

Episode 16- John Wycliffe: Worldwide Witness

Episode 17- The Press Behind the Reformation

Episode 18- Martin Luther: Discovering The Word

Episode 19- Martin Luther: The Just Shall Live By Faith

Episode 20- Ulrich Zwingli: The Swiss Reformation

Episode 21- Martin Luther: The 95 Theses

Episode 22: The Papal Bull & Martin Luther

Episode 23: Martin Luther - Here I Stand

Episode 24: Martin Luther - Captured To A Castle

Episode 25: Martin Luther - Protest of the Princes

Episode 26: John Calvin - Early Years in France

Episode 27: Placards and Protest in France

Episode 28: John Calvin - The Work in Geneva

Episode 29: Geneva - International Hub of Reform

Episode 30: Scandinavian Reformation

Episode 31: William Tyndale

Episode 32: George Wishart - Scotland’s Forgotten Forerunner

Episode 33: John Knox - Scotland’s Greatest Reformer

Episode 34: John Knox - Showdown At Holyrood

Episode 35: The Waldenses Meet the Reformation

Episode 36: Ridley And Latimer Light A Candle

Episode 37: Thomas Cranmer - Cowardice and Courage

Episode 38: Saint Bartholomew’s Day Massacre

Episode 39: The Spanish Armada

Episode 40: Guy Fawkes & The Gunpowder Plot

Episode 41: The Mayflower

Episode 42: Martin Luther- The Protest Is Not Over

Episode 43: The Waldenses- Massacre at Castelluzzo

Episode 44: Marie Durand- Righteous Resistance

Episode 45: John Wesley- The Origins of Methodism

Episode 46: John Wesley & George Whitfield

Episode 47: Mary Jones & World Mission

Episode 48: Is the Reformation Over?

Lineage Journey


The 16th century was populated by some of the greatest minds in religious history. Luther, Calvin, Zwingli, Knox, Latimer, Ridley, Cramner, and sitting comfortably amongst this group of luminaries was William Tyndale, translator of the English Bible. Tyndale was born in Gloucestershire in 1494 in a small village called North Nibley, marked today by this monument overlooking the village. 🎵 Music 🎵 He was educated at Oxford and completed his BA in 1512 and his MA in 1515 before coming here to Cambridge University where he met Dutch scholar Erasmus who was teaching Greek. Tyndale wanted to translate the Bible into English, but no 1 in England was willing to undertake such a daring task.

[♪ music ♪ Since 1408, the Oxford Commission had forbidden the translation of the Bible into the English language, even prohibiting its use in the training curriculum for preachers. Cochalius, a notorious people theologian, had this perspective, The New Testament translated into the language of the people is in truth the food of death, the fuel of sin, the veil of malice, the pretext of false liberty, the protection of disobedience, the corruption of discipline, the depravity of morals, the termination of concord, the death of honesty, the wellspring of vices, the disease of virtues, the instigation of rebellion, the milk of pride, the nourishment of contempt, the death of peace, the destruction of charity, the enemy of unity, the murderer of truth.' [♪ music ♪ Immersed in such a climate, Tyndale encountered a learned friend who said, We were better without God's laws than the Pope's. To which Tindale responded, I defy the Pope and all his laws. If God spare my life ere many years, I will cause a boy that driveth the plough shall know more of the scriptures than thou doest. [♪ music ♪ Forbidden to work in England, Tyndale traveled through Europe, from Hamburg to Cologne to Worms to Antwerp, using the Greek and Hebrew texts to craft a masterpiece of the English language.

Time and time again The papacy tried to stop his work, but the Lord watched over his servant. 1 account tells us how the Bishop of Durham, seeking to hinder his work, bought all his Bibles, but this merely provided him with the money he needed to produce a larger number of better quality Bibles. [♪ music ♪ Tyndale contributed as much to the scholarship of English literature as Shakespeare and Chaucer, producing many of the translations of the Bible that we use today. In fact, much of the King James Bible, produced 60 years later, was taken almost verbatim from Tyndale's Bible. Phrases such as, The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.

O death, where is thy sting? And seek ye first. All these came from William Tyndale. Today there are 2 remaining copies of Tyndale's Bible, 1 of which is here in the British Library, purchased for £1 million and accessible to view free of charge. 🎵 MUSIC 🎵 Sadly, Tyndale was betrayed by Henry Phillips in Antwerp who feigned friendship in order to gain Tyndale's trust and betrayed him to guards as he was leaving his house.

He was taken to a castle in Villevoorde, Belgium, condemned as a heretic, strangled, and burned to death in 1536. His last words were, Lord, open the King of England's eyes. Within 1 year of his death, a Bible was placed in every parish church throughout the whole of England by order of the king. [♪ music ♪ The poignant Christian song tells us, Martyr's blood stains each page. They have died for this faith.

Hear them cry through the years, O hear these words and hold them dear. The Word of God has come to us at such great cost. May we not treat it flippantly, haphazardly, but may we treasure it and commit to study and share God's Word each day. ♪ you

Series

Lineage: Season 1

Episode 31: William Tyndale

Description

Parent Series

Sponsor

Recorded

Other Teachings in Series

Episode 1- Constantine: Compromise & Controversy

4m

Episode 2- Scotland’s Braveheart

5m

Episode 3- Holy Island

4m

Episode 4- The Tide Turns

4m

Episode 5- Dinooth & Columbanus

5m

Episode 6- Waldenses: People of the Valleys

4m

Episode 7- The Waldenses: A Mission Movement

4m

Episode 8- The Waldenses: Lux Lucet In Tenebris

4m

Episode 9- The Albigensian Massacre

5m

Episode 10- Magna Carta: The Foundation of Freedom

4m

Episode 11- John Wycliffe: The Morning Star

4m

Episode 12- Bohemian Reformation: Huss & Jerome

6m

Episode 13- Bohemian Reformation: Trial of Huss & Jerome

5m

Episode 14- Bohemian Reformation: Burned for Their Faith

2m

Episode 15- Bohemian Reformation: Hussite Wars

5m

Episode 16- John Wycliffe: Worldwide Witness

3m

Episode 17- The Press Behind the Reformation

4m

Episode 18- Martin Luther: Discovering The Word

5m

Episode 19- Martin Luther: The Just Shall Live By Faith

5m

Episode 20- Ulrich Zwingli: The Swiss Reformation

5m

Episode 21- Martin Luther: The 95 Theses

4m

Episode 22: The Papal Bull & Martin Luther

4m

Episode 23: Martin Luther - Here I Stand

5m

Episode 24: Martin Luther - Captured To A Castle

3m

Episode 25: Martin Luther - Protest of the Princes

4m

Episode 26: John Calvin - Early Years in France

5m

Episode 27: Placards and Protest in France

5m

Episode 28: John Calvin - The Work in Geneva

4m

Episode 29: Geneva - International Hub of Reform

4m

Episode 30: Scandinavian Reformation

5m

Episode 31: William Tyndale

5m

Episode 32: George Wishart - Scotland’s Forgotten Forerunner

5m

Episode 33: John Knox - Scotland’s Greatest Reformer

4m

Episode 34: John Knox - Showdown At Holyrood

4m

Episode 35: The Waldenses Meet the Reformation

4m

Episode 36: Ridley And Latimer Light A Candle

5m