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Tyndale: the Man Who Gave God an English Voice
It was an outlawed book, a text so dangerous “it could only be countered by the most vicious burnings, of books and men and women.” But what book could incite such violence and bloodshed? The year is 1526. It is the age of Henry VIII and his tragic Anne Boleyn, of Martin Luther and Thomas More. The times are treacherous. The Catholic Church controls almost every aspect of English life, including access to the very Word of God. And the church will do anything to keep it that way.
Enter William Tyndale, the gifted, courageous “heretic” who dared translate the Word of God into English. He worked in secret, in exile, in peril, always on the move. Neither England nor the English language would ever be the same again.
With thoughtful clarity and a reverence that comes through on every page, David Teems shares a story of intrigue and atrocity, betrayal and perseverance. This is how the Reformation officially reached English shores—and what it cost the men who brought it there.
Enter William Tyndale, the gifted, courageous “heretic” who dared translate the Word of God into English. He worked in secret, in exile, in peril, always on the move. Neither England nor the English language would ever be the same again.
With thoughtful clarity and a reverence that comes through on every page, David Teems shares a story of intrigue and atrocity, betrayal and perseverance. This is how the Reformation officially reached English shores—and what it cost the men who brought it there.
303 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 2, 2012
296 people are currently reading
528 people want to read
About the author
David Teems
20 books5 followersRecording artist, songwriter, and speaker,David Teems is the author of Tyndale: The Man Who Gave God an English Voice , Majestie: The King Behind the King James Bible , To Love is Christ , Discovering Your Spiritual Center , and And There by Hangs a Tale . Teems earned his BA in Psychology at Georgia State University. David and his wife Benita live in Franklin, Tennessee near their sons Adam and Shad.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 131 reviews
August 28, 2015
I didn't know much about Tyndale except that he translated the Bible into England as was killed for being a heretic ! The book was written in First person (As if the writer is talking to you) and that is okay but it was also a little strange. The details and facts are interesting but I wouldn't say it is a particularity well written book, but I learned some things and that is cool!
In my belief system... I owe a lot to Tyndale. To think that he wanted "the plow-boy" to know more of the scriptures the clergy, paved the way to reformation and for me restoration of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
To think of your favorite Bible verse, to have it in a language you didn't know well...Latin... It would be like hearing Bible verses in German for me. I know a little but not enough.
Thanks for giving the prophets, God and Jesus Christ and English voice!
In my belief system... I owe a lot to Tyndale. To think that he wanted "the plow-boy" to know more of the scriptures the clergy, paved the way to reformation and for me restoration of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
To think of your favorite Bible verse, to have it in a language you didn't know well...Latin... It would be like hearing Bible verses in German for me. I know a little but not enough.
Thanks for giving the prophets, God and Jesus Christ and English voice!
February 4, 2013
Little is known about the life of the man whose voice has done more to shape English translations than any other. This new biography adds no knew information, but admirably demonstrates how Tyndale shaped the English language through his magnificent translation, much of which was incorporated into the King James Version. His was a life of banishment, betrayal, and martyrdom. He was a man of extraordinary talents and courage. This will probably become the standard work on Tyndale, though at times it slips into speculative hagiography and excessive flowery prose to hide a lack of hard evidence.
January 8, 2012
In all my years as a Christian I have often heard the name William Tyndale spoken in conversation or referenced in printed material, yet it was difficult to really pinpoint who this man really was. Yes, I knew he was a man of God, but who really was he, what was his life like is what I really wanted to get to the bottom of.
For those of us involved in social media networking you’ll be surprised to find that it was Tyndale who coined the term network. Who knew that word would or could arise in 1530? I certainly would not have expected it, but it happened. It is safe to say that without Tyndale we probably would not have had the English we know today. The man who translated the Bible into the tongue of the common man for all to know the word of God.
Prior to that it was only in the hands of the church in Latin and the rich who could read Latin. In the days of Henry VIII you were required to attend church but couldn’t understand the “magical seeming” words being said. Along came Martin Luther who translated the Bible into German giving boldness to Tyndale to do the same for the people of his country England. Both gave the church such a fit that it would lead to death and destruction for those who possessed, read, or harbored these individuals in the way of burnings reminiscent of witch trials. In fact only 3 known copies of Tyndale’s original work are in existence today. Just a few of the amazing facts you’ll glean from reading this book.
I highly recommend reading Tyndale by David Teems who has managed to put together the life and times of this great man without the fantasy prone additions that others have used when writing about Tyndale based on what little records are available from that time period. I give it 5 stars for it’s historical account, literary knowledge, and reading interest.
July 18, 2014
What an amazing story. Imagine a world with no English Bibles. Imagine a man risking everything and staying on the run for years in order to translate the Bible into English. Imagine being convicted of heresy for translating the Bible into English and then being strangled before being burned at the stake.
It is variously estimated that 75-85% of the King James Version was taken directly from Tyndale's translation of the Bible. His was the first English translation to be done from the Greek and Hebrew and to be printed. This is a well done, popular, account of his life.
It is variously estimated that 75-85% of the King James Version was taken directly from Tyndale's translation of the Bible. His was the first English translation to be done from the Greek and Hebrew and to be printed. This is a well done, popular, account of his life.
June 25, 2020
Fascinating read about the man you made it possible for any English speaker to read the Bible. I didn’t realize to what extent his work influences our language to this day. It’s hard to imagine what the world would have been like without an English bible and the dedication that Tyndale had to making this possible.
July 28, 2020
An interesting bio of a man we know little about. Teems fills in the gaps with incredible insight, joyful little literary rabbit trails, and an incredible appreciation for English, Reformation, and biblical text history. I enjoyed it more than I expected.
August 29, 2020
English’s Forgotten Father
This book was a fantastic look into the literary creativity and immovable conviction of William Tyndale. His heart is evident as much as his ability. I was moved by this conviction and inspired by the creativity.
This book was a fantastic look into the literary creativity and immovable conviction of William Tyndale. His heart is evident as much as his ability. I was moved by this conviction and inspired by the creativity.
July 28, 2019
Enjoyable. Discovering Tyndale's influence on the English language was a fun surprise.
October 4, 2022
Steven J. Lawson has called William Tyndale’s life “the greatest story no one has heard.” This book makes a convincing case for that claim. When one of his accusers made the blasphemous assertion, “We had better be without God's laws than the Pope's,” Tyndale responded, “I defy the Pope, and all his laws; and if God spares my life, ere many years, I will cause the boy that driveth the plough to know more of the Scriptures than thou dost.” And so he did. Neither tribulation, nor distress, nor persecution, nor famine, nor nakedness, nor danger, nor sword impeded him from pursuing translation of the Bible into English. Although he did not complete his labor by the time he was executed in 1536, Tyndale’s work ultimately served as the sturdy foundation for Myles Coverdale’s first complete English Bible. Tyndale’s work was also crucial in the translation of multiple other English Bibles, including the KJV. These translations are now in the hands of countless people around the world. Undoubtedly, at this moment, there is at least one man, woman, or child “at the plough,” reading or listening to a Bible translation that owes its existence to the work of William Tyndale.
Tyndale also exerted an immense influence on the development of the English language. Numerous aphorisms and turns of phrase come from his pen. We owe him a great debt, not only as a Bible translator, but as a linguist.
This book does a very good job of chronicling not only the work, but the man who did it: brilliant, industrious, and earnest, yet humble; and above all a devoted servant of Jesus Christ.
Tyndale also exerted an immense influence on the development of the English language. Numerous aphorisms and turns of phrase come from his pen. We owe him a great debt, not only as a Bible translator, but as a linguist.
This book does a very good job of chronicling not only the work, but the man who did it: brilliant, industrious, and earnest, yet humble; and above all a devoted servant of Jesus Christ.
February 16, 2022
This is the first book I’ve read by Teems, but he writes a book worthy of William Tyndale — the prose is vivid but concise. Some reviews call it “flowery,” but there are no wasted words in this biography of the man whose work so shaped the aesthetic of the English language. Simon Vance reads the audiobook and he is excellent as usual.
As a biography, it’s less linear than most — the author tends to loop forward and back a bit — but this serves the purpose of focusing on themes most important to Tyndale, or the themes most influential in his life. Teems lays out the historical setting throughout the book, and he does it well.
I thought the book presented Tyndale as he would want to be presented — not a dispassionate, facts-and-dates chronology, but a faith-filled story of the brilliant and humble man who gave his life for the gospel in his native language.
As a biography, it’s less linear than most — the author tends to loop forward and back a bit — but this serves the purpose of focusing on themes most important to Tyndale, or the themes most influential in his life. Teems lays out the historical setting throughout the book, and he does it well.
I thought the book presented Tyndale as he would want to be presented — not a dispassionate, facts-and-dates chronology, but a faith-filled story of the brilliant and humble man who gave his life for the gospel in his native language.
November 1, 2015
Some context: after reading fictional works like Wolf Hall (Hilary Mantel) and A Man for All Seasons (Robert Bolt), I have developed a very strong interest in the English Reformation (my favourite Tudor 'characters' being Thomas More, Anne Boleyn, and Thomas Cromwell). Tyndale fascinates many firstly for his role as an early translator of Scripture into English, and secondly for the obsessiveness that More pursued him to his death. I purchased this biography in the hopes that I would be reading something approachable and insightful. In a sense, I got what I had expected (hence the 4 stars), yet, all the same, I felt that it fell short of its potential.
Tyndale was one of the earliest translators of the English language Bible -- the NIV credits his name on every edition -- and one of the casualties of Tudor rule. A lover of Scripture, Tyndale fell afoul with influential Catholic leaders of England because his translation favoured Protestant (then simply regarded as heretical) interpretations. He was exiled, hounded, hunted, and finally executed. Then his translation changed the world. The English language that we communicate with and its literature that we consume were influenced by Tyndale's translation of Scripture. When we speak the Scriptures in English, the chances are, we are speaking Tyndale.
I'll get my main problems that I have with the book out of the way: David Teems seems to be trying hard to give Tyndale the pomp and glory his contemporaries enjoyed but he trouble is, whether due to constant persecution or self-imposed asceticism, Tyndale leaves very little material for adoring biographers. A lot of this book is padding. There is a lot of waxing lyrical about the beauty of exile. There are quotes by Salman Rushdie. There are comparisons to Walt Whitman. It is ironic because Tyndale hated superfluous language, but this book is full of it. I wonder what Tyndale would have made of it?
The other thing is Teems doesn't have the appetite for Tudor snarl. He finds it wearying. This is hard, because apart from the translation of the Bible, the bulk of Tyndale's career was religious polemics and anarchic preaching (anarchic in the sense that it challenged the old social order). Tyndale never devolves into the verbal (and physical) violence of his attackers and the other Reformers, but there is a kind of steely quality in his writings that was unafraid of shaking all the foundations of the world. This was a man who was going against the world in an era when people got boiled alive. And Teems seems just altogether too nice about it. When he tries to inject a bit of fun into the book, he comes across as hokey -- at one point, he calls Anne Boleyn 'Yoko Ono'. (I missed the part when Yoko Ono gleefully partied in yellow on the day of her rival's death and had creepy prophecies about her beheading.)
The good thing is that this book offers a glimpse into the world that Tyndale lived and the projects he undertook. We get some sense of Tyndale's austerity and the intense isolation he experienced, although at times I needed to flip back to the timeline or (worse) resort to the account on Foxe's Book of Martyrs to get better clarity. Teems also tries to be inclusive in his writing, using a capitalized 'C' in 'Church' to refer to the RCC. As a former Protestant (I am now Orthodox), I appreciated this attempt at neutrality, since I rarely find it in any material about Tyndale. The scale of the research is pretty impressive as well; I found the bibliography immensely useful.
But I still felt that there was so much lost opportunity. I would have liked to understand a bit of Antwerp, the town Tyndale exiled himself in -- and less waxing lyrical about the effect of exile on the artist. I'd try to match Tyndale's style with that of other Renaissance writers. I'd go into the implications of the theological disputes, particularly the politics of the time (why was nothing said about the lollers, or other strains of Protestant thought? Tyndale was not the first person to deny transubstantiation). Teems skimps through all of these, leaving just enough material for an eager researcher to pick up afterwards, but I wish he'd given them more attention.
In the epilogue, Teems seems to admit that the goal of writing this biography was an attempt to 'trumpet' the praises of Tyndale and match him to the glory of 'writers of greater name but much less weight per pound'. I can't help but think of Tyndale's greatest earthly enemy, Thomas More, who continually fascinates biographers. The trouble is, More had a larger-than-life personality. Tyndale retreated into Scripture. I think approaching Tyndale with the goal of lionizing him was not exactly what Tyndale himself would have wanted (and Teems seems to admit it), and so the project feels a little half-baked. Still, what is available here does provide useful scaffolding for understanding Tyndale, his times, his life, and most importantly, his literary and theological works.
Tyndale was one of the earliest translators of the English language Bible -- the NIV credits his name on every edition -- and one of the casualties of Tudor rule. A lover of Scripture, Tyndale fell afoul with influential Catholic leaders of England because his translation favoured Protestant (then simply regarded as heretical) interpretations. He was exiled, hounded, hunted, and finally executed. Then his translation changed the world. The English language that we communicate with and its literature that we consume were influenced by Tyndale's translation of Scripture. When we speak the Scriptures in English, the chances are, we are speaking Tyndale.
I'll get my main problems that I have with the book out of the way: David Teems seems to be trying hard to give Tyndale the pomp and glory his contemporaries enjoyed but he trouble is, whether due to constant persecution or self-imposed asceticism, Tyndale leaves very little material for adoring biographers. A lot of this book is padding. There is a lot of waxing lyrical about the beauty of exile. There are quotes by Salman Rushdie. There are comparisons to Walt Whitman. It is ironic because Tyndale hated superfluous language, but this book is full of it. I wonder what Tyndale would have made of it?
The other thing is Teems doesn't have the appetite for Tudor snarl. He finds it wearying. This is hard, because apart from the translation of the Bible, the bulk of Tyndale's career was religious polemics and anarchic preaching (anarchic in the sense that it challenged the old social order). Tyndale never devolves into the verbal (and physical) violence of his attackers and the other Reformers, but there is a kind of steely quality in his writings that was unafraid of shaking all the foundations of the world. This was a man who was going against the world in an era when people got boiled alive. And Teems seems just altogether too nice about it. When he tries to inject a bit of fun into the book, he comes across as hokey -- at one point, he calls Anne Boleyn 'Yoko Ono'. (I missed the part when Yoko Ono gleefully partied in yellow on the day of her rival's death and had creepy prophecies about her beheading.)
The good thing is that this book offers a glimpse into the world that Tyndale lived and the projects he undertook. We get some sense of Tyndale's austerity and the intense isolation he experienced, although at times I needed to flip back to the timeline or (worse) resort to the account on Foxe's Book of Martyrs to get better clarity. Teems also tries to be inclusive in his writing, using a capitalized 'C' in 'Church' to refer to the RCC. As a former Protestant (I am now Orthodox), I appreciated this attempt at neutrality, since I rarely find it in any material about Tyndale. The scale of the research is pretty impressive as well; I found the bibliography immensely useful.
But I still felt that there was so much lost opportunity. I would have liked to understand a bit of Antwerp, the town Tyndale exiled himself in -- and less waxing lyrical about the effect of exile on the artist. I'd try to match Tyndale's style with that of other Renaissance writers. I'd go into the implications of the theological disputes, particularly the politics of the time (why was nothing said about the lollers, or other strains of Protestant thought? Tyndale was not the first person to deny transubstantiation). Teems skimps through all of these, leaving just enough material for an eager researcher to pick up afterwards, but I wish he'd given them more attention.
In the epilogue, Teems seems to admit that the goal of writing this biography was an attempt to 'trumpet' the praises of Tyndale and match him to the glory of 'writers of greater name but much less weight per pound'. I can't help but think of Tyndale's greatest earthly enemy, Thomas More, who continually fascinates biographers. The trouble is, More had a larger-than-life personality. Tyndale retreated into Scripture. I think approaching Tyndale with the goal of lionizing him was not exactly what Tyndale himself would have wanted (and Teems seems to admit it), and so the project feels a little half-baked. Still, what is available here does provide useful scaffolding for understanding Tyndale, his times, his life, and most importantly, his literary and theological works.
April 18, 2012
Teems writes weird. By 'weird', I don't mean bad, I just mean 'different'. I wouldn't call this book an account of Tyndale's life, rather, I would call it a 'conversation/discussion' of his life. Perhaps my choice of words seems strange as one can't really have a conversation or a discussion without a participant; but those are the words that come to mind. In a sense, I did feel as though I was participating. Mr. Teems gives you his own thoughts about different events, stating what he finds humorous, and giving his opinion of the various 'characters' in Tyndale's day. You may agree or disagree with what he thinks. He strikes me as a 'one-on-one' teacher, one who gives you, not only the people, time period, events, books and letters that were written, but gets you to think about them, to ponder certain questions. He gets your thoughts rolling. For instance, he'll give you Tyndale's translation of a certain passage in the Bible and also give you the KJV, NASB, NIV,SCB, translations and have you compare them and then he'll talk about the differences and similarities between them.
I learned a lot from this book. Oddly enough, one of the things I learned is that you can't learn a huge amount about Tyndale's biography. There really isn't much information on Tyndale's life available. To learn about the man, as is made clear in the book, we mainly have his books, letters and Bible translation to go off of. Teems makes good usage of these documents. I like that he'll mention Tyndale's publishing a book, and then take a chapter to 'look' at it. His 'looks' at Tyndale's Bible translation are throughout the book. In one of those 'looks' the author tells you about translation vs. paraphrase in his comparison of Tyndale's translation vs. today's The Message bible. "Representing a more modern appetite, The Message is a clear departure from Tyndale...The translation is upbeat. It is optimistic. It is sincere. And it is certainly readable. These are admirable qualities. But rhapsody has been exchanged for explanation (paraphraseis). .......Robert Alter referred to the phenomenon as the 'heresy of explanation.' (Quoting Alter)'The unacknowledged heresy underlying most modern English versions of the Bible is the use of translation as a vehicle for explaining the Bible instead of representing it in another language, and in the most egregious instances this amounts to explaining away the Bible.' Translation and interpretation are not the same thing, and that is Alter's point. "
Let me mention here a few things that I didn't like. For one, there are some things/topics I do not want to know the details of, in any society. There are some of these unnecessary things scattered throughout the book. Apparently, on rare occasions, Tyndale could be as crude as Luther in his comments about the hypocritical religious people of the day. Also, in my opinion, Teems stressed the 'music/sound/ feeling/rhythm' of Tyndale's writing too much. I would have been fine with a paragraph or two on it's musical quality, how well Tyndale wrote, how simply, I wouldn't even have minded a chapter on it, but it seemed to be one of the main emphases of the author. And, lastly: again, in my opinion, the chapter 'It was England to Him' was entirely unnecessary, even a bit boring. In it, Mr. Teems ponders what it would have been like for Tyndale to have been so far away from his native land (England) by looking at other people's experiences away from home. What was said in that chapter could have been said in one paragraph. But again, that's my opinion.
Now, back to a positive note. In this book, Teems explains that English was considered to be a crude, common language. Latin was the best language, the developed language of the day that was considered fit for the Bible. I liked that it is pointed out that the New Testament translated into the 'common' English language was, "the common Greek(Koine) materialized as common English". I had never thought about it in that way before. Koine Greek wasn't an 'elite' language, it was common, just as English was!
To sum up this look at the life of Tyndale: in reading the information compiled by Teems, It was evident from Tyndale's life that he had a 'working faith', a faith given to Him by God. He wasn't looking at his circumstances, his feelings, his desires, he wasn't focusing on the world around him, He was focused upon God and the tasks that God had given him to do. He knew that life was not about him, but about God.
I'll end with one of the many Tyndale quotes from the book:"Wicked deeds prove that a heart is unfaithful. Unless you are hitting the mark with your deeds, the aim of your soul must be crooked. Your faith should inform every activity of your being."
I received this book as a complimentary copy from BookSneeze® in exchange for my review(which does not have to be favorable).
I learned a lot from this book. Oddly enough, one of the things I learned is that you can't learn a huge amount about Tyndale's biography. There really isn't much information on Tyndale's life available. To learn about the man, as is made clear in the book, we mainly have his books, letters and Bible translation to go off of. Teems makes good usage of these documents. I like that he'll mention Tyndale's publishing a book, and then take a chapter to 'look' at it. His 'looks' at Tyndale's Bible translation are throughout the book. In one of those 'looks' the author tells you about translation vs. paraphrase in his comparison of Tyndale's translation vs. today's The Message bible. "Representing a more modern appetite, The Message is a clear departure from Tyndale...The translation is upbeat. It is optimistic. It is sincere. And it is certainly readable. These are admirable qualities. But rhapsody has been exchanged for explanation (paraphraseis). .......Robert Alter referred to the phenomenon as the 'heresy of explanation.' (Quoting Alter)'The unacknowledged heresy underlying most modern English versions of the Bible is the use of translation as a vehicle for explaining the Bible instead of representing it in another language, and in the most egregious instances this amounts to explaining away the Bible.' Translation and interpretation are not the same thing, and that is Alter's point. "
Let me mention here a few things that I didn't like. For one, there are some things/topics I do not want to know the details of, in any society. There are some of these unnecessary things scattered throughout the book. Apparently, on rare occasions, Tyndale could be as crude as Luther in his comments about the hypocritical religious people of the day. Also, in my opinion, Teems stressed the 'music/sound/ feeling/rhythm' of Tyndale's writing too much. I would have been fine with a paragraph or two on it's musical quality, how well Tyndale wrote, how simply, I wouldn't even have minded a chapter on it, but it seemed to be one of the main emphases of the author. And, lastly: again, in my opinion, the chapter 'It was England to Him' was entirely unnecessary, even a bit boring. In it, Mr. Teems ponders what it would have been like for Tyndale to have been so far away from his native land (England) by looking at other people's experiences away from home. What was said in that chapter could have been said in one paragraph. But again, that's my opinion.
Now, back to a positive note. In this book, Teems explains that English was considered to be a crude, common language. Latin was the best language, the developed language of the day that was considered fit for the Bible. I liked that it is pointed out that the New Testament translated into the 'common' English language was, "the common Greek(Koine) materialized as common English". I had never thought about it in that way before. Koine Greek wasn't an 'elite' language, it was common, just as English was!
To sum up this look at the life of Tyndale: in reading the information compiled by Teems, It was evident from Tyndale's life that he had a 'working faith', a faith given to Him by God. He wasn't looking at his circumstances, his feelings, his desires, he wasn't focusing on the world around him, He was focused upon God and the tasks that God had given him to do. He knew that life was not about him, but about God.
I'll end with one of the many Tyndale quotes from the book:"Wicked deeds prove that a heart is unfaithful. Unless you are hitting the mark with your deeds, the aim of your soul must be crooked. Your faith should inform every activity of your being."
I received this book as a complimentary copy from BookSneeze® in exchange for my review(which does not have to be favorable).
December 31, 2011
Meet William Tyndale, a contemporary of Martin Luther, and Thomas Moore. David Teems presents a thorough history of the life and work of William Tyndale and how he was persecuted because he wished to create a Bible in the language of the people of his time and place - the English. Previous to this time (by two centuries) Wycliff, translated the Bible into English. Wycliff's English Bible did, indeed, impact the translation work done by Tyndale. Tyndale's work was, however, translated from the original Greek language. The author of this biography of Tyndale, David Teems references only slightly Wycliff's translation in this book.
The Catholic Church did not allow translations they did not endorse or create and persecuted anyone involved in such activity. They certainly did not want the Bible placed in the hands of people other than clergy. If you are at all familiar with the period of history dealing with the Reformation, the Renaissance, and the controlling power that the Catholic Church held over all social levels during that period, you already have a grasp of the difficulties facing Tyndale. However, Tyndale desired to see the Scriptures in his own language for his own people. Therefore, he endured hardship, banishment, peril, and censorship all causing him to move from his homeland. Eventually his choice to bring God's Word to the English in their own language cost him his life.
"Lord! Open the King of England's eyes"
were his last spoken words.
So you ask, just what is Tyndale's legacy? We don't hear a lot about the Tyndale translation. It gets about as much mention historically as Wycliff's and other Biblical translation works. However, the beautiful language in the Bible - the King James Bible - has it's "first appearance, or first mention" in the Tyndale Bible. These include the beautifully phrased wording given to us by the workmanship and pen of William Tyndale.
I found David Teem's biography of Tyndale interesting yet difficult to read. It is not a casual read. Teems examines Tyndale's work paralleling it with works of more modern writers such as Thomas Wolfe. I find this inappropriate because we are dealing with vastly differing types of writing and periods in which these literary giants wrote. Tyndale's "style" and literary genius of expression are or should be directly attributable to the work that he was accomplishing because he was translating directly from the original languages into his own and his work was of a "holy" nature and not that of the secular world.
We in Christendom have much for which to be grateful because of the writings of William Tyndale as well as his beautiful translation of Scripture - Old and New Testaments.
Behold the lamb of God
I am the way, the truth, and the life
In my father's house are many mansions
For thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory
Seek, and ye shall find
With God all things are possible
In him we live, move, and have our being
Be not weary in well doing
Looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith
Behold, I stand at the door and knock
Let not your hearts be troubled
The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak
For my yoke is easy and my burden is light
Fight the good fight
(These phrases made their first appearance in translations
of the Scriptures by Tyndale. pg. xx Prologue, Tyndale)
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Thomas Nelson Publishers in exchange for a review. I was not required to render a positive review. Opinions expressed are my own. This review is also on my blog: http://ChatWithVera.blogspot.com and http://Christianbook.com.
NOTE: There are short bio-histories of William Tyndale online. The following link substantiates David Teem's disclosure and collaboration that William Tyndale's New Testament was translated from the original Greek and not from the works of Wycliffe and Luther. http://www.greatsite.com/timeline-eng... Bible History-William Tyndale
The Catholic Church did not allow translations they did not endorse or create and persecuted anyone involved in such activity. They certainly did not want the Bible placed in the hands of people other than clergy. If you are at all familiar with the period of history dealing with the Reformation, the Renaissance, and the controlling power that the Catholic Church held over all social levels during that period, you already have a grasp of the difficulties facing Tyndale. However, Tyndale desired to see the Scriptures in his own language for his own people. Therefore, he endured hardship, banishment, peril, and censorship all causing him to move from his homeland. Eventually his choice to bring God's Word to the English in their own language cost him his life.
"Lord! Open the King of England's eyes"
were his last spoken words.
So you ask, just what is Tyndale's legacy? We don't hear a lot about the Tyndale translation. It gets about as much mention historically as Wycliff's and other Biblical translation works. However, the beautiful language in the Bible - the King James Bible - has it's "first appearance, or first mention" in the Tyndale Bible. These include the beautifully phrased wording given to us by the workmanship and pen of William Tyndale.
I found David Teem's biography of Tyndale interesting yet difficult to read. It is not a casual read. Teems examines Tyndale's work paralleling it with works of more modern writers such as Thomas Wolfe. I find this inappropriate because we are dealing with vastly differing types of writing and periods in which these literary giants wrote. Tyndale's "style" and literary genius of expression are or should be directly attributable to the work that he was accomplishing because he was translating directly from the original languages into his own and his work was of a "holy" nature and not that of the secular world.
We in Christendom have much for which to be grateful because of the writings of William Tyndale as well as his beautiful translation of Scripture - Old and New Testaments.
Behold the lamb of God
I am the way, the truth, and the life
In my father's house are many mansions
For thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory
Seek, and ye shall find
With God all things are possible
In him we live, move, and have our being
Be not weary in well doing
Looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith
Behold, I stand at the door and knock
Let not your hearts be troubled
The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak
For my yoke is easy and my burden is light
Fight the good fight
(These phrases made their first appearance in translations
of the Scriptures by Tyndale. pg. xx Prologue, Tyndale)
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Thomas Nelson Publishers in exchange for a review. I was not required to render a positive review. Opinions expressed are my own. This review is also on my blog: http://ChatWithVera.blogspot.com and http://Christianbook.com.
NOTE: There are short bio-histories of William Tyndale online. The following link substantiates David Teem's disclosure and collaboration that William Tyndale's New Testament was translated from the original Greek and not from the works of Wycliffe and Luther. http://www.greatsite.com/timeline-eng... Bible History-William Tyndale
September 14, 2017
I thought I was familiar with the story of William Tyndale before reading this book. I know now that I didn't know much.
This is a history that is easy to read, makes you think, and can appeal to many different types of readers for many different reasons.
As a history, Tyndale: the Man who Gave God an English Voice, is masterful. The story can stand on its own; passion, betrayal, heartache, salvation... it's all here. However, David Terms finds more power in bringing in a broader historical construct. The protestant reformation in Tudor England is cast in a new light when looking at it through the story of the Bible being translated into English as well. The English language as the art form we know begins with Tyndale. The cadence and prose of Tyndale and Gloucester, becomes that of Shakespeare and England.
This is a history that is easy to read, makes you think, and can appeal to many different types of readers for many different reasons.
As a history, Tyndale: the Man who Gave God an English Voice, is masterful. The story can stand on its own; passion, betrayal, heartache, salvation... it's all here. However, David Terms finds more power in bringing in a broader historical construct. The protestant reformation in Tudor England is cast in a new light when looking at it through the story of the Bible being translated into English as well. The English language as the art form we know begins with Tyndale. The cadence and prose of Tyndale and Gloucester, becomes that of Shakespeare and England.
July 7, 2013
This is a very good book. It does a great job of sharing what times were like in England and Europe in the 1600s. Tyndale was truly gifted and a gift to mankind. He devoted his life to making the Bible readable and understandable to the comment man and woman. He is one of many who died for his faith.
June 13, 2018
Tyndale's name is not as renowned as Guttenberg's or Shakespeare's in the influence of modern literature, nor as renowned as Martin Luther or Thomas More in aspects of theology. But combined, he is most influential, and it is pitied he is credited as little as he was.
A fascinating, joyous read, this.
A fascinating, joyous read, this.
March 26, 2025
A well-told story about a truly magnificent man. We owe much to Tyndale's sacrifice and his life continues to influence a new generation today. He was not swayed by what man could do to him. He kept his eyes on Jesus and stood for his faith, even unto death. What a blessing it was to read his story with all the personal intricacies that made the man.
September 22, 2018
Made me more aware of the beauty of Tyndale's translation behind the words of my ESV Bible. His simplicity, turns of phrase, and melodic phrasing are intertwined with God's word. His courage and love of Scripture undergird my efforts to understand and obey.
August 9, 2023
I was ignorant about how the Bible we have came about. The price that Tyndale paid to give “God an English voice” is inspirational. A brilliant mind dedicated to God, no matter the cost!!! This was a well written and inspiring biography.
December 7, 2017
a scholarly, sometimes dry, but ultimately fascinating examination of a translator who changed the world.
December 30, 2022
Great biography, not just for the material but for the way it was written. Very engaging. I appreciate this important man so much more after reading!
December 27, 2025
A three star book about a five star man.
September 27, 2018
A fine biography, interesting but not life-changing. It's amazing Tyndale had such an impact on the English language. Books like this are a great way to learn about some of the lesser-known people who operated behind the curtains of history.
June 10, 2016
Prior to reading this biography of William Tyndale I knew very little about him and now he enters the ranks as one of my heroes of the faith.
It is an odd twist of history that Tyndale is so relatively unknown given his immense contribution to the English language and the reformation in England. As the first translator of the Bible into English (and yes I do know about Wycliffe) every English Bible I own owes a huge debt to Tyndale, they are all his descendants. Not only that but my very Protestant faith owes as much to Tyndale as it does to Luther or Calvin. It is simply astonishing that in so many places that no one has been able to improve upon his English translation in nearly 500 years, which bears testimony both to his abilities as a Greek scholar and to his ability to capture that in English.
The bare facts are that the Word of God captured Tyndale and put within him a burning desire to translate the Bible so the 'plowboys' of England could read and understand the Scriptures for themselves. As a result Tyndale went into exile and was eventually captured in Belgium and executed after nearly two years in jail (strangled and then burnt) by the Catholic Church.
Despite their being relatively scant information about Tyndale (in part due to his long years in exile and on the run), David Teems has done a creditable job in putting a together a readable and enjoyable biography.
This is more than a simple chronological timeline of his life, as Teems takes various detours to explore the enormous impact of Tyndale upon the English language and uses various other artists to try to shed light upon the passion of this very determined translator. It is usually in those chapters however that the book becomes heavier going and loses both pace and focus. It is as though the author, so aware and admiring of Tyndale's English tries hard to write in a style worthy of the great man and ends up labouring under the weight of trying to make every sentence Tyndalian. Yet at times Teems has a great turn of phrase and is devastating in his withering assessment of Henry Phillips who betrayed Tyndale to the authorities.
Where the book succeeds is in the more conventional portrayals of the life and times of its subject and in particular the contest with Sir Thomas More (who as an aside it's hard to believe became a Catholic saint with his penchant for burning people at the stake). Anne Boleyn and Henry VIII make impressive cameos all adding colour to an already vivid picture.
Yet it is Tyndale and his willingness to choose exile, his willingness to face death, his determination to let the Scriptures loose on the English and to preach Christ and him crucified that impresses the most. A true martyr of the faith of whom, 'the world was not worthy' and although Tyndale did not live to see the fruit of his immense labours but 'blessed are the pure in heart for they shall see God.'
I haven't read any other biographies of Tyndale so it's hard to place this one, but it has made me want to read another not because this one is bad but because it has created an interest in its subject and that's what good biographies should do.
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze®.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review.
It is an odd twist of history that Tyndale is so relatively unknown given his immense contribution to the English language and the reformation in England. As the first translator of the Bible into English (and yes I do know about Wycliffe) every English Bible I own owes a huge debt to Tyndale, they are all his descendants. Not only that but my very Protestant faith owes as much to Tyndale as it does to Luther or Calvin. It is simply astonishing that in so many places that no one has been able to improve upon his English translation in nearly 500 years, which bears testimony both to his abilities as a Greek scholar and to his ability to capture that in English.
The bare facts are that the Word of God captured Tyndale and put within him a burning desire to translate the Bible so the 'plowboys' of England could read and understand the Scriptures for themselves. As a result Tyndale went into exile and was eventually captured in Belgium and executed after nearly two years in jail (strangled and then burnt) by the Catholic Church.
Despite their being relatively scant information about Tyndale (in part due to his long years in exile and on the run), David Teems has done a creditable job in putting a together a readable and enjoyable biography.
This is more than a simple chronological timeline of his life, as Teems takes various detours to explore the enormous impact of Tyndale upon the English language and uses various other artists to try to shed light upon the passion of this very determined translator. It is usually in those chapters however that the book becomes heavier going and loses both pace and focus. It is as though the author, so aware and admiring of Tyndale's English tries hard to write in a style worthy of the great man and ends up labouring under the weight of trying to make every sentence Tyndalian. Yet at times Teems has a great turn of phrase and is devastating in his withering assessment of Henry Phillips who betrayed Tyndale to the authorities.
Where the book succeeds is in the more conventional portrayals of the life and times of its subject and in particular the contest with Sir Thomas More (who as an aside it's hard to believe became a Catholic saint with his penchant for burning people at the stake). Anne Boleyn and Henry VIII make impressive cameos all adding colour to an already vivid picture.
Yet it is Tyndale and his willingness to choose exile, his willingness to face death, his determination to let the Scriptures loose on the English and to preach Christ and him crucified that impresses the most. A true martyr of the faith of whom, 'the world was not worthy' and although Tyndale did not live to see the fruit of his immense labours but 'blessed are the pure in heart for they shall see God.'
I haven't read any other biographies of Tyndale so it's hard to place this one, but it has made me want to read another not because this one is bad but because it has created an interest in its subject and that's what good biographies should do.
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze®.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review.
February 10, 2012
Homo Homini Lupus
http://manisawolftomen.blogspot.com/
That the English language is the language as we know it owes more to William Tyndale than to Chaucer or Shakespeare or any other better known figure. William Tyndale brought to life by his tireless labors the Word of God in English. David Teems' Tyndale is this story, not the story of the man and the martyr, but the story of the book.
Teems manages to weave a complex story of more than just the man and out of disparate and inconclusive pieces. He admits that Tyndale biography is a game of maybe's while simultaneously presenting the poetry of Tyndale as a man, an artist, a prophet and in the end a martyr. What I found to be so incredible in it all is the absolute lack of recognition that Tyndale has received as an influence of the language; Teems finds this appropriate, as Tyndale himself would have it, but how can that be. Let me offer a comparison of the opening of creation which Teems provides (I have taken the liberty of updating the spelling where appropriate for comprehension):
Wycliffe's English Bible (from the Latin):
In the beginning God made of nought heaven and earth. Forsooth the earth was idle and void, darkness were on the face of the depth; and the Spirit of the Lord was born on the waters. And God said, Light be made, and light was made.
Tyndale Pentateuch (From the Hebrew):
In the beginning God created heaven and earth. The earth was void and empty, and darkness was upon the deep, and the spirit of God moved upon the water. Then God said: Let there be light and there was light.
The poetry of Tyndale is palpable in this snippet, where Wycliffe's reads more as a list.
Teems snatches Tyndale's poetry in his presentation. Every pages swells with it. Every word is (forgive me) teeming with it. There is a sensitivity in the writing that brings Tyndale's struggles, his dedication, and loneliness, and subtlety to life. He goes further than Tyndale's Bible and dives into the deep of his other works, theological, apologetic and epistolary, and with each he unweaves the complications that bind up their little known author to present the man and work in full perfection. Behold the man. And the man presented is one from which scripture oozes. Reading his words who could doubt his love for the Word? In Teems we see it overflowing the man, overflowing the page.
I cannot recommend this work more highly. For anyone who loves the language, her poetry, her stories; for anyone who loves the English bible whatever variety; for anyone who loves the church and her martyrs; for anyone who loves the Reformation there is hardly a book which offers greater profit both aesthetic and literary.
6/5
By the blood of the Lamb,
RS
I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze®.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own; I was not expected to enjoy this book nearly half as much as I did. I bet if they knew how much I was going to enjoy it they would have wanted me to pay for it still. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.
http://manisawolftomen.blogspot.com/
That the English language is the language as we know it owes more to William Tyndale than to Chaucer or Shakespeare or any other better known figure. William Tyndale brought to life by his tireless labors the Word of God in English. David Teems' Tyndale is this story, not the story of the man and the martyr, but the story of the book.
Teems manages to weave a complex story of more than just the man and out of disparate and inconclusive pieces. He admits that Tyndale biography is a game of maybe's while simultaneously presenting the poetry of Tyndale as a man, an artist, a prophet and in the end a martyr. What I found to be so incredible in it all is the absolute lack of recognition that Tyndale has received as an influence of the language; Teems finds this appropriate, as Tyndale himself would have it, but how can that be. Let me offer a comparison of the opening of creation which Teems provides (I have taken the liberty of updating the spelling where appropriate for comprehension):
Wycliffe's English Bible (from the Latin):
In the beginning God made of nought heaven and earth. Forsooth the earth was idle and void, darkness were on the face of the depth; and the Spirit of the Lord was born on the waters. And God said, Light be made, and light was made.
Tyndale Pentateuch (From the Hebrew):
In the beginning God created heaven and earth. The earth was void and empty, and darkness was upon the deep, and the spirit of God moved upon the water. Then God said: Let there be light and there was light.
The poetry of Tyndale is palpable in this snippet, where Wycliffe's reads more as a list.
Teems snatches Tyndale's poetry in his presentation. Every pages swells with it. Every word is (forgive me) teeming with it. There is a sensitivity in the writing that brings Tyndale's struggles, his dedication, and loneliness, and subtlety to life. He goes further than Tyndale's Bible and dives into the deep of his other works, theological, apologetic and epistolary, and with each he unweaves the complications that bind up their little known author to present the man and work in full perfection. Behold the man. And the man presented is one from which scripture oozes. Reading his words who could doubt his love for the Word? In Teems we see it overflowing the man, overflowing the page.
I cannot recommend this work more highly. For anyone who loves the language, her poetry, her stories; for anyone who loves the English bible whatever variety; for anyone who loves the church and her martyrs; for anyone who loves the Reformation there is hardly a book which offers greater profit both aesthetic and literary.
6/5
By the blood of the Lamb,
RS
I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze®.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own; I was not expected to enjoy this book nearly half as much as I did. I bet if they knew how much I was going to enjoy it they would have wanted me to pay for it still. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.
August 31, 2017
I love history and this book kept my attention to the end! Tyndale, even though he lived 100's of years ago did a wonderful thing. Because of his work the common people where able to have the Holy Bible in their tongue. Even at great risk to himself he enabled others to translate the so many other Versions of the bible, in my book he is and was a hero! A very good read.
July 13, 2012
Please visit my blog for my complete review of this book: http://maryellenherrera.com/2012/07/1...
Tyndale, the title itself declares the subject of the book. It’s about the life of a gifted and courageous man named William Tyndale, who used the gifts God granted him and produced a Bible for the people, in a language they could understand. In a time when God’s Word was not available to everyone, except the clergy, Tyndale accepted his calling; even to the extent of exile, to produce the English Bible. Not an easy task for someone to undertake in the 1500’s. He’s dedication to the mission eventually cost him his life, but as all Christians know, death isn’t the end…
This book was interesting but a bit dry which left me with a sense of obligation to finish reading it, as this was a free book from the Publisher in exchange for a review. The reason I chose this book was because of the subject – William Tyndale. Being a Christian, I thought it would be a great way to read about the history behind the English Bible translation. And the parts within the book that referred to Tyndale, his life, and the translating of the Bible were indeed interesting, however, since there (and the book mentions this) isn’t much known about Tyndale himself, the author used others who lived in that time frame to generate a picture of how Tyndale probably lived and of the towns he visited. There were many of these segues; each one mentioned was very detailed and, to me, took too much time. Many of the explanations mentioned could have been made without all the background history.
My favorite sections of the book were the Tyndale parts; where you learned about his life and the difficulties he endured while translating the Bible. Reading samples of the translations he came up with – from Hebrew/Greek to English – were very informative and made me appreciate the work involved in creating the English version of the Bible. I was also surprised to discover certain phrases, which are widely known today, such as “The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak“, and “I am the way, the truth, and the life“, were penned by Tyndale. These were the few areas which made the book, Tyndale, exciting enough for me to share with my friends, and to read portions of the book aloud to them.
Tyndale, the title itself declares the subject of the book. It’s about the life of a gifted and courageous man named William Tyndale, who used the gifts God granted him and produced a Bible for the people, in a language they could understand. In a time when God’s Word was not available to everyone, except the clergy, Tyndale accepted his calling; even to the extent of exile, to produce the English Bible. Not an easy task for someone to undertake in the 1500’s. He’s dedication to the mission eventually cost him his life, but as all Christians know, death isn’t the end…
This book was interesting but a bit dry which left me with a sense of obligation to finish reading it, as this was a free book from the Publisher in exchange for a review. The reason I chose this book was because of the subject – William Tyndale. Being a Christian, I thought it would be a great way to read about the history behind the English Bible translation. And the parts within the book that referred to Tyndale, his life, and the translating of the Bible were indeed interesting, however, since there (and the book mentions this) isn’t much known about Tyndale himself, the author used others who lived in that time frame to generate a picture of how Tyndale probably lived and of the towns he visited. There were many of these segues; each one mentioned was very detailed and, to me, took too much time. Many of the explanations mentioned could have been made without all the background history.
My favorite sections of the book were the Tyndale parts; where you learned about his life and the difficulties he endured while translating the Bible. Reading samples of the translations he came up with – from Hebrew/Greek to English – were very informative and made me appreciate the work involved in creating the English version of the Bible. I was also surprised to discover certain phrases, which are widely known today, such as “The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak“, and “I am the way, the truth, and the life“, were penned by Tyndale. These were the few areas which made the book, Tyndale, exciting enough for me to share with my friends, and to read portions of the book aloud to them.
November 15, 2025
For centuries the average Englishman did not have a translation in their own language. John Wycliffe had translated the scriptures into Middle English before the printing press, but the language had evolved over time. While no single person can be credited with codifying modern English, men like Chaucer, Shakespeare, and even Thomas More were influential in using words and phrases that became standardized English. But there was another man whose influence would have the most far-reaching effect on the language: William Tyndale. Five hundred years ago this year, he began his English translation of the Bible. Before he could finish it, he was arrested, imprisoned, and burned at the stake.
If you ask Protestants who know anything about him, they may say Tyndale was executed for translating the Bible into common English. If you ask most Catholics, they may tell you that he was executed for heresy. Yet the truth is not quite that simple. For one thing, Tyndale also created other works: "The Parable of the Wicked Mammon," "The Obedience of a Christian Man," and "The Practice of Prelates." His theology was critical of the Catholic church, and for good reason. By the late 15th century, many church leaders who preached sexual purity were leading promiscuous lives. They had created doctrines that were never in scripture by appealing to church tradition. Since the common man had no personal access to the scriptures, the clergy got away with rampant corruption. Some church leaders didn't know much of the scripture themselves- and if they did, they were not held to account. Not even the pope himself was above reproach (as evidenced by the fact that the office in 1492 was held by the head of the Borgia family).
William Tyndale was born somewhere between 1491 and 1495 in Gloucestershire. He attended Oxford in 1508 and got his BA degree in 1512. Four years later in 1516, Erasmus published the Greek New Testament, and while Erasmus was open to a bible for the masses, he believed in reforming Catholicism from within. The next year, Martin Luther nailed his 95 theses to the door and proposed a more radical solution, which began the Reformation. Tyndale may have been continuing his studies at Cambridge at the time, although historians are unsure. Like many young theologians at the time, he believed that the average person needed to read scripture for themselves. This caused controversy among his older peers, and he was known to debate with them. In 1523, he decided to approach the Bishop of London, Cuthbert Tunstall, thinking he would approve a translation of the Bible. But Tunstall had been told of his reputation by the Catholic clergy in advance and refused to authorize him. After all, Luther's books had already been declared heresy by Pope Leo X. Nevertheless, Tyndale had a vast knowledge of languages, and he was determined to translate the world's most precious book. The only way for him to accomplish his task was to leave England for the continent. In 1524, he began his translation and left his homeland forever.
While the Catholic church had eyes and ears everywhere, those in the printing industry were only concerned with making money. A forbidden book like the Bible in vernacular could make any printer rich. Tyndale arrived in Hamburg and began printing in Cologne. The first edition of his New Testament was printed in Worms in 1526. He would never complete the entire Bible in his lifetime, but he is credited with the New Testament, the Pentateuch; Joshua- II Chronicles, and Jonah.
Politics were changing in England. Henry VIII was married to Catherine of Aragon, the daughter of Ferdinand and Isabella, but his eye was on Anne Boleyn. Anne Boleyn had her eye on the writings of William Tyndale. Henry was intrigued with this writing too. Yet his public love for another woman was against God's law- even to leaders of the Catholic church like Thomas More. More would become Tyndale's harshest critic. He believed that the Holy Church fathers controlled the truth through teachings handed down through the ages. There began a series of written debates and rebuttals between the two men. While More was considered one of the church's most brilliant men, he could not debate without name-calling and personal attacks. He even referred to Tyndale as human waste. More was known as a man of conscience, but he was also known to burn men who disagreed with his conscience. Ironically, he himself would be sent to prison and executed for his disagreements with Henry.
Tyndale lived his life in exile and wound up in Belgium. Authorities from the Catholic church were sent to capture him numerous times, but he always seemed to disappear (as More would say, he was everywhere and nowhere). Then in 1535, a Judas appeared: Henry Phillips. It is unclear who hired Philips. The most likely suspects were Bishop John Stokesley or possibly even Thomas More in prison. Philips pretended to be Tyndale's friend and was so convincing that he was invited into Tyndale's house and shown all of his books. While Henry VIII was making England Protestant, the Catholic authorities still had plenty of influence in Belgium.
Tyndale was arrested and imprisoned for a year and a half. Accused of heresy, he was put on trial for his life. Many of his friends there and in England tried to save him. Yet Henry was too busy with his scandals and political problems. In all this, Tyndale did not show bitterness. During his trials, he had much of the Bible already memorized. His accusers did not. He appealed to God's word while they appealed to their own authority. In the end, Tyndale was not condemned just for translating the Bible, nor was he condemned for real heresy. He was condemned for what power-hungry men in the Catholic church at the time considered heresy: his views, his anti-Catholic material, and his challenge to their authority. The logic was that since they considered his views to be heresy, his translation must also be heresy. But the reality was that the very word of God itself in Hebrew and Greek, translated into Latin, German, and English, condemned their lifestyle. It condemned keeping people ignorant. It condemned their sexual immorality and hypocrisy. It said to "meditate on God's word day and night." It said that Jesus was our great high priest. It said that we are saved by grace though faith; not by works lest any man should boast.
Tyndale was stripped of all priestly rank, strangled, tied to a stake, and burned in 1536. If his enemies intended to erase him from history, they failed in every way possible. In 1537, John Rogers published the first authorized English Bible. While Tyndale never finished translating the entire Bible, the King James Version is largely derived from the books that he did translate. Once the average Englishman read what was in the Bible, they learned that God is not just a god who hates sin- He is also a god of love who paid for our sin by sending His son to die on the cross for our sins. Man tries to make his own way to heaven, but Jesus has already provided the way.
If you ask Protestants who know anything about him, they may say Tyndale was executed for translating the Bible into common English. If you ask most Catholics, they may tell you that he was executed for heresy. Yet the truth is not quite that simple. For one thing, Tyndale also created other works: "The Parable of the Wicked Mammon," "The Obedience of a Christian Man," and "The Practice of Prelates." His theology was critical of the Catholic church, and for good reason. By the late 15th century, many church leaders who preached sexual purity were leading promiscuous lives. They had created doctrines that were never in scripture by appealing to church tradition. Since the common man had no personal access to the scriptures, the clergy got away with rampant corruption. Some church leaders didn't know much of the scripture themselves- and if they did, they were not held to account. Not even the pope himself was above reproach (as evidenced by the fact that the office in 1492 was held by the head of the Borgia family).
William Tyndale was born somewhere between 1491 and 1495 in Gloucestershire. He attended Oxford in 1508 and got his BA degree in 1512. Four years later in 1516, Erasmus published the Greek New Testament, and while Erasmus was open to a bible for the masses, he believed in reforming Catholicism from within. The next year, Martin Luther nailed his 95 theses to the door and proposed a more radical solution, which began the Reformation. Tyndale may have been continuing his studies at Cambridge at the time, although historians are unsure. Like many young theologians at the time, he believed that the average person needed to read scripture for themselves. This caused controversy among his older peers, and he was known to debate with them. In 1523, he decided to approach the Bishop of London, Cuthbert Tunstall, thinking he would approve a translation of the Bible. But Tunstall had been told of his reputation by the Catholic clergy in advance and refused to authorize him. After all, Luther's books had already been declared heresy by Pope Leo X. Nevertheless, Tyndale had a vast knowledge of languages, and he was determined to translate the world's most precious book. The only way for him to accomplish his task was to leave England for the continent. In 1524, he began his translation and left his homeland forever.
While the Catholic church had eyes and ears everywhere, those in the printing industry were only concerned with making money. A forbidden book like the Bible in vernacular could make any printer rich. Tyndale arrived in Hamburg and began printing in Cologne. The first edition of his New Testament was printed in Worms in 1526. He would never complete the entire Bible in his lifetime, but he is credited with the New Testament, the Pentateuch; Joshua- II Chronicles, and Jonah.
Politics were changing in England. Henry VIII was married to Catherine of Aragon, the daughter of Ferdinand and Isabella, but his eye was on Anne Boleyn. Anne Boleyn had her eye on the writings of William Tyndale. Henry was intrigued with this writing too. Yet his public love for another woman was against God's law- even to leaders of the Catholic church like Thomas More. More would become Tyndale's harshest critic. He believed that the Holy Church fathers controlled the truth through teachings handed down through the ages. There began a series of written debates and rebuttals between the two men. While More was considered one of the church's most brilliant men, he could not debate without name-calling and personal attacks. He even referred to Tyndale as human waste. More was known as a man of conscience, but he was also known to burn men who disagreed with his conscience. Ironically, he himself would be sent to prison and executed for his disagreements with Henry.
Tyndale lived his life in exile and wound up in Belgium. Authorities from the Catholic church were sent to capture him numerous times, but he always seemed to disappear (as More would say, he was everywhere and nowhere). Then in 1535, a Judas appeared: Henry Phillips. It is unclear who hired Philips. The most likely suspects were Bishop John Stokesley or possibly even Thomas More in prison. Philips pretended to be Tyndale's friend and was so convincing that he was invited into Tyndale's house and shown all of his books. While Henry VIII was making England Protestant, the Catholic authorities still had plenty of influence in Belgium.
Tyndale was arrested and imprisoned for a year and a half. Accused of heresy, he was put on trial for his life. Many of his friends there and in England tried to save him. Yet Henry was too busy with his scandals and political problems. In all this, Tyndale did not show bitterness. During his trials, he had much of the Bible already memorized. His accusers did not. He appealed to God's word while they appealed to their own authority. In the end, Tyndale was not condemned just for translating the Bible, nor was he condemned for real heresy. He was condemned for what power-hungry men in the Catholic church at the time considered heresy: his views, his anti-Catholic material, and his challenge to their authority. The logic was that since they considered his views to be heresy, his translation must also be heresy. But the reality was that the very word of God itself in Hebrew and Greek, translated into Latin, German, and English, condemned their lifestyle. It condemned keeping people ignorant. It condemned their sexual immorality and hypocrisy. It said to "meditate on God's word day and night." It said that Jesus was our great high priest. It said that we are saved by grace though faith; not by works lest any man should boast.
Tyndale was stripped of all priestly rank, strangled, tied to a stake, and burned in 1536. If his enemies intended to erase him from history, they failed in every way possible. In 1537, John Rogers published the first authorized English Bible. While Tyndale never finished translating the entire Bible, the King James Version is largely derived from the books that he did translate. Once the average Englishman read what was in the Bible, they learned that God is not just a god who hates sin- He is also a god of love who paid for our sin by sending His son to die on the cross for our sins. Man tries to make his own way to heaven, but Jesus has already provided the way.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 9, 2022
Absolutely stellar! Tyndall was an absolute marvel. This biography explores Tyndale’s one sole object in life: to translate the Bible, not from the Latin Vulgate version that others, including John Wycliffe, had done, but from the more original sources in the Greek and Hebrew languages. Tyndale’s economy with words, as he worked and reworked the translation, was meant to produce an English version that was more correct and which could be easily understood by even the common English farm worker. He labored continually to use the most correct English wording to get across the concepts he found in the original Greek/Hebrew. He worked at a time when his efforts were outlawed, he had to flee England to,the Continent to continue his work. There was a price on his head and he was eventually betrayed, captured, and was sentenced to death as a result.
I was gobsmacked to find so many common everyday phrases and aphorisms that we use today were first written by Tyndale. My favorite quote from the book: “Without Tyndale there would have been no Shakespeare”. The number of those phrases, originally written by Tyndale that appear in Shakespeare’s work is really astounding. The King James Version of the Bible can be considered an homage to Tyndale when one considers that approximately 83% of the New Testament snd 87% of the Old Testament were taken directly from his (Tyndale’s) Bible, with no alteration at all.
This was one terrific read!
I was gobsmacked to find so many common everyday phrases and aphorisms that we use today were first written by Tyndale. My favorite quote from the book: “Without Tyndale there would have been no Shakespeare”. The number of those phrases, originally written by Tyndale that appear in Shakespeare’s work is really astounding. The King James Version of the Bible can be considered an homage to Tyndale when one considers that approximately 83% of the New Testament snd 87% of the Old Testament were taken directly from his (Tyndale’s) Bible, with no alteration at all.
This was one terrific read!
January 16, 2018
This is more than just a biography. Mr. Teems had done extensive research into several of the persons who contacted, chased, assisted, or viewed William Tyndale. He provides several writings of Mr. Tyndale and others that give added light to the life and times.
The key premise of Mr. Tyndale was the right of every Englishman or woman to be able to read the Holy Bible in their native language. This was contrary to the edicts from Rome. This time is also when King Henry VIII is trying to find a way to divorce Catherine of Aragon so he can wed Anne Boleyn.
Mr. Tyndale's talents of translation allowed him to be the first to translate the New Testament from Greek to English and The Five Books of Moses, Joshua through 2 Chronicles and The Book of Jonah from Hebrew into English.
A bonus to the reader is the list - First Usage of Words by William Tyndale according to the Oxford English Dictionary and other sources.
I highly recommend this book to everyone interested in English vocabulary, English history of the 1400 - 1500s, or those interested in how we came to have to the English translation of The Holy Bible.
The key premise of Mr. Tyndale was the right of every Englishman or woman to be able to read the Holy Bible in their native language. This was contrary to the edicts from Rome. This time is also when King Henry VIII is trying to find a way to divorce Catherine of Aragon so he can wed Anne Boleyn.
Mr. Tyndale's talents of translation allowed him to be the first to translate the New Testament from Greek to English and The Five Books of Moses, Joshua through 2 Chronicles and The Book of Jonah from Hebrew into English.
A bonus to the reader is the list - First Usage of Words by William Tyndale according to the Oxford English Dictionary and other sources.
I highly recommend this book to everyone interested in English vocabulary, English history of the 1400 - 1500s, or those interested in how we came to have to the English translation of The Holy Bible.
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