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The Obedience of a Christian Man (Penguin Classics) by William Tyndale

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One of the key foundation books of the English Reformation, "The Obedience of a Christian Man" (1528) makes a radical challenge to the established order of the all-powerful Church of its time. Himself a priest, Tyndale boldly claims that there is just one social structure created by God to which all must be obedient, without the intervention of the rule of the Pope. He argues that Christians cannot be saved simply by performing ceremonies or by hearing the Scriptures in Latin, which most could not understand, and that all should have access to the Bible in their own language - an idea that was then both bold and dangerous. Powerful in thought and theological learning, this is a landmark in religious and political thinking.

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First published January 1, 1528

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About the author

William Tyndale

262 books30 followers
William Tyndale (/ˈtɪndəl/; sometimes spelled Tynsdale, Tindall, Tindill, Tyndall; c. 1494–1536) was an English scholar who became a leading figure in Protestant reform in the years leading up to his execution. He is well known for his translation of the Bible into English. He was influenced by the work of Desiderius Erasmus, who made the Greek New Testament available in Europe, and by Martin Luther. While a number of partial translations had been made from the seventh century onward, the spread of Wycliffe's Bible resulted in a death sentence for any unlicensed possession of Scripture in English—even though translations in all other major European languages had been accomplished and made available. Tyndale's translation was the first English Bible to draw directly from Hebrew and Greek texts, the first English one to take advantage of the printing press, and first of the new English Bibles of the Reformation. It was taken to be a direct challenge to the hegemony of both the Church of England and the laws of England to maintain the church's position. In 1530, Tyndale also wrote The Practyse of Prelates, opposing Henry VIII's divorce from Catherine of Aragon on the grounds that it contravened Scripture.

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Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews
Profile Image for Peter Bringe.
240 reviews32 followers
October 3, 2023
Written during the early years of the Reformation when the Protestants were being accused of rebellion and unrest, Tyndale wrote this book to assert that they were actually restoring God's ordained institutions of family and state. The church had undermined these institutions and released men from their proper obedience. It had made these institutions mere branches of the church. It was the Pope who had undermined society and caused continual unrest and wars. Tyndale appeals to all men in all places of society to take responsibility for their own positions and to live by the word of God.

The Pope and his followers had done this by replacing God's word with themselves and their traditions. The constant theme of this book is the return to God's word, His promises and His law. Whatever Tyndale is talking about, he finds a way to bring the discussion back to the issue of God's word. In Tyndale's view, God's word regulates our faith, worship, and life. God's promise of salvation in Christ is alone the ground and resting place of the Christian's faith.

The invasive and overreaching authority of the Roman Church was Tyndale's main target. It is easy to be disappointed with his argument against resistance to tyrannical kings, but more work on the lower magistrate principle of resistance would be done later by other Reformed authors, like Samuel Rutherford, whose main opponent was an overreaching monarchy, rather than the Pope. Yet, Tyndale's words directed to a people under persecution and tyranny (from one who knew it personally) are helpful and wise, even if unbalanced in places.

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"I have described unto you the obedience of children, servants, wives, and subjects. These four orders are of God's making and the rules thereof are God's word...If any person of impatiency or of a stubborn and rebellious mind withdraw himself from any of these, and get him to any other [holy] order: let him not think thereby to avoid the vengeance of God in obeying rules and traditions of man's imagination." (p. 180)

"For the law is God's and not the king's. The king is but a servant to execute the law of God and not to rule after his own imagination." (p. 183)

"Thou seest also that to have a faith where God hath not a promise is idolatry." (p. 190)

“Without God’s word do nothing. And to his word add nothing, neither pull anything away therefrom, as Moses everywhere teacheth thee...Remember Saul was cast away of God forever for his good intent. God requireth obedience unto his word and abhorreth all good intents and good zeals which are without God’s word. For they are nothing else than plain idolatry and worshipping of false gods.

And remember that Christ is the end of all thing. He only is our resting place and he is our peace (Ephesians second chapter)…If thou trust in thy words there is no rest. Thou shalt think, I have not done enough. Have I done it with so great love as I should do? Was I so glad in doing as I would be to receive help at my need, I have left this or that undone and such like. If thou trust in confession, then shalt thou think. Have I told all? Have I told all the circumstances? Did I repent enough? Had I as great sorrow in my repentance for my sins as I had pleasure in doing them? Likewise in our holy pardons and pilgrimage, gets thou no rest. For thou seest that the very gods themselves which sell their pardon so good cheap, or some whiles give them freely for glory sake, trust not therein themselves. They build colleges and make perpetuities to be prayed for forever and lade the lips of their beadsmen or chaplains with so many masses and diriges and so long service, that I have known of some that have bid the devil take their founders’ souls for very impatience and weariness of so painful labour.

As pertaining to good deeds therefore, do the best thou canst and desire God to give strength to do better daily, but in Christ put thy trust and in the pardon and promises that God hath made thee for his sake, and on that rock build thine house and there dwell. For there only shalt thou be sure from all storms and tempests and from all wily assaults of our wicked spirits which study with all falsehood to undermine us. And the God of all mercy give thee grace so to do, unto whom be glory forever. Amen.” (p. 179-180)
Profile Image for Joelendil.
860 reviews5 followers
March 18, 2025
In this book, published two years after Tyndale's first edition of the English New Testament, he expounds his understanding of the Christian's responsibilities before God and before God-ordained human authority. He backs up each point with quotations and exposition of Scripture, challenging the reader to verify for themselves whether what he is saying is in agreement with God's Word.

His theology appears to be in most points pretty much the same as that adopted by many of the later "Dissenter" denominations (e.g. the Baptists). Some of his main topics are: submission to authority, separation of church and state, illegitimacy of papal authority, illegitimacy of using violence against those of different religious persuasions, the need for the Bible in English, each Christian's responsibility to use the Bible to evaluate what they are taught by the clergy, the unscriptural nature of many Roman Catholic ceremonies and doctrines, salvation by grace through faith independent of good works but resulting in good works, etc.

Tyndale shows himself to be a skillful expositor of the Bible, able to clearly state biblical principles drawn from a literal interpretation and then show how they apply to daily life. Many of his applications gave a glimpse into his period in history, particularly in the sections where he is writing polemically against the practices of the Roman Catholic Church.

In style, his writing is somewhat similar to the King James Bible (unsurprising since the KJV retains 60-80% of Tyndale's wording in the New Testament), but with easier syntax since he is writing in his native English rather than translating from another language.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It was both historically and theologically interesting to get a look into the mind of this great Reformer. His insights into the doctrine of justification by faith alone and the Christian's responsibility to human government remain especially relevant today.
Profile Image for Steven "Steve".
Author 4 books6 followers
June 14, 2025
A somewhat difficult read, but an overall interesting one. I have to admit that I skimmed sections at times. At the time of its publication it was a banned book with radical ideas about Biblical translation and study that were not shared by the Catholic Church. What now seems unimportant and trivial was at the time a cause for burning, which makes it an important text in historical context if not for what the text actually says.
139 reviews
July 28, 2022
Not an easy read but it is an interesting one
Profile Image for Agathe.
47 reviews
January 31, 2024
I just know Tyndale was a misunderstood genius he's so pookie coded
Profile Image for Deborah Oke.
10 reviews
March 24, 2025
Tyndale pioneered the translation of The Bible *directly* from the original Greek/Hebrew manuscripts (which led to an irrefutably large positive impact on the current world)! Even though most of the book dogged Catholicism (for reasons that made sense given the abuse of powers being experienced by the church during his time), he made scripturally sound points that still/should live on within Christianity. He had several beautifully worded explanations of the gospel and of God. I do kind of feel like I have to read a pro-Catholic text to get rid of any subconscious bias I read through (especially since im assuming the more extreme grievances listed are no longer practiced). Most people including myself can only dream of being called by God to do something as beneficial to humanity as Tyndale was able to.
Profile Image for Michael Crouch.
21 reviews3 followers
January 12, 2019
Good advice for Christians

He gives practical advice for husbands and wives, government leaders, and individual churches in showing obedience to Christ in each of our dealings with people.
Tells the truth in rebuking popes
Profile Image for Todd L.
2 reviews3 followers
January 9, 2018
"Forasmuch as our holy prelates and our chostly religious, which ought to defend God's word, speak evil of it and do all the shame they can to it, and rail on it and bear their captives in hand that it causeth insurrection and teacheth the people to disobey their heads and governors, and moveth them to rise against their princes and to make all common and to make havoc of other men's goods. Therefore have i made this little treatise that followeth containing all obedience that is of God. In which (whosoever readeth it) shall easily perceive, not the contrary only and that they lie: but also the very cause of such blasphemy and what steereth them so furiously to rage and to belie the truth." (p. 26)
"Prepare they mind therefore unto this little treatise and read it discreetly and judge it indifferently, and when I allege any scripture, look thou on the text, whether it interpret it right..." (p. 30)
"Neither is the professing, vowing and swearing obedience unto their [the church's] ordinances any other thing, than the defying, denying and forswearing obedience unto the ordinances of God." (p. 36)
"Now there are three natures of men, one altogether beastly which in no wise receive the law in their hearts, but rise against princes and rulers whensoever they are able to make their party good. ... The second are not so beastly, but receive the law, and unto them the law cometh ... They look on the pleasure, profit and promotion that followeth the keeping of the law, and in respect of the reward keep they the law outwardly with works, but not in the heart. ... The third are spiritual ... and have the law written in their hearts by the Spirit of God. These need neither of king nor officers to drive them, neither that any man proffer them any reward for to keep the law. For they do it naturally." (p. 42-43)
"A Christian man therefore receiveth all things of the hand of God both good and bad, both sweet and sour, both wealth and woe." (p. 58)
"Let the fathers and mothers mark how they themselves were disposed at all ages, and by experience of their own infirmities help their children and keep them from occasions." (p. 60)
"In many things God hath made the men stronger than the women, not to rage upon them and to be tyrants unto them but to help them to bear their weakness. Be courteous therefore unto them and win them unto Christ and overcome them with kindness... (p. 61)
"They divide the scripture into four senses, the literal, tropological, allegorical, anagogical. The literal sense is becoming nothing at all. For the Pope hath taken it clean away and hath made it his possession. For he hath partly locked it up with the false and counterfeited keys of his traditions, ceremonies and feigned lies. And partly driveth men from it with violence of sword. ... The tropological sense pertaineth to good manners (say they) and teacheth what we ought to do. The allegory is appropriate to faith, and the anagogical to hope and things above." (p. 156)
"Thou shalt understand therefore that the scripture hath but one sense which is the literal sense. And that literal sense is the root and ground of all, and the anchor that never faileth whereunto if thou cleave thou canst never err or go out of the way. And if thou leave the literal sense thou canst not but go out of the way. Neverthelater the scripture useth proverbs, similitudes, riddles or allegories as all other speeches do, but that which the proverb, similitude, riddle or allegory signifieth is ever the literal sense which thou must seek out diligently." (p. 156)
"There is no ear so righteous that can abide the hearing of the law. There is no deed so good but that the law damneth it. But Christ, that is to say the gospel, the promises and testament that God hath made in Christ healeth the ear and conscience which the law hath hurt. (p. 158)
"For if we saw not such infirmities in God's elect, we which are so weak and fall so often should utterly despair and think that God had clean forsaken us." (p. 163) (less)
Profile Image for Yibbie.
1,389 reviews54 followers
January 6, 2024
I see why this book isn’t more popular now, and I can see why King Henry the VIII loved it. It cuts as deeply across today's culture as it did across Tudor England’s culture. Do you know just how culturally shocking a knowledge of the scriptures was, is? It stripped the right of authority from the most powerful institution in Medieval Europe and placed it back with those whom God originally gave it to. If we understand its authority today, it will shake our culture just as deeply as it shook their world. All of his applications are not currently applicable, but the thoughtful exposition of Scripture is certainly still relevant.
It is well worth reading. It will make you think about your response to authority in the light of Scripture. What is your duty to your parents, family, government, and church? And how do you know it’s so? Tyndale has a strong argument for where to find those answers. You might not agree with him, but, if you speak English, he opened the way for you to argue easily from the authority of Scripture. Throughout the whole book, he encourages the reader to do just that. It is a message that is as timely as ever. So I would recommend reading this book as a reminder of what reading the Bible can do.
By the way, He appears to not like Robin Hood. But then, should we like a character who is an avowed robber? Anyway, it was interesting to run across so many references to him a deeply theological book. He references Robin Hood as familiarly as we would reference a popular movie or book character. It actually helped remind the reader of just when this book was written. The doctrine he teaches is so applicable to our lives that, once you get past the Elizabethan English, you start to think it was written just to you.
Profile Image for Peter Warren.
114 reviews1 follower
December 8, 2022
A hard read as it is written in old English but an important one all the same given the importance of the book.
Profile Image for Autumn Kearney.
1,181 reviews
July 13, 2024
The Obedience of a Christian Man. I found it odd that the book starts out like this: WILLIAM TYNDALE, OTHERWISE CALLED HITCHINS, UNTO THE READER. Who knows why? I found it odd.
Profile Image for Larry Killion.
Author 4 books2 followers
May 24, 2015
The Obedience of a Christian Man. By William Tyndale.

Most folks know of William Tyndale as the man who translated the first English Bible, which - with certain royal guidelines, was used to transcribe the 1611 edition authorized by King James. The “Obedience of a Christian Man” was a primer on Christian living that was used to spark what is called the English Reformation. It is a practical book on how we are to live as believers. Children are to obey their parents, servants are to obey their masters and husbands are to love their wives as Christ loved His Congregation. The wife is to be in subjection to her own husband as the Congregation is to Christ, and the King is to rule in God’s stead over the realm according to the Law of God, not after his own imagination. Tyndale wrote in the days when the “divine right of the King” was the mindset. The idea of Natural Law (which agrees with scripture) is the best rule for the commonwealth of society was only beginning to develop. In America, since 1776, the so-called “divine right of the King” belongs to WE THE PEOPLE. Tyndale taught that if the secular rulers command us to do evil, we are to disobey saying we are commanded otherwise of God. He also exposed the hypocrisy and wickedness of the powerful religious institution in control at that time and how the leaders of that hierarchy set aside the holy scripture for their lies and man made traditions.
24 reviews1 follower
April 9, 2020
Do you ever remember a book and it brings to memory the state of mind you were in, along with everything you were going through at the time? The obedience of a Christian man was a book that caught me at the right place, right time. Most of this book was read during a hot summer in Gniezno, Poland with not much to do. It's hard to get a sense of how revolutionary his writing was given how readily available the Bible is in western culture. Here in this book, he is giving the common man a look into what the Bible says in English (a crime he would eventually be hung and burned for). He rails against the vain religiosity of his day giving Biblical reasoning for each of his critiques. As you read through it, you can't help but be captivated by his faith and trust in God and his word. A lot of great quotes, also don't skip the preface or intro.

-The Promise of God is the anchor that saveth us from all temptations. If all the world be against us, God's word is stronger than the world. If the world kill us, that shall make us alive again, If it be possible for the world to cast us into hell from thence yet shall God's word bring us again. - William Tyndale
Profile Image for Fintan.
25 reviews29 followers
April 14, 2021
A book that sets out the beliefs of William Tyndale concerning the clergy and church of his day. Spoilers he calls the Pope a whore of Babylon. A good read if you are in any way interested in a primary source for the Reformation. Biblical imagery is populated throughout and some, and I stress only some of the ideas outlined were and perhaps still are of radical importance to the church. Other declarations are more .. let us say more 16th centuryish. I would certainly not recommend this unless you had a particularly unusual or even scholarly interest in the Reformation or surrounding topics.
Profile Image for Camille Baird.
255 reviews3 followers
February 28, 2012
this was a great book. Took a long time to read as it is pretty intense but good to understand thinking during the reformation along with a little ranting but a good read. I would have given it 3 1/2 stars but not quite 4 due to the fact that it is not so easy to read, but that is mostly on account of the reader.
Profile Image for Humphrey.
663 reviews24 followers
February 20, 2015
For a guy who trumpeted everyday plain style, his style sure is wonky. Tyndale had a huge influence on the character of the early English church, and as such his particular flavor of reform is interesting in light of how the English church would develop (compared to the much more fiery continental reformation) over the next century. Also, allegories are literal. Literal allegories.
62 reviews
May 24, 2014
Very good book to read. Very challenging in living a Christian life in total obedience to God. The author is very much against the Pope throughout the book. It is a very detailed book, lots of Scripture used. Difficult to read, but well worth.
Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews

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