A Singular Passion
William Tyndale, born in the early 1490s near Gloucestershire, England, was a man driven by a singular passion: to make the Scriptures accessible to all English speakers. Educated at Oxford and later Cambridge, Tyndale was acutely aware of the clergy's lack of biblical knowledge and the general populace's disconnect from the Word of God.
The Translation Mission
In 1523, Tyndale sought support in London to translate the Bible into English but was rebuffed by Bishop Tunstall. Undeterred, he sailed to Germany in 1524, where he completed his translation of the New Testament in 1525, which was printed in Worms. Copies were smuggled into England, igniting a furious response from the authorities. Tyndale once boldly declared, '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 plow to know more of the Scriptures than thou dost!'
Persecution and Martyrdom
Despite the threats and burning of his New Testaments, Tyndale remained resolute. He wrote, 'In translating the New Testament I did my duty...' His commitment to his mission was unwavering, even as he faced betrayal and imprisonment in 1535 after being deceived by Henry Phillips. Arrested in Antwerp and held in Vilvoorde Castle, Tyndale's final prayer before his execution in October 1536 was, 'Lord! Open the King of England's eyes.'
A Prayer Answered
Remarkably, his prayer was answered. Within four years, King Henry VIII authorized the Great Bible in English, fulfilling Tyndale's dream. Tyndale's legacy endures, with his translations forming the backbone of the King James Version. His life exemplifies unwavering faith and dedication to God's work, with Jesus' teachings made accessible to countless souls. Tyndale's story reminds us that God's plans can overcome any earthly barriers.
