William Tyndale

In the early 1500’s, leaders of the Catholic Church in England thought it was heretical to translate the Bible into common, everyday speech. Since Latin was considered the sacred language of Scripture, translating it into English was a crime punishable by death. There is more to this story yet suffice it to say I’m still trying to wrap my head around this one. William Tyndale (1494-1536) refused to buckle under the pressure and was determined to translate the Bible into English.  Tyndale’s family was often visited by parish priests in his younger years. He was shocked by their ignorance of Scripture and told them so.  He vowed to one priest, “If God spares my life, before many years pass, I will cause a boy that drives the plow to know more of Scripture than you do.” Tyndale delivered on his promise. As a talented linguist, who spoke seven languages and was fluent in Biblical Greek and Hebrew, he secretly set to work on translating the Bible into English. Thanks to the recent invention of the printing press, his English translations began to show up all over England. Ultimately, a friend betrayed him to authorities. He was imprisoned for 430 days without light or heat, finally brought to trial and executed. His dying prayer was, “Lord, open the King of England’s eyes.” (You can substitute any number of world leaders and political officials into this petition!) His prayer was answered a year later when King Henry VIII ordered the printing of an English Bible, for which Tyndale was largely responsible. When King James authorized the printing of the King James Bible a century later, 80% of Tyndale’s translation found its way into the King James Version.  Tyndale composed a confession to accompany each of the seven petitions of the Lord’s Prayer.  Here is his confession that accompanies the first petition, “Hallowed be Thy name.”