The Tyndale Bible refers to the first-ever complete printed translation of the Bible into English, which was done by William Tyndale in the early 1500s. Tyndale’s version was the first to go directly from the original Hebrew and Greek, rather than from Latin. It became the basis for many later English translations, including the King James Bible.
William Tyndale was an English scholar and religious reformer who was determined to make the Bible available in the common language of the people, rather than solely in Latin which was restricted to the clergy and upper classes. At the time, it was illegal to translate the Bible into English without permission from the church. Tyndale traveled to Germany and began printing an English Bible translation in Cologne in 1525. However, he was forced to stop due to opposition from church authorities. He then moved to Worms and completed his first full edition there in 1526. This version was revised multiple times by Tyndale before his death.
Tyndale’s Bible was the first to draw directly from Hebrew and Greek texts instead of relying on the Latin Vulgate translation. He used the Greek text of Erasmus of Rotterdam and based the Old Testament on the Hebrew Masoretic text. Tyndale translated straight from the original languages into simple, clear English to increase accessibility for the common man. His translation reflected reformation ideologies and included key terms like “congregation” instead of “church” and “elder” instead of “priest.”
Tyndale’s Bible contained the entire New Testament along with half of the Old Testament books. His Pentateuch (Genesis through Deuteronomy), the book of Jonah, and the New Testament books were published as separate volumes before the whole 1526 Worms edition. Subsequent editions incorporated more of the Old Testament until it was nearly all translated. Tyndale’s friend Miles Coverdale helped complete the translation after Tyndale’s death in 1536.
Some key features of the Tyndale Bible include:
- First complete printed Bible in English translated directly from Hebrew and Greek.
- Clear, simple language aimed at the common people.
- Included important Reformation theological concepts.
- Basis for many later English Bible versions including the King James Bible.
- Complete New Testament, Pentateuch, and half the Old Testament books.
- Went through multiple revisions by Tyndale before his death.
The Tyndale Bible had a significant influence on the shaping of the English language and proved pivotal to spreading reformation ideas to the laity. Despite church proscription, several thousands of copies were smuggled into England and Scotland. Tyndale’s Bible became the model for subsequent vernacular translations. The 16th century Coverdale Bible, Matthew Bible, Great Bible, and Geneva Bible were all based in part on Tyndale’s work. The King James Version of 1611 also relied heavily on Tyndale’s earlier translations.
Tyndale’s Bible faced intense opposition from church officials who condemned the vernacular translation. In 1530, King Henry VIII banned the publication and importation of Tyndale’s Bible in England. Tyndale himself was tried for heresy and executed in 1536. However, his legacy lived on through his influential contributions to Bible translation. Today Tyndale is regarded as the “Father of the English Bible” for his pioneering role in making scripture widely accessible to ordinary people.
Some key facts about William Tyndale:
- Was an English Catholic priest and scholar (c. 1494-1536).
- Studied at Oxford and Cambridge Universities in the early 1500s.
- Became convinced that plowboys should have access to scripture.
- Faced opposition from the church for his translation efforts.
- Fled England to translate the Bible in Germany and the Low Countries.
- First edition completed in 1526 printed in Worms.
- Revisions made until his death after being betrayed to church authorities.
- Executed for heresy in 1536 by being strangled and burned at the stake.
Tyndale used various sources and techniques in creating his pioneering Bible translation:
- Hebrew and Greek texts – Tyndale went back to the original biblical languages and did not rely solely on the Latin Vulgate.
- Erasmus’s Greek New Testament – He translated the New Testament from Erasmus’s 1516 critical Greek edition.
- Masoretic Hebrew Text – The Hebrew text compiled by the Masoretes was the basis for Tyndale’s Old Testament.
- Luther’s German Bible – Tyndale built on Luther’s 1522 German translation for the uncompleted parts of the Old Testament.
- Simplified English – He used clear, simple language to increase accessibility to the common man.
- Theological phrases – Terms like “love” rather than “charity” revealed Protestant theology.
Here are some significant impacts of Tyndale’s groundbreaking Bible translation:
- First printed English Bible – Before Tyndale, there were only handwritten manuscript translations.
- Basis for future translations – His work laid the foundations for the King James Bible and many others.
- Spread reformation ideas – The translation contained key reformation theology.
- Impacted English language – Tyndale introduced many new terms and phrases into the language.
- Defied Catholic Church – He dared to go against the church’s ban on English Bible translations.
- Read by many – Thousands of copies were smuggled into England despite church prohibition.
The Tyndale Bible faced significant controversy and opposition during Tyndale’s lifetime:
- Church officials condemned his translation and called Wycliffe, Tyndale, and Luther “hell’s mouth.”
- In 1526, Cardinal Wolsey prohibited the printing or distribution of Tyndale’s Bible.
- Henry VIII banned Tyndale’s Bible in 1530 and burned copies publicly.
- Tyndale moved frequently to avoid arrest, living in exile in Germany and the Low Countries.
- Betrayed to church authorities in Belgium, he was tried for heresy and executed in 1536.
- After his death, church persecution of Tyndale Bibles continued under King Henry VIII.
Despite intense opposition, Tyndale’s Bible found a wide readership and made a lasting impact on Reformation England:
- Thousands of copies were smuggled from the continent into England and Scotland.
- His translations became the foundation of the emerging English Protestant church.
- Reformers like Anne Boleyn and Thomas Cromwell promoted Tyndale’s banned Bible.
- Portions were read aloud in homes, taverns, and secret religious meetings.
- His translations educated the laity and enabled personal engagement with scripture.
- The clear simple language inspired future English Bible versions and literature.
The Tyndale Bible played a pivotal role in shaping the emerging English Reformation in the early 1500s:
- Introduced laypeople to reformation concepts like salvation by faith alone.
- Replaced traditional Catholic terms like “priest” and “church” with reformer alternatives.
- Validated personal scripture reading over church authority and Latin tradition.
- Inspired further reformation English translations like the Geneva Bible.
- Despite persecution, proved the English Bible and reformation were unstoppable forces.
- Laid theological and linguistic groundwork for the English Protestant Church.
The textual legacy of Tyndale’s groundbreaking translation can be seen in its influence on major subsequent English Bible versions:
- Coverdale Bible (1535) – Coverdale relied extensively on Tyndale’s Pentateuch and New Testament.
- Matthew Bible (1537) – Combined Tyndale’s translation with Coverdale’s uncompleted sections.
- Great Bible (1539) – Tyndale’s translations made up about 80% of this authorized English Bible.
- Geneva Bible (1560) – Hugely influential Protestant translation that built on Tyndale.
- Bishops’ Bible (1568) – Church authorized revision of the Great Bible, still mainly following Tyndale.
- King James Bible (1611) – Tyndale’s translations provided the basis for this landmark authorized version.
In terms of literary style, Tyndale’s Bible translation had several important impacts on the English language:
- Introduced new terms like “scapegoat,” “accomplice,” and “zealot.”
- Influenced phraseology through literal rendering of Hebrew idioms.
- Simplified grammar and word choices for clarity and easy comprehension.
- Structured long sentences to aid oral recitation and reading comprehension.
- Established foundational English Bible style followed by Coverdale and later versions.
- Had lasting impacts on English Bible language right through to the King James Bible.
Tyndale used various creative and unusual word choices in his biblical translation:
- “Love” instead of “charity” – Conveyed Protestant focus on love of God over good works.
- “Congregation” rather than “church” – Rejected Catholic ecclesiology.
- “Elder” not “priest” – Denied clerical distinctions.
- “Repent” for “do penance” – Rejected sacramental theology.
- “Passover” not “Easter” – Used original Hebrew terminology.
- “Atonement cover” for “propitiatory” – Clarified meaning.
Tyndale introduced many new English terms through his Bible translation including:
- Jehovah – Transliteration of the Hebrew divine name.
- Passover – Direct translation of the Jewish feast.
- Scapegoat – The goat sent into the wilderness on the Day of Atonement.
- Eye-service – Working only when watched.
- Brokenhearted – Heartbroken, crushed in spirit.
- Hardheartedness – Stubbornness, lack of compassion.
In addition to individual words and phrases, Tyndale’s translation had a significant impact on English biblical style:
- Simple sentence structures modeled after Hebrew constructions.
- Use of repetition, parallelism, and alliteration for rhetorical effect.
- Concrete sensory imagery – the “picture Bible.”
- Common order of subject, verb, object rather than inversions.
- Interpretive glosses to clarify theological concepts.
- Rhythmic prose designed for reading aloud to the illiterate.
Tyndale used a number of creative translation techniques aimed at accessibility for the common reader:
- Divided verses into readable chunks with interpretive headings.
- Added clarifying words not in the original text in italics.
- Marginal notes defined terms, cited sources, and commented on passages.
- Prologues introduced books and major sections.
- Reordered sentences to aid comprehension.
- Simplified complex Greek rhetorical structures.
In addition to pioneering the English Bible, Tyndale made other literary contributions, including:
- The Obedience of a Christian Man – Important early Protestant treatise.
- The Parable of the Wicked Mammon – Defended sola fide justification.
- The Practice of Prelates – Criticism of divorce and corruption.
- Helped with the 1534 Luther Bible translation.
- Wrote various polemical pamphlets against church practices.
- Engaged in written arguments with Sir Thomas More.
Tyndale’s Bible translation served as the model for all major English Bibles over the next century. Through its wide dissemination and use, it had a revolutionary impact on the church and society in England. Key long-term effects of Tyndale’s groundbreaking vernacular Bible included:
- Established English rather than Latin as the language of scripture.
- Enabled direct scripture engagement by all literate classes.
- Transformed private and public worship and devotion.
- Democratized access to the text, undermining clerical control.
- Spread reformation theology throughout the population.
- Shaped the development of English Protestant spirituality.
In conclusion, William Tyndale’s English Bible translation marked a pivotal development in the history of Christianity in England. Despite intense opposition from church authorities, Tyndale’s vernacular Bible laid the foundation for reformed theology and worship. It also profoundly influenced the English language and subsequent Bible translations. Rightly known as the “Father of the English Bible,” Tyndale’s pioneering work changed the religious landscape and made scripture widely accessible for the first time. The Tyndale Bible’s impact in opening God’s Word to ordinary people is truly one of the great achievements of church history.