William Tyndale
c. 1494–1536
English biblical translator whose work from Greek and Hebrew profoundly shaped later English Bibles and Protestant religious language.
Life and Historical Setting
Denied a safe setting for translation in England, Tyndale worked on the Continent and smuggled printed New Testaments into England. He was betrayed, imprisoned near Brussels, strangled, and burned.
Work and Contribution
Tyndale translated from Greek and Hebrew with concise English that passed into the Coverdale, Great, Geneva, Bishops', and King James Bibles. He also wrote polemics on justification, obedience, and church authority.
Reception and Influence
English-speaking Christianity inherited hundreds of Tyndale's memorable phrases, often without recognizing their source. Protestants remember him as a martyr for vernacular Scripture.
Evidence, Debate, and Interpretation
He was not the first English Bible translator, and the exact percentage of later translations derived from him is often overstated. His sharp polemics and political writings belong within the conflicts of his age.
Known For
- English New Testament
- Biblical Translation
- Martyrdom
Key Works
Influenced By
Influenced
Conversations
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