This year we celebrate the 500th Anniversary of William Tyndale’s New Testament. In 1526 Tyndale was the first man to translate and print a version of the New Testament in the English language. He did it at great personal cost. Tyndale believed passionately that people should be able to read the Bible for themselves in their own language. Before his translation the church only permitted the Bible to be translated into Latin and to be read in church services by clergymen in Latin to people who didn’t understand Latin.

Tyndale was a talented linguist who spoke eight languages. While at university he was inspired by the teachings of Martin Luther, the great Reformer. In 1521 he left university and devoted his time to studying the Bible and preaching. He was shocked by the clergy’s ignorance of the Bible. He said to one clergyman, ‘If God spares my life, before many years pass, I will cause a boy that drives the plough to know more of the Scripture than you do.’

Tyndale believed that the Bible alone should be the basis for everything the churches believed and practised. He believed people come to a right relationship with God when they simply put their trust in Jesus. He believed people could be forgiven for all their wrongdoing and have a life-changing relationship with God by believing in the teachings of Jesus. When he taught these truths publicly, he was condemned by the religious authorities who saw his translation work and teaching as heresy and treason.

Tyndale’s experienced growing opposition. When the Bishop of London refused to give him permission and funds to translate the Bible into English, he travelled to Germany to continue his translation work. The first copies of his New Testament were printed in Germany and smuggled into England in 1526. The King and religious leaders were furious and condemned Tyndale as a heretic. His New Testament was banned, and copies were burned in public.

Tyndale was forced into hiding but was betrayed by a friend and captured in the Netherlands. In August 1536, he was condemned as a heretic and handed over to the secular authorities for punishment. On 6 October 1536 he was given the chance to formally renounce his teachings. He refused and, after being given a moment to pray, was strangled and burnt at the stake. Tyndale’s dying prayer was, “Lord, open the King of England’s eyes.” God answered his prayer. In 1611 the Authorised or King James Version of the Bible was published, which drew heavily on Tyndale’s version.