Who Was William Tyndale?
William Tyndale’s New Testament stands at the headwaters of the English Reformation and the reception of Protestant ideas into England. The year 2026 marks the five hundredth anniversary of William Tyndale’s (1494–1536) English translation of the New Testament first being smuggled into England and distributed to both commoners and nobles, clergy and laity alike.
Who was Wi...
William Tyndale’s story is a powerful narrative of defiance against institutional control, framing the translation of Scripture as an act of liberation with enduring cultural and theological consequences. The strongest version of this narrative credits Tyndale with democratizing access to the Bible, challenging ecclesiastical authority, and shaping the English language itself. His translation’s influence on later versions, including the King James Bible, is undeniable, and his martyrdom undersco...
