William Tyndale and the English Reformation, Part III

William Tyndale

and the English Reformation

• Philip Schaff called the Reformation of the sixteenth century “the turning point of modern history.”

• He added the Reformation was,

“next to the introduction of Christianity, the greatest event in history...the

chief propelling force in the history of modern civilization.”

PRE-REFORMERS INITIATE

1330—John Wycliffe born in England

• Oxford professor

• Became leading intect in England, Europe

1382—Wycliffe Bible translated into English

• from Latin into Middle English,

• Stiff, wooden translation, handcopied

1384—Wycliffe dies, Lutterworth, England

1401—"On the Burning of Heretics”

• legislation passes by Parliament

• Translating, owning English Bible, death

• Attempts to suppress the influence of Wycliffe

1408—"Constitutions of Oxford”

• It’s a “dangerous thing” to translate Scripture in English

1415—Council of Constance

• John Hus burned as martyr

• Leader of Bohemian church

• Pastored Bethlehem Chapel, Prague

Steven J. Lawson

Men’s Bible Study

English Reformation

2

• Wycliffe condemned, body exhumed

• Wycliffe removed from sacred ground in church yard

1428—Wycliffe’s body dug up, burned

• Ashes scattered into Swift River

1450—Johannes Gutenberg perfects printing press

1455—Gutenberg Bible printed

REFORMERS BORN

1483—Martin Luther born, Eisleben, Germany

1483—Ulrich Zwingli born, Switzerland

1494—William Tyndale born, near Gloustershire, England

1506—Tyndale enters Magdalen Hall, Oxford

• Age 12, normal for that time

• Studies here for next ten years

1509—John Calvin born, Navon, France

• His father, lawyer in the Catholic Church

• Raised in Catholic church, to be priest

1512—Tyndale earns Bachelor of Arts, Oxford

1514—John Knox born, Scotland

1515—Tyndale earns Master of Arts, Oxford

• Stunningly brilliant, linguistic genius

• Would become proficient in eight languages

REFORMATION BEGINS

1516—Erasmus compiles Greek New Testament

• Leading humanist of his day

Steven J. Lawson

Men’s Bible Study

English Reformation

3

• Cambridge professor

• Travels Europe, collects Greek manuscripts

1516—Tyndale studies at Cambridge

• Continues intellectual pursuit

1517—Pope Leo X authorizes indulgences

1517—Luther posts 95 Theses

• In response to sale of indulgences by Rome

1519—Luther converted reading Greek New Testament

1520—Tyndale joins White Horse Inn

• Small group Bible study

• Studying Luther’s writings

• Called “Little Germany”

• Produced leaders of English Reformation

• 8 martyrs from this group

• Tyndale converted, becomes Reformed

1521—Luther, Diet of Worms

• Stands heresy trial before authorities

• Condemned as heretic, death sentence

1521—Tyndale becomes private tutor

• Leaves Cambridge to study the Scripture more carefully

• Realizes all England is lost

• Must translate Bible into English

• “plough boy in field know more than pope”

Steven J. Lawson

Men’s Bible Study

English Reformation

4

1522—Luther translates New Testament into German

• Produced while he was kidnapped in Wartburg Castle

1523—Tyndale denied translation into English

• Travels to London to receive permission

• Refused, must leave England

• Businessman agrees to support him

TYNDALE DEPARTS

1524—Tyndale leaves England for Europe

• Nowhere in England to do the work

• Never to return, never to marry

1524—Tyndale arrives in Hamburg, Germany

1524—Tyndale travels to Wittenberg

1525—Tyndale translates English New Testament, Cologne, Germany

• Largest city in Germany, easiest to hide

• Finished New Testament

• Raid on print shop at Matthew 22:13

1526—Tyndale publishes English New Testament, Worms, Germany

• Travels to Worms, Germany on Rhine River into North Sea

• Smuggles Bibles into England, Scotland

1528—Tyndale writes The Parable of the Wicked Mammon

• Teaches justification by faith

1528—Tyndale writes The Obedience of a Christian Man

• Teaches obedience to the king

Steven J. Lawson

Men’s Bible Study

English Reformation

5

1528—Three agents dispatched, find Tyndale

• Returns empty handed without Tyndale

1528—John West dispatched, find Tyndale

• Returns without Tyndale

1529—Tyndale translates Pentateuch into English, Antwerp

• Monumental effort

1529—Tyndale sails for Elbe River, shipwrecked, translation lost

1529—Tyndale retranslates the Pentateuch, Hamburg, Germany

• Reunited with Miles C...