New Testament – FirstEnglishBible.com

The Scriptures – Light for those in Darkness

When you read William Tyndale’s 1525 Prologue to the New Testament, you get a glimpse into his character. His concern for his countrymen is moving. He wants them to have the Light of Scripture to drive away their spiritual darkness. Pictured below is Page 1 of this 1525 Prologue. You will find a transcript of page 1 just below the picture.

Below is the transcript of page 1 in modern English spelling:

Prologue

I have here translated (brethren and sisters most dear and tenderly beloved in Christ) the new Testament for your spiritual edifying, consolation and solace: Exhorting instantly and beseeching those that are better seen in the tongues than I, and that have higher gifts of grace to interpret the sense of the Scripture, and meaning of the Spirit, than I, to consider and ponder my labor, and that with the spirit of meekness. And if they perceive in any places that I have not attained the very sense of the tongue, or meaning of the Scripture, or have not given the right English word, that they put to their hands to amend it, remembering that so is their duty to do. For we have not received the gifts of God for ourselves only, or for to hide them; but for to bestow them unto the honoring of God and Christ, and edifying of the congregation, which is the body of Christ.

The causes that moved me to translate, I thought better that others should imagine, than that I should rehearse them. Moreover I supposed it superfluous, for who is so blind to ask why light should be showed to them that walk in darkness, where they cannot but stumble, and where to stumble is the danger of eternal damnation, other so despiteful that he would envy any man (I speak not his brother) so necessary a thing, or so bedlam mad to affirm that good is the natural cause of evil, and darkness to proceed out of light, and that lying should be grounded in truth and verity, and not rather clean contrary, that light destroyeth darkness, and verity reproveth all manner lying.

Please note: Some of my transcription of page 1 of the 1525 Prologue to the New Testament could be incorrect in a few places. I have done my best. Feel free to let me know or comment on this post, if you think something isn’t correct.

The 1525 Prologue to the New Testament referred to in this article is from what is known as the 1525 Cologne Fragment. Details about this are below:

It is thought by scholars that William Tyndale’s first attempt at translating and printing the New Testament is contained in what is known as the Cologne Fragment or the Matthew Fragment. There is only one copy known to exist. It is housed in the Grenville Collection at the British Library. All that has survived is 31 leaves/pages containing Tyndale’s Prologue, a woodcut of St Matthew, and chapters 1-22 of Matthew’s Gospel. It is said to have been printed in Cologne, Germany.

Thanks for reading!

Kind regards to all who stopped by this small corner of the internet! If you wish, leave a comment or question.

We are excited to announce…

We have published a new book about William Tyndale’s translation of the Old Testament prophet, Jonah.

The title of the book is: William Tyndale’s JONAH: A modern-spelling edition of the 1531 translation with facsimile of Tyndale’s 16th century original.
The book is available in two formats: 1) Paperback and 2) Audiobook

The paperback is 44 pages. Click this link to learn more.

Tyndale-Jonah-paperbk-book-Nov-4-2020 — Book Cover (William Tyndale’s JONAH: A modern-spelling edition of the 1531 translation with facsimile of Tyndale’s 16th century original)

For a limited time, ten (10) people may get the ENTIRE audiobook for FREE. Click this link to learn more. No credit card is required. We hope you will take advantage of this limited time offer!

Bible

Jesus Has the Words of Eternal Life (John 6:68)

John6-68-1534

John 6:66-68 (Tyndale’s New Testament, 1534)

[66] From that time many of his disciples went back and walked no more with him.

[67] Then said Jesus to the twelve: will ye also go away?

[68] Then Simon Peter answered: Master to whom shall we go? Thou hast the words of eternal life…

The King James Bible, published nearly 80 years after Tyndale’s 1534 translation, is almost identical.

This is one of my favorite passages in the New Testament. It contains so many important things in a few short verses.

What if Jesus ask me directly: “Will you also go away?”

I hope my answer would be as decisive as Simon Peter’s: “Master, to whom shall I go? You have the words of eternal life.”

Speaking of “the words of eternal life” which Jesus has, this is why it is so important that we try to read from the Bible every day. This is where we will read these “words of eternal life.”

I had mentioned a few days ago about a Bible reading plan I am using. Below you will find more information about it.

Professor Grant Horner’s Bible Reading Plan

I enjoy this Bible reading plan because I like to read in both the Old Testament and the New Testament portions of the Bible every day. This plan has you reading six (6) chapters from the Old Testament and four (4) chapters from the New Testament but the reading is from ten (10) different books. Plus, let’s face it, some books of the Bible are harder than others to understand. If I only have to read one (1) chapter at a time, it helps me not get discouraged and continue with my daily reading.

Below you can see what Days 1 through 5 would look like with this reading plan.

Day 1 – Matt 1; Gen 1; Rom 1; 1 Th 1; Job 1; Ps 1; Prv 1; Josh 1; Isa 1; Acts 1

Day 2 – Matt 2; Gen 2; Rom 2; 1 Th 2; Job 2; Ps 2; Prv 2; Josh 2; Isa 2; Acts 2

Day 3 – Matt 3; Gen 3; Rom 3; 1 Th 3; Job 3; Ps 3; Prv 3; Josh 3; Isa 3; Acts 3

Day 4 – Matt 4; Gen 4; Rom 4; 1 Th 4; Job 4; Ps 4; Prv 4; Josh 4; Isa 4; Acts 4

Day 5 – Matt 5; Gen 5; Rom 5; 1 Th 5; Job 5; Ps 5; Prv 5; Josh 5; Isa 5; Acts 5

I copied Days 1 though Day 5 from the Bible Study Tools website below:

www.biblestudytools.com/bible-reading-plan/prof-horners-reading-system.html

Here is a PDF document with Professor Horner’s own detailed instructions and bookmarks you can use to follow his plan. Click the link to download it from this website.

I personally don’t like using the bookmarks. I prefer instead to print out something like the Day 1 through 5 schedule shown above on to a sheet of paper that I can check off as I finish each chapter. It gives me a sense of accomplishment and I can see what I have already read and what is coming up.

Also, don’t get upset with yourself if you don’t read ten (10) chapters each day. Just read five (5) chapters or less, but keep track of where you are. If you don’t read any of them one day, just try again the next day.

We can only start with the present and in the present, God would want us to try again to read His Word.

Also, I wanted to mention that it is also helpful to use an audio Bible if you have one. There are many available for free on the internet at places like Bible Gateway and YouVersion. When I use an audio Bible, I try to follow along in my physical Bible, if I can. If I am especially tired and struggling to keep my eyes open, I will close my eyes and just listen. I love audio Bibles. It is so helpful to hear God’s Word, too.

The longest list (The Prophets) has 250 chapters, so in essence, it would take 250 days to get to every chapter in the Bible, but by that time, you would have read the Gospels three (3) times, the Book of Acts nearly nine (9) times and Proverbs eight (8) times since you read from these books daily. The Old Testament Historic Books list (Joshua through Esther) is 249 chapters.

Thanks for reading!

Kind regards to all who stopped by this small corner of the internet! If you wish, leave a comment or question.

Store

I am truly encouraged by all who visit here. I hope you learned something about William Tyndale and his work and of course, learned more about God’s Word, too.

If you are curious about owning a William Tyndale Bible, check out our small Store. Orders are fulfilled by Christianbook Distributors located in Peabody, Massachusetts, USA.

The British Library paid over one million pounds in 1994 for an original copy of the 1526 New Testament. A facsimile (digital photocopy) of this same New Testament is available in our store — for a very reasonable price.

The Tyndale New Testament, 1526 Edition

We have items in the store related to William Tyndale and items related to the King James Bible. Some are very inexpensive.

One example, you can rent or purchase via streaming the “Man with a Mission” documentary which features Tyndale scholar, David Daniell. It is very low cost, but quite an interesting video.

Man with a Mission: William Tyndale–DVD
(NOTE: To see how to do streaming video rental or purchase, click on the DVD link above to get further details.)

For full disclosure, I do earn a small advertising fee, if you purchase something.

Bible

Obey Men or God? Peter and John’s Answer (Acts 4:18-22)

From Acts 4:18–22 (Tyndale New Testament, 1526):

[18] And they called them, and commanded them that in no wise they should speak or teach in the name of Jesus.

[19] But Peter and John answered unto them and said: whether it be right in the sight of God, to obey you more then God, judge ye.

[20] For we cannot but speak that which we have seen and heard.

[21] So threatened they them and let them go, and found nothing how to punish them, because of the people: For all men lauded God for the miracle which was done.

[22] For the man was above forty year old on whom this miracle of healing was showed.

Here are the same verses (Acts 4:18-22) from the King James Bible:

[18] And they called them, and commanded them not to speak at all nor teach in the name of Jesus.

[19] But Peter and John answered and said unto them, Whether it be right in the sight of God to hearken unto you more than unto God, judge ye.

[20] For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard.

[21] So when they had further threatened them, they let them go, finding nothing how they might punish them, because of the people: for all men glorified God for that which was done.

[22] For the man was above forty years old, on whom this miracle of healing was shewed.

Thanks for reading!

Kind regards to all who stopped by this small corner of the internet! If you wish, leave a comment or question.

Store

I am truly encouraged by all who visit here. I hope you learned something about William Tyndale and his work and of course, learned more about God’s Word, too.

If you are curious about owning a William Tyndale Bible, check out our small Store. Orders are fulfilled by Christianbook Distributors located in Peabody, Massachusetts, USA.

The Tyndale New Testament, 1526 Edition

We have items in the store related to William Tyndale and items related to the King James Bible. Some are very inexpensive.

One example, you can rent or purchase via streaming the “Man with a Mission” documentary which features Tyndale scholar, David Daniell. It is very low cost, but quite an interesting video.

Man with a Mission: William Tyndale–DVD
(NOTE: To see how to do streaming video rental or purchase, click on the DVD link above to get further details.)

For full disclosure, I do earn a small advertising fee, if you purchase something.

Bible

Tyndale’s First Attempt – Cologne Fragment (1525)

It is an impressive few pages.

Below is the transcript of page 1 in modern English spelling:

Prologue

I have here translated (brethren and sisters most dear and tenderly beloved in Christ) the new Testament for your spiritual edifying, consolation and solace: Exhorting instantly and beseeching those that are better seen in the tongues than I, and that have higher gifts of grace to interpret the sense of the Scripture, and meaning of the Spirit, than I, to consider and ponder my labor, and that with the spirit of meekness. And if they perceive in any places that I have not attained the very sense of the tongue, or meaning of the Scripture, or have not given the right English word, that they put to their hands to amend it, remembering that so is their duty to do. For we have not received the gifts of God for ourselves only, or for to hide them; but for to bestow them unto the honoring of God and Christ, and edifying of the congregation, which is the body of Christ.

The causes that moved me to translate, I thought better that others should imagine, than that I should rehearse them. Moreover I supposed it superfluous, for who is so blind to ask why light should be showed to them that walk in darkness, where they cannot but stumble, and where to stumble is the danger of eternal damnation, other so despiteful that he would envy any man (I speak not his brother) so necessary a thing, or so bedlam mad to affirm that good is the natural cause of evil (????), and darkness to proceed out of sight, and that lying should be grounded in truth and verity, and not rather seen contrary, that light destroyeth darkness, and verity reproveth all manner lying.

Please note: Some of my transcription of page 1 of the Cologne Fragment could be wrong in a few places. I have done my best. Feel free to let me know or comment on this post, if you think something isn’t correct.

Thanks for reading!

Kind regards to all who stopped by this small corner of the internet! If you wish, leave a comment or question.

Store

I am truly encouraged by all who visit here. I hope you learned something about William Tyndale and his work and of course, learned more about God’s Word, too.

If you are curious about owning a William Tyndale Bible, check out our small Store. Orders are fulfilled by Christianbook Distributors located in Peabody, Massachusetts, USA.

We have items in the store related to William Tyndale and items related to the King James Bible. Some are very inexpensive.

One example, you can rent via streaming the “Man with a Mission” documentary which features Tyndale scholar, David Daniell. It is very low cost, but quite an interesting video.

For full disclosure, I do earn a small advertising fee, if you purchase something.

Bible

and though I GAVE…

“and though I GAVE my BODY even that I BURNED, and yet had no LOVE, it profiteth me NOTHING” — 1 Corinthians 13:3 (Tyndale NT, 1534)

William Tyndale died in this way in 1536 after being condemned as a heretic. Death by fire was a common form of execution in those days.

Below are the famous beginning verses of 1 Corinthians from William Tyndale’s New Testament of 1534:

1 Corinthians 13:1-3

Though I spake with the tongues of men and angels, and yet had no LOVE, I were even as sounding brass: or as a tinkling cymbal.

And though I could prophesy, and understood all secrets, and all knowledge: yea, if I had all faith so that I could move mountains out of their places, and yet had no LOVE, I were NOTHING.

And though I bestowed all my goods to feed the poor, and though I GAVE my BODY even that I BURNED, and yet had no LOVE, it profiteth me NOTHING.

As Tyndale translated these verses in 1 Corinthians 13, he must have known, death by fire, could be his lot. In spite of this, he endeavored on and brought the Word of God, in English, to his fellow countrymen, who were eager to receive it.

Would we sacrifice so much? Are we eager to receive God’s Word, too?

Thanks for reading. Kind Regards to all who stopped by this small corner of the internet! If you wish, leave a comment or question.

Store

No pressure from me — for anyone — to buy anything.

I am truly encouraged by all who visit here. I hope you learned something about William Tyndale and his work and of course, learned more about God’s Word, too.

However, if you are curious about owning a William Tyndale New Testament? Check out our small Store. Orders are fulfilled by Christianbook Distributors located in Peabody, Massachusetts, USA.

We have items in the store related to William Tyndale and items related to the King James Bible. Some are very inexpensive.

One example, you can rent via streaming the “Man with a Mission” documentary which features Tyndale scholar, David Daniell. It is very low cost, but quite an interesting video.

For full disclosure, I do earn a small advertising fee, if you purchase something.