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William Tyndale – A Few Quotes

John Foxe in his book, Foxe’s Book of Martyrs, attributes this famous saying to William Tyndale:

“If God spare my life, ere many years I will cause a boy who drives the plough to know more of the scriptures than you do.” (Tyndale was in a discussion with a member of the clergy.)

I believe the next quote from William Tyndale is contained in one of his many prologues in his Old and New Testament Bible translations:

“I perceived how that it was impossible to establish the lay people in any truth except the Scripture were plainly laid before their eyes in their mother tongue.”

If memory serves me well, this third quote comes from a letter William Tyndale wrote to his friend, John Frith, who also died a martyr’s death.

“I call God to record against the day we shall appear before our Lord Jesus, that I never altered one syllable of God’s Word against my conscience, nor would do this day, if all that is in earth, whether it be honor, pleasure, or riches, might be given me.”

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Bible

In the beginning God… (Genesis 1)

Gen1-vs1-5-TYN30-May21

Above is an image of Genesis, chapter 1, verses 1 to 5 as published by William Tyndale in 1530 in the city of Antwerp.

It is still very close to what we read in modern day English Bibles. The transcript of the text contained in the image is below. The importance of this passage of scripture cannot be overstated since it tells of the creation of our world by God.

Original Spelling

The fyrst boke of Moses called Genesis

The fyrst Chapiter.

In the begynnynge God created
heaven and erth. The erth was voy-
de and emptie / and darcknesse was
vpon the depe / and the spirite of
god moved vpon the water

Than God sayd: let there be lyghte and the-
re was lyghte. And God sawe the lyghte that it
was good: and devyded the lyghte from the darck-
nesse / and called the lyghte daye / and the darck-
nesse nyghte: and so of the evenynge and mor-
nynge was made the fyrst daye

Modern Spelling

The first book of Moses called Genesis

The first Chapter.

In the beginning God created
heaven and earth. The earth was void
and empty, and darkness was
upon the deep, and the spirit of
God moved upon the water.

Then God said: let there be light and there
was light. And God saw the light that it
was good: and divided the light from the darkness
and called the light day, and the darkness
night: and so of the evening and morning
was made the first day

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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.

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.

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

Bible Reading – Words of Health & Eternal Life

Tyn1526-To-Reder1-14

At the end of 1526 New Testament, William Tyndale has a few brief pages with the heading: “To the Reder.”

Below is a transcription of lines 1 to 14 — first, in the original spelling and next in the modern spelling.

To the Reder.

Give diligence Reder (I exhorte the) that thou come with a pure mynde / and as the scripture sayth with a syngle eye / vnto the wordes of health / and of eternall lyfe: by the which (if we repent and beleve them) we are borne a newe / created a fresshe / and enioye the frutes off the bloud of Christ. Which bloud cryeth not for vengeaunce / as the bloud of Abel: but hath purchased / lyfe / love / faveour / grace / blessynge / and whatsoever is promysed in the scriptures / to them that beleve and obeye God: and stondeth bitwene vs and wrathe / vengeaunce / cursse / and whatsoever the scripture threateneth agaynst the vnbelevers and disobedient / which resist and …

To the Reader.

Give diligence Reader (I exhort thee) that thou come with a pure mind / and as the scripture saith with a single eye / unto the words of health / and of eternal life: by the which (if we repent and believe them) we are born anew / created afresh / and enjoy the fruits of the blood of Christ. Which blood crieth not for vengeance / as the blood of Abel: but hath purchased / life / love / favor / grace / blessing / and whatsoever is promised in the scriptures / to them that believe and obey God: and standeth between us and wrath / vengeance / curse / and whatsoever the scripture threateneth against the unbelievers and disobedient / which resist and …

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