Most Christians have never heard of William Tyndale (1494-1536). I learned about him when I was teaching a fifth grade Sunday School class with a lesson about Tyndale. If you’ve ever read the Bible in English, you’ve read some of Tyndale’s work.

He was an English scholar and clergyman who came under the influence of the Reformation. It is thought that he was in Luther’s Wittenberg in 1524 where he began his translation of the New Testament. His translation received condemnation from English church leaders. His situation became precarious when he condemned the divorce of King Henry VIII from Catherine of Aragon. He was betrayed to officials of the Emperor Charles V, and put to death in early October, 1546.

There is an irony to all of this. When King Henry finally authorized a translation of the Bible into English, the resulting Great Bible was largely based on Tyndale’s work. In fact, it’s estimated that 83% of the later Authorized (or King James) Version of the Bible was taken from Tyndale.

Two things I’d suggest reflecting on. First, the danger of being a Christian even from other people who claim to be Christian. I can’t recall how many time I’ve been condemned, insulted, and even threatened by people who claim to be Christians because they don’t like the way I express my Christianity. Stand firm in your faith.

More positively, consider where would we be if everyone had to learn Greek and Hebrew to read the Bible. Thank God for those faithful laborers who made the Bible available to us.

Read Matthew 5:10-12 and remember: God loves YOU unconditionally.

Wayne