Traces the life of William Tyndale, the first person to translate the Bible into English from the original Greek and Hebrew and discusses the social, literary, religious, and intellectual implications of his work.

It was an outlawed book, a text so dangerous “it could only be countered by the most vicious burnings, of books and men and women.” But what book could incite such violence and bloodshed? The year is 1526. It is the age of Henry VIII and his tragic Anne Boleyn, of Martin Luther and Thomas More. The times are treacherous. The Catholic Church controls almost every aspect of English life, including access to the very Word of God. And the church will do anything to keep it that way. Enter William Tyndale, the gifted, courageous “heretic” who dared translate the Word of God into English. He worked in secret, in exile, in peril, always on the move. Neither England nor the English language would ever be the same again. With thoughtful clarity and a reverence that comes through on every page, David Teems shares a story of intrigue and atrocity, betrayal and perseverance. This is how the Reformation officially reached English shores—and what it cost the men who brought it there. Praise for David Teems’ previous work Majestie “Teems . . . pulls together the story of this enigmatic king [ James] with humor and pathos . . . [A] delightful read in every way.” —PUBLISHERS WEEKLY

Translated by William Tyndale Reprint of 1534 edition with modern spelling 643 pp.

Part One: The History (What do we know?) This brief historical introduction to William Tyndale explores the social, political and religious factors that formed the original context of his life and writings, and considers how those factors affected the way he was initially received. What was his impact on the world at the time and what were the key ideas and values connected with him? Part Two: The Legacy (Why does it matter?) This second part explores the intellectual and cultural ‘afterlife’ of William Tyndale, and considers the ways in which his impact has lasted and been developed in different contexts by later generations. Why is he still considered important today? In what ways is his legacy contested or resisted? And what aspects of his legacy are likely to continue to influence the world in the future? The book has a brief chronology at the front plus a glossary of key terms and a list of further reading at the back.

England was cloaked in spiritual darkness during the sixteenth century. While the Protestant Reformation caught fire on the European continent, the people of England suffered under spiritually ignorant and superstitious priests who read the Bible to them in indecipherable Latin. Gripped by a desire to see this fog lifted, the Reformer William Tyndale set out to give the Scriptures to his countrymen in their own language, so that the common farmer in the field might have a better knowledge of the Bible than the pope. Since these translation efforts were considered heresy, Tyndale spent his final decade as a fugitive. But he would not be deterred from his mission, even if it cost him his life. In The Daring Mission of William Tyndale, Dr. Steven Lawson tells how Tyndale became the father of the modern English language and birthed a legacy that lasts to this day. This book is a welcome reminder of the power of God's Word and our privilege of having a Bible that we can know and understand. This book is part of the Long Line of Godly Men Profile series, edited by Dr. Steven Lawson.