Tyndale and 75% of my Enlish Bible
Every first day of school, I intentionally tell them the story of William Tyndale. I want my middle schoolers to watch his resolve to read the Bible unfold. I want them to be humbled by his great sacrifice. And I want them to know that about 75% of their English Bibles first came from Tyndale pen.
Tyndale was born in 1494. The cloud of power fogged the truth of the gospel as secular leaders used doctrine to gain authority. After attending school, Tyndale focused his genius brain to his life’s work: translating the Bible from into common language. This mission came at great personal cost. Tyndale left his home and dodged from city to city across Europe, always ready to leave at a moment’s notice. He lived out Oswald’s Sander’s definition of courage, as he faced “unpleasant and even devastating situations with equanimity, then acted firmly to bring good from trouble, even if his action was unpopular” (72). This expectational courage was fueled through his fervor for translating God’s word.
Tyndale’s courage did not lead to his rescue or recognition. In a way his life mirrors that of the apostle Paul, whose passion to proclaim Christ led him through death instead of away from it. On a cold October morning, Tyndale was tied to a stake, strangled, and burned. Allegedly, his final words were “Lord, open the King of England’s eyes!”
In a divine sense of humor and redemption, it was that same monarchy that commissioned the first complete English Bible. Even on this side of eternity it is obvious that Tyndale’s leadership sacrifice was a great kingdom investment.
Sanders, J. Oswald. Spiritual Leadership (Sanders Spiritual Growth Series). Moody Publishers. Kindle Edition.
