William Tyndale Essay

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William Tyndale
During the early 1500’s, nearly four hundred men and women gave their lives fighting for protestant reformation. During this time, the Roman Catholic Church controlled much of Europe and was very powerful and corrupt. Many Christians broke away from the Catholic Church, seeking reformation. It started with Martin Luther and his “95 Theses” in 1517, and continued into the next century. These brave men and women believed that salvation came from faith in Jesus alone, not by works, and that the Bible should be in the people’s hands, not just the high priesthood of the Catholic Church. William Tyndale, one influential Christian Reformer, was called by God to translate the Bible into English and share the good news that everyone is saved not by works, but by faith alone (Pettinger). He followed this calling, influencing numerous people, to the point of death. William Tyndale is one of the most influential figures in early protestant reform because of his translation of the Bible into English, his use of the printing press, and his unwavering faith in God. …show more content…

His translation opened the flood gates of biblical knowledge for all generations to come (Daniell 279). Tyndale made it possible for men and women to read and understand God’s Word in their own homes. Readers of his translation were “brought to the light of the Gospel” and empowered to stand up for their faith (Daniell 196). Some even gave their life standing up for Christianity (Daniell 196). Tyndale’s Bible did not only influence the people of his time; it continues to influence the people of today. Tyndale’s Bible became the basis for all English Bibles (Scott). It is estimated that around 80% of the King James Bible is Tyndale’s (“William Tyndale – Translator of the first English New Testament.”) This means the Bible of today is a result of Tyndale’s work as a

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