Show notes
William Tyndale
and the English Reformation
• Philip Schaff called the Reformation of the sixteenth century “the turning point of modern history.”
• He added the Reformation was,
“next to the introduction of Christianity, the greatest event in history...the
chief propelling force in the history of modern civilization.”
PRE-REFORMERS INITIATE
1330—John Wycliffe born in England
• Oxford professor
• Became leading intect in England, Europe
1382—Wycliffe Bible translated into English
• from Latin into Middle English,
• Stiff, wooden translation, handcopied
1384—Wycliffe dies, Lutterworth, England
1401—"On the Burning of Heretics”
• legislation passes by Parliament
• Translating, owning English Bible, death
• Attempts to suppress the influence of Wycliffe
1408—"Constitutions of Oxford”
• It’s a “dangerous thing” to translate Scripture in English
1415—Council of Constance
• John Hus burned as martyr
• Leader of Bohemian church
• Pastored Bethlehem Chapel, Prague
Steven J. Lawson
Men’s Bible Study
English Reformation
2
• Wycliffe condemned, body exhumed
• Wycliffe removed from sacred ground in church yard
1428—Wycliffe’s body dug up, burned
• Ashes scattered into Swift River
1450—Johannes Gutenberg perfects printing press
1455—Gutenberg Bible printed
REFORMERS BORN
1483—Martin Luther born, Eisleben, Germany
1483—Ulrich Zwingli born, Switzerland
1494—William Tyndale born, near Gloustershire, England
1506—Tyndale enters Magdalen Hall, Oxford
• Age 12, normal for that time
• Studies here for next ten years
1509—John Calvin born, Navon, France
• His father, lawyer in the Catholic Church
• Raised in Catholic church, to be priest
1512—Tyndale earns Bachelor of Arts, Oxford
1514—John Knox born, Scotland
1515—Tyndale earns Master of Arts, Oxford
• Stunningly brilliant, linguistic genius
• Would become proficient in eight languages
REFORMATION BEGINS
1516—Erasmus compiles Greek New Testament
• Leading humanist of his day
Steven J. Lawson
Men’s Bible Study
English Reformation
3
• Cambridge professor
• Travels Europe, collects Greek manuscripts
1516—Tyndale studies at Cambridge
• Continues intellectual pursuit
1517—Pope Leo X authorizes indulgences
1517—Luther posts 95 Theses
• In response to sale of indulgences by Rome
1519—Luther converted reading Greek New Testament
1520—Tyndale joins White Horse Inn
• Small group Bible study
• Studying Luther’s writings
• Called “Little Germany”
• Produced leaders of English Reformation
• 8 martyrs from this group
• Tyndale converted, becomes Reformed
1521—Luther, Diet of Worms
• Stands heresy trial before authorities
• Condemned as heretic, death sentence
1521—Tyndale becomes private tutor
• Leaves Cambridge to study the Scripture more carefully
• Realizes all England is lost
• Must translate Bible into English
• “plough boy in field know more than pope”
Steven J. Lawson
Men’s Bible Study
English Reformation
4
1522—Luther translates New Testament into German
• Produced while he was kidnapped in Wartburg Castle
1523—Tyndale denied translation into English
• Travels to London to receive permission
• Refused, must leave England
• Businessman agrees to support him
TYNDALE DEPARTS
1524—Tyndale leaves England for Europe
• Nowhere in England to do the work
• Never to return, never to marry
1524—Tyndale arrives in Hamburg, Germany
1524—Tyndale travels to Wittenberg
1525—Tyndale translates English New Testament, Cologne, Germany
• Largest city in Germany, easiest to hide
• Finished New Testament
• Raid on print shop at Matthew 22:13
1526—Tyndale publishes English New Testament, Worms, Germany
• Travels to Worms, Germany on Rhine River into North Sea
• Smuggles Bibles into England, Scotland
1528—Tyndale writes The Parable of the Wicked Mammon
• Teaches justification by faith
1528—Tyndale writes The Obedience of a Christian Man
• Teaches obedience to the king
Steven J. Lawson
Men’s Bible Study
English Reformation
5
1528—Three agents dispatched, find Tyndale
• Returns empty handed without Tyndale
1528—John West dispatched, find Tyndale
• Returns without Tyndale
1529—Tyndale translates Pentateuch into English, Antwerp
• Monumental effort
1529—Tyndale sails for Elbe River, shipwrecked, translation lost
1529—Tyndale retranslates the Pentateuch, Hamburg, Germany
• Reunited with Miles Coverdale, Cambridge classmate
• Requires ten months to complete the project
1529—Tyndale moves to Antwerp, Belgium
• Remains elusive, anonymous
1529—More, A Dialogue Concerning Heresies
• Sir Thomas More unleashed brutal public attack
• Called Tyndale captain of English heretics, hell-bound in devil’s kennel, new Judas, worse than
Sodom and Gomorrah, idolater, devil-worshipper, beast out of whose brutish, beastly mouth
comes filthy foam
1530—Tyndale publishes Pentateuch in English, Antwerp
• Uses pseudonym Hans Luft, Marburg
• Includes glossaries, introductions
• Smuggled into England, distributed
1530—Tyndale, The Practice of Prelates
• Attacks rites, doctrines, corruptions of Rome
1530—Stephen Vaughan dispatched, find Tyndale
• English merchants, sympathetic to Reformed cause
Steven J. Lawson
Men’s Bible Study
English Reformation
6
• Offered Tyndale safe passage back to England, salary
• Tyndale agreed on one condition
• If Henry VIII choose another translator
1531—Vaughan returns empty handed
• “I always find him always singing one note”
1531—Sir Thomas Elyot dispatched to Europe
• Apprehend Tyndale, return him to the king
• Tyndale not to be found
1531—Tyndale translates Jonah into English
• Desires it be preached to England
• “Forty day, London destroyed”
1531—Tyndale writes Answer, defends translation
1532—More, Confutation of Tyndale’s Answer
• Massive writing, half million words
• Calls Tyndale traitor to England, heretic
1534—Henry VIII named Head of Church of England
• Denied annulment of his marriage
• Pulls England out of Catholic Church
• Parliament passes Act of Supremacy, monarch head of church
1534—Tyndale moves into house of English merchants, Antwerp
• John Rogers joins Tyndale, Coverdale
• Rogers converted under Tyndale’s witness
• Rogers will complete Tyndale’s translation
Steven J. Lawson
Men’s Bible Study
English Reformation
7
1534—Tyndale revises Pentateuch, Antwerp
1534—Tyndale revises New Testament, Antwerp
• 4000 edits to his 1526 printing
• Called “the glory of his life’s work”
1535—Tyndale re-edits New Testament, Antwerp
• Makes yet more edits, though fewer
1535—Tyndale translates Joshua-2 Chronicles
• Completes historical section of Old Testament
TYNDALE MARTYRED
1535—Henry Phillips dispatched, find Tyndale
• Had gambled away father’s estate
• Church of England promises to repay
1535—Tyndale arrested, Antwerp
1535—Tyndale imprisoned, Vilvoorde Castle, Belgium
• Held 500 days, 18 months in castle
• Miserable conditions
1535—Coverdale Bible published
• Unknown to Tyndale, Coverdale completes Old Testament
• But not from Hebrew
1536—Tyndale tried, charged, martyred
• Mock trial, charged with heresy
• God, open the eyes of the king
• Tyndale hung, burned, blown up
Steven J. Lawson
Men’s Bible Study
English Reformation
8
REFORMATION SPREADS
1536—Calvin writes Institute of the Christian Religion
• Greatest work of Reformation
• Explains true Christianity to French King
1536—Calvin enters Geneva
• Road detour, unintentional destination
• Recognized as author, Institutes
• Charged to stay or be cursed
1537—Rogers publishes Matthew Bible
• Edits Old Testament portions translated by Coverdale
• Publishes entire Bible, Tyndale’s work, his edits
1538—Calvin expelled from Geneva
• For fencing Lord’s Table
• Departs for Geneva
1541—Calvin returns to Geneva
• Geneva begs Calvin to return
• Begins with next verse of last exposition
• Preaches there for next 23 years
1545—Council of Trent meets
• Meeting of Roman Catholic leaders
• Launches Counter Reformation
• Produces first Catholic doctrinal statement
• Declares anathema on Reformers, believers of gospels of grace
Steven J. Lawson
Men’s Bible Study
English Reformation
9
1546—Luther dies in Germany
• “I want to be as well known in hell as in heaven”
• Preaches last sermon in Eisleben
• “God put the power in the Word.”
1547—King Henry VIII dies
1547—Edward VI, King of England
• Boy king, age 9
• Protestant king, makes Reformed policies
1549—Book of Common Prayer published
1549—Act of Uniformity passed
1553—Edward VI dies
• Dies at age 15
• Reformed cause halted
1553—Mary I, Queen of England
• Bloody Mary assumes throne
• Staunch Catholic
• Begins martyrdom of Protestants
1553—John Knox leaves England for Europe
1555—Rogers martyred, Smithfield, London
• Charged with heresy
• Fist Marian martyr
1555—Latimer, Ridley martyred, Oxford
• Burned to death at same stake
Steven J. Lawson
Men’s Bible Study
English Reformation
10
• Latimer, “Play the man Master Ridley”
1558—Mary I dies, age 42
• A mercy of relief to Reformed believers
1558—Elizabeth I, Queen of England
• Half-sister assumes throne
• Chooses halfway house, compromise
• Combines Reformed truth, Catholic worship
1559—John Knox returns to Scotland
• Launches Scottish Reformation
1560—Geneva Bible published
• Translated into English
• First English Bible with chapter divisions
• Included study notes
1560s—Puritan Age begins
• Attempt to purify worship within Church of England
1564—Calvin dies in Geneva
• Concludes 25 years pastorate
1572—St. Bartholomew’s Day Massacre
1603—Elizabeth I, dies, age 69
1603—James I becomes King of England
1611—King James Version
• 90% of New Testament was Tyndale’s work
1618—Synod of Dort, refutes Arminianism
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