Today we are spoiled for choice in the selection of English translated Bibles. There are just so many types and in different forms to cater to the different age groups. I am sure that you have more than one translation or copy with you! It is no wonder then that the Bible is the best seller of all time! Once upon a time, it was a crime to have any translation of the Bible apart from Latin. Only the clergy could read it and explain it to the people. Reason? The man in the street was without proper training to interpret it correctly. They were too much in the business of the world and could not be trusted with it. The Bible was the property of the church and could only be read at public services.
But one man was instrumental to bring about a revolution. His name was William Tyndale, the father of the English Reformation. Tyndale's one life consuming passion was to see the Bible being translated into English. During his time the only Bible available was in Greek or Latin, which was certainly not accessible to the ordinary folks who used English, the language of the peasants. His request for the translation of the New Testament (NT) was turned down by the church authorities in England. He then had to escape to Germany, where he completed his translation of the NT from the Greek. In 1526, he printed several thousand copies of the NT and smuggled it into England. Many of these copies were confiscated and burned. The price for possession of it was death!
Tyndale was condemned by the English church authorities as a heretic and had to be on the run from the law for several years. He spent most of his time translating the Old Testament and living in poverty. Eventually he was betrayed by a friend, imprisoned and eventually executed. Even in prison, he led such an exemplary life that his jailer and some of his family members were converted (just like the jailer at Philippi) As he was about to be hanged and burned, he cried with a loud voice, "Lord, open the King of England's eyes!" Less than a year later in August 1537, King Henry VIII gave permission to publish what was to be known as the Matthew's Bible. Though this translation contained 90 percent of Tyndale's work, his name was never mentioned in the version. But most of it still lives on today in the 1611 King James Authorised Version.
The invention of the printing press was a revolution. It enabled the English version of the Bible to spread far and wide in a relatively short time.Now everybody can read the Bible! The effects of the printing press had on society then is just like what the Internet has on today's society. The door was opened and now cannot be shut. Now that we have Bibles easily available, what do we do with them? Do we read it and treasure it as God's Word just as Tyndale had passionately gone all out to fulfill his life consuming passion? There are some places still in the world that possession of a copy of Scripture is a crime or the import of it has been disallowed by the authorities (like our own nation for the BM version). Keep what you possess not by having more copies but using it on a regular basis. Eat it like honey and bread to give you nourishment and life.
Ps Ben
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