About Tyndale

b. 1494 CE - d. 1536 CE

Tyndale was an English scholar who completed the first English translations of both the Old and New Testaments of the Christian Bible. He was educated at Oxford and worked both as a linguist and chaplain. Influenced by Martin Luther, Tyndale believed in the importance of creating versions of the Bible in vernacular languages in order to make Christian scripture more accessible. He completed his translations in defiance of church authorities who forbade such practices at the time and also challenged the theological validity of Henry VIII’s desire for annulment to his first wife. Tyndale was ultimately arrested on grounds of heresy, imprisoned, tortured and executed. However, his English translations of the Bible went on to be used by many others and have had a lasting influence in Biblical scholarship as well as the English language itself.