Product Description

William Tyndale's 16th-century translation of the New Testament into English from its original Greek resulted in his being hunted down and burnt at the stake for blasphemy. This work of pioneering scholarship formed the basis of all subsequent bibles until after World War I.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #31638 in Books
• Published on: 1995-09-27
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 466 pages

Customer Reviews

The man who invented English literature

Tyndal's first English translation of the New Testament is one of the most brilliant and influential pieces of prose in the English language. It was written in the 1520's and you can trace its influence word for word on later writers like Wyatt and Shakespeare.

When you've got used to the style, it's relatively easy to follow. He deliberately wrote so he could be understood by the common man. The early copies were printed small,

1) For concealment - it was illegal to read the Bible in translation;

2) So it could be carried around by normal working people, and referred to in daily life.

It's a good strategy five hundred years later. Tyndale was royally ripped off by the authors of the Authorized Version eighty years later, but they managed to screw up some of his best effects. Tyndale wrote: "but the greatest of these is love", it was King James's committee of experts who turned it into: "but the greatest of these is charity".

Everything that's good about the Authorized Version is here, but without the sometimes wilful obscurity and archaism - all that "and it came to pass" nonsense.

This Yale edition tidies up some of the spelling, which is a shame, but it's nicely bound and very scholarly. It won't, however, fit in a ploughman's pocket.

Fantastic!!
Truly wonderful! Extremely readable and a delight to read!! I've sold several copies for our local book store. You must own your own copy!!

A very special translation
I'm absolutely loving this, the first translation into English from the original languages, upon which all others seem to be based. It's very moving to think that the translator suffered such persecution and martyrdom for his pains, which have benefitted millions of people more than words can tell. Moreover, in some places I've found the translation enlightening and a special blessing. I very highly recommend this edition in modern English. In time, I hope to purchase it in hardback.