Emily: “Hey everyone! This is Emily Cox with Love Notes: Timeline Edition. Today’s episode is going to be a little different – I’m interviewing William Tyndale, a sixteenth-century Bible translator who made it possible for more people to learn about God’s plan for marriage and family through his Word. Right now I’m standing in Tyndale’s office during his stay in Wittenberg, Germany. William, I notice you have so many papers everywhere. How do you keep track of everything?”

William: “I keep a record in my mind. My office may look chaotic, but I assure you, there is a purpose to it.”

Emily: “A purpose to the chaos or a purpose to the work you’re doing?”
William: “*laughing* Well, both! Come to think of it, this room reflects my life in some ways – the constant movement and scattering and regathering of my thoughts – yet in all of it I am guided by a Greater Hand.”

Emily: “You’re talking about God?”

William: “Yes. I believe that he has called me to translate the Scriptures into English so my fellow countrymen can read God’s Word in their own language. Currently, I’m working on the New Testament.”

Emily: “Wait – the Bible isn’t already translated into English?”

William: “Already translated?! If only that was the case! But no. I’m doing this because no one else will.”

Emily: “No one else? Why isn’t anyone else interested?”

William: “The danger, of course. The Official Church is dead-set against English Bible translations. A person could be burned at the stake for possessing so much as a page of it.”

Emily: “That doesn’t make any sense – I thought it was the Church’s job to help people learn about the Bible!”

William: “Yes, God wants his people to know, believe, and share his Word, and they can’t do that if they can’t understand the language in which it is written. The Bible isn’t just for the clergy – it’s for everyone!”

Emily: “Then why are members of the clergy so opposed to letting everyone read the Bible?”

William: “*sighing* It doesn’t make sense to me either. They say that the common people are unable to understand the words of Scripture, and that giving them access to the Scriptures would only confuse their minds. But Jesus said that the Holy Spirit would lead us into all truth – you, me, everyone who believes in him. And the Apostle Paul wrote that all Scripture is profitable for equipping the man of God for every good work. Who is the man of God?”

Emily: “Oh – you’re asking me? I’ve heard that verse so many times and I don’t think anyone has ever asked me that question. I guess I’ve always thought that Paul was talking about Christians in general.”

William: “Exactly. ‘The man of God’ is any person who is united to Christ by faith. But many church leaders today think quite differently. That’s why they are willing to execute people for reading or translating the Bible in the common language.”

Emily: “Aren’t you afraid? For your life, I mean?”

William: “*short laugh* Sure, there is a sense of fear when I think what could happen to me. But one doesn’t get into my line of work without thinking of these things beforehand. Running for my life is part of the job description.”

Emily: “Don’t you ever get tired of the fugitive life? Have you ever thought about settling down and having a family?”

William: “Hm. It would be nice to be able to do that. The more I study God’s Word, the more I see the high value and honor he places on marriage and family. At the same time, some believers are called to singleness for the sake of the kingdom of God. That is an honorable path as well.”

Emily: “Do you believe that is the path you are called to?”

William: “At the moment, it would seem so. As long as the English government forbids the free proclamation of God’s Word, my primary task is to translate the Bible into a language my fellow Englishmen can read and understand. I have counted the cost, and the glory that lies ahead of me far exceeds any sacrifices I must make.”

Emily: “Do you mean the glory of being the first person to translate the Bible into English?”

William: “What? No, no. That’s not what I mean at all! I’m talking about the incorruptible glory that awaits faithful believers in eternity. If God spares my life, I will cause the plowboy to know as much of the Bible as the priest does. But when he calls me home, I will be ready to go home.”

Emily: “Heaven is going to be a lot better than any earthly home, right?”

William: “Immeasurably so! Whatever joy God grants to us on earth is but a foretaste of the infinite delight that awaits us in his presence. As the Psalmist says, ‘Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fullness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore.’ I want to share God’s Word with others so they too can experience this eternal hope.”¹

Emily: “That’s wonderful, William. I believe that God will fulfill the desire of your heart as you seek him.”

William: “Thanks for the encouragement, Emily.”

Emily: “Thank you for having this conversation with me. It’s been an encouragement to me as well.”

Emily to audience:

“I’m Emily Cox and this is Love Notes: Timeline Edition. Thanks for listening!”

P.S. Stay tune for more from the Reformation era!

Works Cited.

The King James Version, 1611, 1769. https://www.blueletterbible.org/kjv/psa/16/11/s_494011

Note: The King James Version of the Bible was published many decades after William Tyndale’s death – however, it derives heavily from Tyndale’s translation (source: “God’s Outlaw” by Brian H. Edwards).