Why was William Tyndale’s English Bible so controversial, and how radical was Tyndale within the English Reformation? Historian Karl Gunther explores Tyndale’s translation of the New Testament, the influence of Martin Luther, his disputes with Thomas More and George Joye, and the controversial translation choices that challenged traditional understandings of the Church and its authority.
Translating the Bible into the vernacular was not unusual across Europe. In England, however, the legacy of Wycliffe and Lollardy created a very different context for biblical translation.
We follow Tyndale from England to the Continent. After seeking support for his translation project from Cuthbert Tunstall, Bishop of London, Tyndale travelled to Europe. His attempt to print the New Testament at Cologne in 1525 was interrupted, before the complete New Testament was printed at Worms in 1526. Copies subsequently made their way into England.
But opposition to Tyndale was about more than translating Scripture into English.
His choice of English words became part of a much bigger theological debate. Thomas More objected to translations including“congregation” rather than “church” and “love” rather than “charity”, among other choices. Behind vocabulary lay deeper questions about the nature and authority of the Church, priests and bishops, and how Scripture should be interpreted.
We also explore Tyndale’s relationships with fellow reformers including William Roye, John Frith, Robert Barnes and George Joye.
Joye produced a revised edition of Tyndale’s New Testament in 1534, leading to a particularly bitter disagreement involving the translation of “resurrection” and ideas about what happens after death. What does the controversy tell us about Tyndale, especially given his apparent dislike of public disagreements between fellow evangelicals?
And just how much of a leader was Tyndale within the early English Reformation?
Finally, we consider William Tyndale’s legacy for Bible translation today, including his emphasis on allowing individual readers to encounter and interpret Scripture, illuminated by the Holy Spirit.
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In this episode:
- Why translating the Bible into English was controversial
- William Tyndale and Martin Luther Tyndale’s 1525 Cologne and 1526 Worms New Testaments
- How Tyndale’s New Testament reached England
- Thomas More’s objections to Tyndale’s translation
- “Church” versus “congregation” and “charity” versus “love”
- Tyndale, William Roye, John Frith and Robert Barnes
- George Joye and the 1534 New Testament controversy
- Was William Tyndale a radical reformer?
- Tyndale’s lasting influence on English Bible translation
Explore the Bible translation family tree mentioned in this episode
October 2, 2026
