In this final episode celebrating the 500th anniversary of William Tyndale’s 1526 New Testament, Tony Watkins speaks with Dr Peter J. Williams, Principal of Tyndale House Cambridge, about the history, development, and future of English Bible translation.
There's a Youtube video here!
I'm fine with Youtube cookies
Together they trace the story of the English Bible from William Tyndale and the King James Version through to the Revised Version, NIV, ESV, and many other modern translations. They explore why different Bible translations exist, how translation decisions are made, and why the King James Bible continues to shape English-speaking Christianity today.
The conversation also examines the impact of manuscript discoveries, textual criticism, linguistics, and biblical scholarship on our understanding of Scripture. Peter explains how modern translators work, the advantages and challenges of committee translations, and whether single-scholar translations still have a role to play.
If you’ve ever wondered:
- Why are there so many Bible translations?
- Which Bible translation is most accurate?
- Why does the King James Version remain so influential?
- How do manuscript discoveries affect Bible translations?
- Should Christians read more than one translation of the Bible?
Peter offers practical guidance for reading Scripture today, encouraging readers to compare translations, learn from voices across different eras, and take their first steps into biblical Greek and Hebrew. This episode concludes our series marking 500 years since Tyndale’s New Testament and explores why his vision for making the Bible accessible continues to shape Bible translation and biblical scholarship today.
October 30, 2026
