William Tyndale (1494–1536) was a pioneering translator of the Bible whose work continues to shape the way it is read today. Tyndale was the first to translate the New Testament into English directly from the original Greek. His clear and memorable English style became the foundation for subsequent English translations, and his influences can be seen throughout the King James Bible of 1611.
Tyndale’s work came at great personal cost. At a time when translating the Bible into the language of the ordinary people was forbidden, he was forced to live in exile. Eventually, he was betrayed, imprisoned, and executed in 1536. He is remembered as a martyr who gave his life to ensure that the Scriptures could be read and understood by all.
Tyndale was a Bible scholar and linguist. His work belongs to the whole church, and his legacy is one of faithfulness to Scripture. He stands as a unifying figure for Christians worldwide who value access to the Bible in their own language.
Tyndale House bears his name because his vision resonates deeply with our mission. He believed that the Bible should be accessible to all, not restricted to a privileged few.
‘If God spare my life, ere many years I will cause a boy who drives a plough to know more of the scriptures than you do’
At Tyndale House, we continue this vision today by raising scholars through our International Scholars Programme. Our model encourages scholars to grow both intellectually and spiritually, equipping them to share their expertise, serve the church in their native countries, and participate in an international network of collaboration that seeks to glorify God.
In 2026, Tyndale House will celebrate the 500th anniversary of Tyndale’s New Testament translation. This anniversary marks, not only a turning point in the history of the English Bible, but also an enduring reminder of why William Tyndale matters today: he placed the word of God into the hands of ordinary people, doing so with attention to the original languages and giving his life for this mission.