After William Tyndale set his mind on the task of translating the Bible, he knew he needed to first find funding and a printing press. He turned first to the Bishop of London, Cuthbert Tunstall, thinking the rich bishop would gladly help with his project; but was turned away. He was welcomed however into the home of a merchant, Humphrey Monmouth, who had heard Tyndale preach and was glad to welcome him into his home and help support his endeavor. While living in Monmouth’s London home Tyndale preached at the local St. Dunstan’s where many came to hear a message they could actually understand and follow. As William began his work of translating the New Testament, persecution increased within the city against anyone who dared read any works of the Reformers, or the Scriptures themselves. It became too dangerous for Tyndale to stay in London stating, “Not only is the bishop’s house closed against the Bible, but all of England,” and he boarded a boat on the Thames River and set off to Hamburg, Germany, arriving in 1524. He found continued help with his translation, but Tyndale soon found that staying in any European city for an extended period of time was too risky; soon he was on the move again and this time found a secluded home in Cologne. While in Cologne, William hid in remote buildings and stayed hidden. He found a printer, Peter Quentell, who began printing Tyndale’s English translation in the summer of 1525. At the same time, a man by the name of Johann Dobneck, came to Cologne to find out who was aiding Tyndale, and to put an end to the translating. He was able to gain information by deceiving Reformation supporters that he was a friend to the cause. After only printing the first 22 chapters of Matthew, Quentell’s printing was discovered, but before soldiers stormed through the door Tyndale and his companion, William Roy, were warned of Dobneck’s plans, took all of their work and fled up the Rhine River to the city of Worms. In the Worms, a city considered more welcoming and open to reform theology, Tyndale enlisted a new printer, Peter Schoeffer. By the end of 1526, there were thousands of completed copies of Tyndale’s English Translation of the New Testament ready to be sold.
Posted on: Thu, 01 Aug 2013 16:24:54 +0000
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