Essay About William Tyndale And Oxford University

William Tyndale
Essay title: William Tyndale
The smell over whelming in the air. The brunt flesh cast a shadow with the dark smoke
that the fire created. Some people cheered, some people cried, and yet others smiled greedily
under hidden cloaks. The people of England had decided to burn one man that stood up and
translated the bible from the original manuscripts into what we have today. William Tyndale cried
out with his last breath, ” O Lord, open the King of Englands eyes.” The executioner first
strangled Tyndale in order to keep him quiet about “his” word of God. William Tyndale has since
become known as “The Father of the English Bible.” Without Tyndale and his translation of the
original manuscripts later versions of the English bible would not be available.
William Hutchinson, later changed to Tyndale, was born around the date of 1494 AD.
Tyndale had an exceptional gift of speaking over seven known languages. Tyndale attended
Oxford University and in 1512 he received his Bachelors Degree. After another three years at
Oxford University Tyndale graduated with a Masters Degree. In order to support his education
William Tyndale tutored students from the higher class society. Tyndale joined the group called
“the White Horse Society.” This group gathered together in order to discuss the teachings of
Erasmus and Luther.
Then Tyndale was learned and well practiced in Gods matters, spared not to show unto
them simply and plainly his judgment, and when they at any time did vary from Tyndale in
opinions, he would show them in the Book, and lay plainly before them the open and manifest
places of the Scriptures, to confute their errors, and confirm his sayings. And thus continued they
for a certain season, reasoning and contending together divers times, until at length they waxed
weary, and bare a secret grudge in their hearts against him. As this grew on, the priests of the
country, clustering together, began to grudge and storm against Tyndale, railing against him in
alehouses and other places, affirming that his sayings were heresy; and accused him secretly to the
chancellor, and others of the bishops officers.
After a few short years Tyndale left “the White Horse Society” and moved back home to
teach children. Tyndale preached at Saint Austens Green which resided in front of the Cathedral
of Bristol. During Tyndales stay at home he caused a commotion that consisted charging him
with heresy. All of this was due to the teachings of the “Lollardry.” These people were followers
of John Whitcliffe that sent themselves on missions to teach Gods word to the people of the
nations. The main “crime” of these people was that they believed that the pope was not the sole
agent of God and only the word of God was the doctrine that could be held for people. Not long
after, Tyndale happened to be in the company of another man of God communing and disputing
with him, he drove him to that issue, that the said great doctor burst out into these blasphemous
words, “We were better to be without Gods laws than the popes.” Tyndale, hearing this, full of
Godly zeal, and not bearing that blasphemous saying, replied, “I defy the pope, and all his