William Tyndale

Today is the 469th anniversary of William Tyndale’s martyrdom.

William Tyndale and others who suffered to get the Bible into the hands of the common people in their own language have been heroes to me almost as long as I’ve been a Christian. And those who burned them have always been great villains. I still shake my head when I consider that the church so strove to keep the Bible out of the hands of the people.

Titusonenine brings a collect for this day to my attention:

Almighty God, who didst plant in the heart of thy servant William Tyndale a consuming passion to bring the Scriptures to the people in their native tongue, and didst endow him with the gift of powerful and graceful expression and with strength to persevere against all obstacles: Reveal to us, we pray thee, thy saving Word, as we read and study the Scriptures, and hear them calling us to repentance and life; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.

Amen!