3.26.2013

Tyndale
The Man Who Gave God an English Voice

David Teems          Thomas Nelson, 2012.

 4.5  / 5.0 

In the middle of David Teem's latest, Tyndale: The Man Who Gave God an English Voice, is the story of two letters in the middle of someone else's book.  John Rogers' Matthew's Bible made print in 1537. Miles Coverdale's translation of several books of the Old Testament were included, but the majority of the books evidently came from William Tyndale. The only clue of the great translator's involvement, though, was a page the publisher inserted between the two testaments. On that hidden page were the initials W T. Teems describes the publisher's actions: "In that span between Malachi and the Gospel of Matthew, Rogers gives us the identity of its true father." This hidden Tyndale is the theme of the book and, presumably, the way-of-life for the subject himself.

Though the author doesn't have access to any new history on the English Reformer, his wit and spunk distinguish this biography. The subject matter is medieval, but the reporting style is modern. For Teems Henry VIII is "H8", one of Tyndale's early critics is "well curdled" and chief henchman, Thomas More, would take the things he couldn't burn and "drown-with ink and vitriol."

The translator's language is a star in the book. His New Testament is credited with first use of, among many others, the words behold, sin offering, ministering and the phrases I am the way, the truth, and the life; In him we live, move and have our being and Fight the good fight. In Teem's and others' estimations the only possible rival Tyndale has in influence of modern English is William Shakespeare. When describing Tyndale's prose, Teems seems to get in the spirit himself:
His translation of the Bible would come to be known later as a "preacher's Bible"--for its orality, its effortless power, its aural splendor, and just for the deliciously forceful shape it took in the mouth.

Much of the when and where of Tyndale's legacy has been lost, but for Teems the why is always in the forefront of the works. "The only explanation for William Tyndale is a spiritual one," records Teems. His enemies derisively cursed him as simple. His admirers, like Teems, mean it as a compliment--guileless.   Tyndale was a simple man, lived a simple life (the end of which, before the stake, was in a simple cell) and continuously sang one simple note--the translation of the Holy Scriptures into his countrymen's tongue.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publishers for review. Thanks booksneeze.com!


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