Tyndale House Podcast

This is the second episode in our series exploring William Tyndale’s life, Bible translation, and legacy. In this episode, Tony Watkins interviews experts in the sixteenth century and the history of the Bible to explore William Tyndale’s life leading up to the publication of his New Testament in 1526. This was the first to be translated directly from Greek into English, and the first New Testament to be printed in English.
We’re very grateful for contributions from:
Bruce Gordon, the Titus Street Professor of Ecclesiastical History at Yale Divinity School, and author of The Bible a Global History (Basic Books, 2024)
Alec Ryrie, Professor of the History of Christianity at the University of Durham, and the author of The World’s Reformation: How Protestantism Became a Global Religion (Yale University Press, to be published in 2026)
Simon Burton, John Laing Senior Lecturer in Reformation History at the School of Divinity at the University of Edinburgh, and author of ‌ Participation & Covenant in Puritan Theology (Davenant Press, 2025)
Karl Gunther, historian of the Reformation from the Hamilton School for Classical and Civic Education in the University of Florida, and author of ‌ Participation & Covenant in Puritan Theology Reformation Unbound: Protestant Visions of Reform in England, 1525–1590 (Cambridge University Press, 2014)
Listen to our Principal, Peter J. Williams, talking about Robert Barnes' sermon at St Edward King and Martyr Church in Cambridge. https://youtube.com/shorts/zdCvIdDhlZ0?feature=share
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This is the first episode in our new series exploring William Tyndale’s life, Bible translation, and legacy. Tony Watkins interviews experts in the sixteenth century and the history of the Bible. In this first episode, they explore the history of Bible translation prior to William Tyndale and the cultural context in which he lived and worked.

We’re very grateful for contributions from:

Bruce Gordon, the Titus Street Professor of Ecclesiastical History at Yale Divinity School, and author of The Bible a Global History
Alec Ryrie, Professor of the History of Christianity at the University of Durham
Simon Burton, John Laing Senior Lecturer in Reformation History at the School of Divinity at the University of Edinburgh
Karl Gunther, historian of the Reformation from the Hamilton School for Classical and Civic Education in the University of Florida
Link to Season 5 of the Tyndale House Podcast on New Testament manuscripts: https://tyndalehouse.com/2025/01/16/s5e1-what-is-a-manuscript-and-why-should-we-study-them/
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This week we have one of our occasional ‘Meet the Scholar’ episodes. Dr Tony Watkins interviews Dr Petra Ratkovics (yes, she did indeed pass her viva!) about her PhD on the influences of Jeremiah in Paul’s theology as well as her plans for the future.
Time stamps:
00:00 Petra is about to submit her thesis!
1:15 Petra’s background
3:10 Why Petra became interested in Theology
4:20 Petra’s PhD topic
7:30 How Petra came to see the links between Jeremiah and Paul’s theology
13:05 Idea of the new covenant and how we can only boast in the Lord
16:25 The Lords presence in the covenant community
19:40 Other shared themes between the Jeremiah and Paul’s letters biblical books authored by Paul

20:45 Differences between the Greek and Hebrew texts of Jeremiah22:35 How might this work help the church?
24:45 Petra’s plans for the future, particularly with Hungarian language resources
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We kick off the new year with one of our occasional ‘Meet the Scholar’ episodes, which, this week, features Dr Catherine McDowell, Professor of Old Testament at Palm Beach Atlantic University, in conversation with Dr Tony Watkins. In this episode, Catherine talks about her research into the language of ‘image and likeness’ found in the book of Genesis, and its links to Mesopotamian culture, as well as her forthcoming book on idolatry. 
Catherine’s book The Image of God in the Garden of Eden is published by Eisenbrauns and is available from Amazon and other retailers.
Her forthcoming book on idolatry is part of the Essential Studies in Biblical Theology series published by IVP which can be found here.
0:00 Introduction
0:50 Catherine's current work tracing idolatry through the Bible
1:20 Catherine's motivations for this work
1:50 Catherine’s research into the terms ‘image' and ‘likeness’, particularly in Genesis
6:18 'image and likeness' ideas through the rest of scripture
9:40 links to Mesopotamian culture
12:55 links to Egyptian culture
14:00 how this work links with Catherine’s work on idols
15:45 what does it mean for humans to 'know good and evil'
17:30 the origins of idolatry
21:50 Counters to the theme of idolatry throughout the Bible
24:05 How does this help the church?
27:35 Conclusion
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In the final episode of this Advent series, Tony Watkins talks to Christopher Ash, Writer in Residence at Tyndale House, Cambridge, about Simeon and Anna meeting the baby Jesus and the impact of their words on Mary. This four-part series for Advent is exploring Luke chapters 1 and 2, which are the focus of Christopher’s book of Advent devotions, Repeat the Sounding Joy (The Good Book Company, 2019).

Repeat the Sounding Joy, by Christopher Ash is available from The Good Book Company and other booksellers.
Timings:
00:00 Introduction
01:07 Reading of the passage Luke 2:21-38
3:35 The significance of Jesus’ name
5:18 How does Mary ever manage to get her head around Jesus’ mission?
5:50 The rewarding of long term waiting: Simeon (and Anna)
9:40 Jesus as the consolation of Israel
10:40 Simeon’s prayer, the Psalms and their use in Christian liturgy
13:17 The shadow of the cross
15:30 The rewarding of long term waiting: Anna
16:44 Simeon and Anna as the fixed points in the temple
17:40 A model of long term waiting: Anna
19:15 The significance of Anna’s genealogy
20:25 What can we learn from Simeon and Anna?
24:36 Concluding remarks
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