World of the Bible Podcast, a Tyndale House Production

In this final episode celebrating the 500th anniversary of William Tyndale's 1526 New Testament, Tony Watkins speaks with Dr Peter J. Williams, Principal of Tyndale House Cambridge, about the history, development, and future of English Bible translation.

Together they trace the story of the English Bible from William Tyndale and the King James Version through to the Revised Version, NIV, ESV, and many other modern translations. They explore why different Bible translations exist, how translation decisions are made, and why the King James Bible continues to shape English-speaking Christianity today.

The conversation also examines the impact of manuscript discoveries, textual criticism, linguistics, and biblical scholarship on our understanding of Scripture. Peter explains how modern translators work, the advantages and challenges of committee translations, and whether single-scholar translations still have a role to play.

If you've ever wondered:
Why are there so many Bible translations?
Which Bible translation is most accurate?
Why does the King James Version remain so influential?
How do manuscript discoveries affect Bible translations?
Should Christians read more than one translation of the Bible?
Peter offers practical guidance for reading Scripture today, encouraging readers to compare translations, learn from voices across different eras, and take their first steps into biblical Greek and Hebrew.

This episode concludes our series marking 500 years since Tyndale's New Testament and explores why his vision for making the Bible accessible continues to shape Bible translation and biblical scholarship today.
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Most of us read a translated version of the Bible, few of us stop to consider how those words arrived on the page, or how translators work tirelessly to ensure that what we read today faithfully communicates what the biblical authors wrote thousands of years ago.
What began with the discover of 550 letters has become one of the most significant Bible translation projects in Romania today. Emmanuel shared the story behind this extraordinary undertaking, revealing not only the complexities of Bible translation but also the perseverance required to see such work through. Spanning years, likely decades, the project stands as a testament to faithful scholarship, dedication, and the determination to continue serving the church amid the many demands and challenges of life. 
Whether you’ve never thought much about Bible translation or you are fascinated by the journey from ancient manuscripts to modern languages, this conversation offers a fascinatingly glimpse into the work behind the Bibles we read today. 
About our guest:
Emmanuel is a biblical scholar, Bible translator, and Fulbright Visiting Scholar at Yale University. His work combines expertise in New Testament Greek, biblical scholarship, and Bible translation, including a major Romanian translation project inspired by the discovery of more than 550 historical letters. His research and translation work are driven by the desire to make scripture accessible to new generations of readers. 
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In this episode, we speak with Anwar Tjen, a Bible translation consultant from Indonesia whose work has helped shape Bible translation used by millions of Christians. From his academic research on the Septuagint (the Ancient Greek Old Testament) to his role revising the Indonesian Standard Bible, Anwar shares fascinating insights into the challenge and opportunities of modern Bible translation.

With more than 700 languages spoken across Indonesia, Bible translation remains one of the Church’s most significant and ongoing tasks. Anwar discusses why Scripture in a person’s heart language can be transformative, how technology is helping translators today, and some of the surprising problems translation team's encounter.

In this episode we discuss:
How studying the Septuagint led Anwar into Bible translation
What it takes to revise a Bible translation used by millions
Why language updates and new textual insights matter
The challenges of translating Scripture across Indonesia's many languages
The importance of reading the Bible in your heart language
How technology is changing Bible translation
Examples of real translation problems and solutions
As we mark 500 years since William Tyndale’s English New Testament, Anwar’s story reminds us that the mission to God’s Word understandable and accessible is still transforming lives around the world.
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What does William Tyndale’s legacy look like 500 years later?

Historian Harry Spillane joins us to trace Tyndale’s remarkable influence on the English Bible, from Coverdale and the Matthew Bible through to the Geneva, Bishops’ and King James Bibles. But Tyndale’s legacy is about more than the words and phrases that survived him. At the heart of his work was the conviction that the Bible deserved the very best scholarship, rooted in its original language, and this scholarship should serve ordinary people. 

Tyndale learnt Hebrew, returned to the original texts, and took enormous personal risks to make Scripture accessible to the everyday reader. His name may have disappeared from view for centuries, but his approach endured. 

That combination of rigorous scholarship and a desire to serve people who take the Bible seriously continues today, and lies at the heart of the mission of Tyndale House.
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Why was William Tyndale’s English Bible so controversial, and how radical was Tyndale within the English Reformation? Historian Karl Gunther explores Tyndale’s translation of the New Testament, the influence of Martin Luther, his disputes with Thomas More and George Joye, and the controversial translation choices that challenged traditional understandings of the Church and its authority.

Translating the Bible into the vernacular was not unusual across Europe. In England, however, the legacy of Wycliffe and Lollardy created a very different context for biblical translation.

We follow Tyndale from England to the Continent. After seeking support for his translation project from Cuthbert Tunstall, Bishop of London, Tyndale travelled to Europe. His attempt to print the New Testament at Cologne in 1525 was interrupted, before the complete New Testament was printed at Worms in 1526. Copies subsequently made their way into England.

But opposition to Tyndale was about more than translating Scripture into English.

His choice of English words became part of a much bigger theological debate. Thomas More objected to translations including“congregation” rather than “church” and “love” rather than “charity”, among other choices. Behind vocabulary lay deeper questions about the nature and authority of the Church, priests and bishops, and how Scripture should be interpreted.

We also explore Tyndale’s relationships with fellow reformers including William Roye, John Frith, Robert Barnes and George Joye.

Joye produced a revised edition of Tyndale’s New Testament in 1534, leading to a particularly bitter disagreement involving the translation of “resurrection” and ideas about what happens after death. What does the controversy tell us about Tyndale, especially given his apparent dislike of public disagreements between fellow evangelicals?

And just how much of a leader was Tyndale within the early English Reformation?

Finally, we consider William Tyndale’s legacy for Bible translation today, including his emphasis on allowing individual readers to encounter and interpret Scripture, illuminated by the Holy Spirit.

In this episode:

Why translating the Bible into English was controversial
William Tyndale and Martin Luther
Tyndale’s 1525 Cologne and 1526 Worms New Testaments
How Tyndale’s New Testament reached England
Thomas More’s objections to Tyndale’s translation
“Church” versus “congregation” and “charity” versus “love”
Tyndale, William Roye, John Frith and Robert Barnes
George Joye and the 1534 New Testament controversy
Was William Tyndale a radical reformer?
Tyndale’s lasting influence on English Bible translation

📖 Explore the Bible translation family tree mentioned in this episode:  https://tyndalehouse.com/resources/tyndale-500/
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