THE MAN THEY KILLED FOR TRANSLATING THE BIBLE. William Tyndale

THE MAN THEY KILLED FOR TRANSLATING THE BIBLE. William Tyndale believed ordinary people should be able to read the Bible in their own language. That conviction would make him one of the most important—and hunted—religious reformers of the 16th century. Tyndale translated the Bible into English at a time when doing so without authorization could bring severe punishment. Forced to work in exile, he translated and printed the New Testament, while copies were secretly smuggled into England. Church authorities condemned his work, books were seized and burned, and Tyndale became a wanted man. Then he was betrayed. In 1535, Tyndale was arrested near Antwerp and imprisoned. In 1536, after being convicted of heresy, he was executed. Yet the English Bible he risked his life to create survived him, and much of his language would influence later English translations, including the King James Bible. Why was translating the Bible considered so dangerous? Why were authorities determined to stop Tyndale? And how did the work of a condemned translator help shape the English-speaking world? Discover the remarkable story of William Tyndale in this episode of Martyrs for Religious Freedom: From the Middle Ages to Today, from Young Historians Academy. If you enjoy discovering the people and events that shaped religious freedom, please like, share, and subscribe. Your support helps Young Historians Academy continue creating carefully researched history for young people. And remember: those who know the past are better prepared to understand the present and see the future.