William Tyndale: Lesson 7 - William's Answer to the King
NBBC CLUB Christian History Study: Spring 2023 William Tyndale • Sermon • Submitted • Presented
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· 4 viewsThough still on the run, a messenger of the King of England meets with William to extend to him an invitation from King Henry VIII to work for him.
Notes
Transcript
Introduction:
When we last left William Tyndale, the religious authorities were buying up all the copies of the New Testament in English.
Do you remember what the authorities wanted to do when they got a hold of the English Bibles?
That’s right, they wanted to burn them so as to keep the Bible in English out of the peoples’ hands!
This is so sad!
How would the English-speaking people ever read God’s Word for themselves?
Let’s think about how these enemies were getting these translations in the first place.
They were not just taking them, but they were paying money for them!
The religious authorities in England did not fully understand where the money was going when they paid to buy up the Bibles in English.
In fact, they would have been shocked to find out where their money went!
Where do you think their money went when they bought up the Bibles in English?
It went to William Tyndale!
Do you know what William did with that money?
Do you think that he used it to buy a new hat?
William used that money to print a better copy of the English Bible!
William would go over his translation work and look for any errors he had made.
He used to money to print new copies that did not have those errors in it!
What the religious authorities in England meant for evil, God used it for good to produce a better copy of the Bible.
When I hear of this account, I’m reminded of God’s Word that He spoke through Joseph: Genesis 50:20 “20 “As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good in order to bring about this present result, to preserve many people alive.”
You know, William Tyndale did not only translate the Bible into English!
He also wrote books!
One of his most famous books was entitled, “The Obedience of the Christian Man.”
In this book, he argued that true Christians must submit themselves to the authority of human government.
Do you think that the religious authorities in England wanted people to read any of William’s books?
No!
In fact, they punished people who read William’s books!
But get this, one day, the King of England, Henry VIII, found out that his wife, Anne Boleyn, had been reading one of William’s books!
When the king began talking with Anne about it, he thought, “This is a book for kings!”
He liked it so much that he decided that he wanted William to come and work directly for him.
However, how would King Henry VIII find someone who lived his life on the run from religious and government authorities?
Henry began dispatching messengers all across the country and even into Europe.
One night, one of his messengers had stopped at an inn for a meal and to rest in the town of Antwerp.
As this messenger sat at meal, another individual joined him.
The king’s messenger did not recognize this individual.
The individual then began to speak to the king’s messenger about a friend who wanted to meet with the king’s messenger.
While the king’s messenger was concerned, he agreed to meet with this unnamed individual.
Who do you think the unnamed individual was who wanted to meet with the king’s messenger?
It was William Tyndale!
The man who was most sought after by the king had mysteriously appeared to the king’s messenger; he found the king’s messenger who sought him!
By this time, William had left Worms, Germany and settled in Antwerp.
Because so many people were after William, he was constantly on the move.
William had to finish the translation of the Bible, even if it meant moving from place to place to avoid the people who wanted to punish him for translating the Bible into English.
As the king’s messenger and William talked, the messenger appealed to William to come back to England and serve the king.
This was an amazing opportunity!
William was welcomed back to England even though he lived abroad as an outlaw.
Do you think that William questioned if this was a trick by the enemy to catch him?
What do you think William said in response to this invitation?
William said, I have to complete the translation work of the Bible into English.
William asked the king’s messenger to carry a letter from William to King Henry VIII.
So the king’s messenger left William and went back to England with William’s letter to the king.
What did the letter say?
How would the king respond to the fact that William had to complete his translation of the Bible into English?
Would the king understand William’s calling and support him?
Would the king be angry because William chose to translate God’s Word instead of coming back to work for him?
Conclusion: We’ll come back next week and consider these questions and more as we continue to look at the life of William Tyndale.