Dear Nelson Thank you for your :enlightening piece on the devout Tyndale who took all the trouble to translate the Bible, both the Old & the New Testament into English. He was executed on the orders of the Bishops and the Church Hierarchy. Henry VIII more than anything else had his own very selfish reasons for supporting Tyndale (Soothsayers had assured him that his wife would give him a male heir, when she delivered a girl, she was imprisoned and a few months later Henry had her executed) Henry VIII severed from the Vatican Roman Catholic Church to create the State Religion the Church of England. As you rightly point out…” in 1534 the Roman Catholic Church accused him of heresy”
Lets pause and take in the very first Pentecost the Holy Spirit descended on the Apostles, the first Bishops and they could speak in diverse languages not just Hebrew but scores of other languages. St Thomas, walked all the way to South Indian and used local languages to preach. It is only when people understand the ideas and faith of their new religion that they can be converted. Other Apostles, worked in other languages like Syrian, Armenian etc. St Augustine, the great African Saint and Philosopher and Thinker tried to understand “God” by reading Greek, Latin and even the earlier Egyptian thinkers. Religion is enriched by using knowledge – not prejudice !. Soon after reading your piece, I was talking to a very old student of mine and who retired as Professor from the University of Dar es Salaam. More than a hundred years ago, the Bible was translated into Haya (One of the 157 languages and dialects in Tanzania ). First it was hand written, later typed and much later even printed. Among the Kurya, the former Minister of Defense has translated the Bible into his own language and Kiswahili. His Hungarian born wife and children are Roman Catholics. But lets go to the very first Pentecost, after the Ascension of Christ. The terrified apostles and disciples were inspired and the flame of the Holy Spirit hovered above and suddenly they had the gift of the tongue. They could speak any language and be understood. Note that they did not speak Hebrew. St Thomas who went to distant South India, you think he spoke Hebrew or Latin??? No way…he spoke the local language. Ditto the Apostle who went to Armenia, Syria etc. Jesuit priests took Indian Names, said prayers in local languages, customs and traditions. Now the world over the Bible has been translated into 900 languages. You state that Tyndale is ranked 26/100 greatest Britons. You have whetted my appetite, probably includes Shakespeare, Byron, Bernard Shaw, To repeat myself Religion is enriched by using knowledge – not prejudice ! If the Lord has given us brains it is to think about equality, justice and peace….so be it. Adolfo Mascarenhas Dar es Salaam