Bible Abbreviation: Tyn1536
ISBN: 0712346643
Publisher: The British Library in association with The Tyndale Society
Publication Date: 2000, 2002
Pages: 575
Binding: Hard
Size: 4” x 6” x 1.25”
Features: This book features a color print of the first page of the Gospel of John from the copy held in the British library. This illuminated page is pasted into the front of the title page. This is followed by a short preface by David Daniell. I find it interesting that the preface has a copyright separate from the book itself.
Next is an introduction by W. R. Cooper. This was quite informative. For example it discusses how a hand copied Latin Bible would have cost £30 a century before Tyndale published his Bible. However, with the advent of the printing press, Tyndale’s Bible sold for £0.13 each. This in an age where the average worker made just £2 per annum.
A replica of the woodcut title page from the Stuttgart copy of Tyndale Bible is reproduced. In addition to being produced on then state of the art equipment, Tyndale’s Bible truly was also a work of art. A table of contents then follows.
The text of the New Testament is, with one exception, in the usual order. The books of Hebrews and James are placed between 3 John and Jude instead of between Philemon and 1 Peter. The actual text is in a modern Roman style serif font, not the medieval gothic font of the original production. Along the outside borders are the page numbers which correspond to the original pages from the Tyndale Bible.
Last but not least was an errata sheet.
Comments and Observations:
This is a word-for-word reproduction of Tyndale’s 1526 Worms octavo edition. All the original spelling has been left intact as the comparative verse below illustrates. Tyndale used Wycliffe’s Bible as the latticework for his own translation but Wycliffe was a lyricist at heart and his translation exhibits his poetic skill. Its arrangement is both majestic and beautiful. J. Isaac’s remark perhaps sums it up best, “With all the tinkering to which the New Testament has been subject, Tyndale’s version is still the basis in phrasing, rendering, vocabulary, rhythm, and often music as well. Nine-tenths of the Authorized New Testament is still Tyndale, and the best is still his.” 1 This is a fun Bible to read and to use in study. Get it.
New Testament Comparative Verse: Matthew 5:1-12
When he sawe the people, he went up into a mountayne, and when he was set, his disciples cam unto hym, and he opened his mought, and taught them saynge: Blessed are the povre in sprete: for theirs is the kyngdome of heven. Blessed are they that morne: for they shalbe conforted. Blessed are the meke: for they shall inheret the erth. Blessed are they which honger and thurst for rightewesnes: for they shalbe filled. Blessed are the mercifull: for they shall obteyne mercy. Blessed are the pure in herte: for they shall se God. Blessed are the maynteyners of peace: for they shalbe called the chyldren of God. Blessed are they which suffre persecucion for rightewesnes sake: for theirs ys the kyngdome of heven. Blessed are ye when men revyle you, and persecute you and shall falsly say all manner of yvell saynges agaynst you for my sake. Reioyce and be glad, for greate is youre rewarde in heven. For so persecuted they the prophets which were before youre dayes.
End Notes
1. J. Isaac, “The Sixteen-Century English Versions” in H.W. Robinson, Ed., “The Bible in its Ancient and English Versions”, Oxford: Clarendon, [1940], pg. 160, Print
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