Author Archives: Stephen Rodgers

Living Unmistakably Against the Common Grain

by Josh Liu

In nature, we often observe energy travel the path of least resistance. Similarly, people typically choose the easiest or most convenient option. Unfortunately, a similar pattern is seen in many believers: they are simply going with the common grain. It’s easy to live like the world since it’s the path of least resistance; it’s hard to live against the world for Christ. Yet the transforming power of the Gospel enables and compels true believers to be faithful to Christ in all areas of life.

Overview

Pastor James Lee of Lighthouse Bible Church Orange County preached on the theme of “living unmistakably against the common grain” for our 2018 College Life Retreat. It was a great time of studying Scripture, examining our own lives, and considering how to be faithful to Christ in every area of life! Personally, it was also a blessing to be able to spend time with Pastor James and his family as they have been an incredible source of joy and encouragement.

The following provides a brief overview of the sessions:

Session 1: Faithful to Follow the Lord: The Cost of Discipleship (Luke 14:25-35)

Many fail to truly consider how much it costs to be a Christian. As Pastor James says, we up-play the freeness of the gift of salvation but we downplay the cost. Christ commands us to follow Him completely, with no regrets or conditions. In considering what it means to follow Christ from Luke 14, we must understand three non-negotiables: (1) accept His terms: absolute lordship (vv. 25-26); (2) accept His road: daily discipleship (vv. 27-33); and (3) accept His mission (vv. 34-35).

Questions for reflection/discussion:

It’s not about perfection but direction. How does your life evidence an exclusive allegiance to Christ?
In willingness to die, how will you specifically live for Christ right now?
Is there anything in your life that God is calling you to surrender to Him?

Session 2: Faithful to Daily Death: Our Gospel Debt to the Daily Dying of William Tyndale

William Tyndale’s singular devotion to translate and distribute the Bible, punishable by death at the time, demonstrated a faithful life transformed by the Gospel. Pastor James provides five observations that we can glean from the life of Tyndale: (1) the infinite worth and transforming power of God’s written Word; (2) the providential and merciful workings of God in history for His people; (3) the desperate everything found in light of the true Gospel; (4) the Gospel’s absolute demand of daily discipleship for the joy of suffering; and (5) the deeply personal and generational impact in which the life of ministry faithfulness can have.

Questions for reflection/discussion:

What can you give thanks to God from Tyndale’s life?
What’s one thing about his life that sticks out and challenges you to greater faithfulness?

Session 3: Faithful by Obedient Evangelism: The Sad Silence of God’s People in Their Call to the Nations (Jonah 4:1-11)

Pastor James masterfully reviews the Book of Jonah to show that Jonah is the story of God’s mercy not just to Nineveh but especially to a rebellious prophet. Ironically, Jonah is preaching repentance when he isn’t truly repentant in his own heart. In examining our own hearts of self-righteousness, pay attention to these three sad ironic contradictions in Jonah’s self-righteousness: (1) hearing grace for ourselves but hating grace for others; (2) inviting sovereignty for happiness but ignoring sovereignty for holiness; and (3) rejoicing in God’s great salvation but rejecting God’s saving smile.

Questions for reflection/discussion:

In what areas might God be exposing self-righteousness in your own life?
How have you withheld grace from someone? How can you show God’s grace to this person?
How can you specifically begin to pursue a lost soul?

Session 4: The Only Hope that Will Not and Never Disappoint (Selected Scriptures)

Everyone needs hope. Unfortunately, many think of hope as wishful thinking and desires. Yet biblical hope is absolute and completely certain. Where one places his hope (for help, fulfillment, provision, comfort, etc.) exposes the heart. Christians have true (biblical) hope because God is a God of hope (cf. 1 Pet. 3:14-15; Rom. 15:13; 1 Thess. 4:13). Here are three reasons why hoping in God will never disappoint: (1) God cannot and will not make empty promises; (2) Heaven is our true home forever and together; and (3) God’s kingdom is totally worth dying for and living for.

Questions for reflection/discussion:

Where do you find refuge, safety, comfort, escape, pleasure, or security? What do you think about most often?
How might you counsel or encourage someone who is hopeless?
How can you actively invest into eternity?

Session 5: Faithful to Honor Christ through the Hardships of Life and Ministry (2 Cor. 12:7-10)

Suffering will result in faithful obedience to Christ (cf. Matt. 5:10-12; Acts 14:22). Yet, as Pastor James said, God’s grace shines through to tell you that even at the lowest point of life, there’s a pathway to joy. Pastor James highlights three lessons from 2 Corinthians 12 in order to faithfully honor Christ through suffering: (1) trust in the purposes of divine sovereignty (v. 7); (2) be gripped by the sufficiency of divine grace (vv. 8-9a); and (3) delight in the paradox of divine power (vv. 9b-10).

Questions for reflection/discussion:

What does suffering reveal about the perfections and purposes of God?
What might God be teaching you through suffering that you otherwise wouldn’t have learned?
How might you encourage and counsel someone who is going through suffering?

Studying Scripture together was the distinct highlight of the retreat. Along with the sessions, we also had a great time of fellowship through team games, lipdubs, meal times, and more! Check out the highlight video!

A Theological Primer for Biblical Counseling: Inspiration, Inerrancy, Authority of Scripture

by Josh Liu

Every person (and counseling system) operates on a presupposed worldview. That set of beliefs form a system through which a person interprets his observations, thoughts, experiences, actions, feelings, past, values, problems, etc. Therefore, it is critical to establish or define the biblical counselor’s worldview—this series introduces the underlying theology that makes biblical counseling biblical.

Studying theology and doctrine will help to organize and summarize the vast amount of information that Scripture provides on a given subject. We start with understanding Scripture itself. Here is a brief primer on the doctrines of inspiration, inerrancy, and authority of Scripture.

The Bible is God’s special revelation to man. Dr. James Mook describes special revelation as

the personal and primarily verbal disclosing of God’s existence and perfections (including His will and His truth) by supernatural means to particular selected persons, for various purposes, including (after the fall) bringing people to be saved and worship him aright. Before the Second Advent of Christ, the final special revelation consists primarily of the words of the Bible (Rev 22:18-20). [1]

In other words, Scripture is God’s personal revelation of Himself and His purposes in creation. The Bible, God’s recoding of His special revelation, claims at least three crucial attributes: (1) divine inspiration, (2) inerrancy, and (3) authority.

The Bible is inspired by God. The original autographs (manuscripts) of the 66 books of the Old and New Testaments were God-breathed in which the Holy Spirit used human authors to record divine revelation (1 Cor. 2:13; 2 Tim. 3:16; 2 Pet. 1:21). The Bible is not ultimately the product of human thought or expression. God used human authors to record His very words (Ex. 34:27; Rev. 22:6). John Walvoord says,

God so supernaturally directed the writers of Scripture that without excluding their human intelligence, their individuality, their literary style, their personal feelings, or any other human factor, His own complete and coherent message to man was recorded in perfect accuracy, the very words of Scripture bearing the authority of divine authorship. [2]

In other words, God used men to communicate and record His message. Every word, syntax, and aspect of Scripture is inspired of God (i.e., verbal plenary inspiration). Since the Bible is from God, it contains no error.

The Bible is completely inerrant in the original autographs. Since the Bible is from God, it reflects His perfections: He does not lie (Num. 23:19; Titus 1:2); His words are pure (Ps. 12:6); His every word proves true (Prov. 30:5); He is the God of truth (Is. 65:16); and His worth is truth (John 17:17). Dr. Mook says, “the words of the Bible in their historical, grammatical, literary, and moral settings in the original autographs of the Bible are wholly true in what they affirm, in every respect, whether these words concern doctrine, morality, history, or any of the sciences.” [3] The Bible is not primarily a history or science textbook, but when it addresses areas relating to history and science, it is completely free from error in the same way when it addresses the spiritual. Since the Bible is inspired by God and inerrant, it is completely authoritative.

The Bible is supreme and absolute, regardless of its reception by people. What the Bible says on an issue is what God says on an issue. Since God is authoritative over all of His creation, we regard His Word as divinely authoritative. Wayne Grudem says, “all the words in Scripture are God’s words in such a way that to disbelieve or disobey any word of Scripture is to disbelieve or disobey God.” [4] Thus, every person ought to submit to the Bible. We are to understand all of creation and reality through Scripture, and we must submit to it by faithful obedience (cf. Ezra 7:10; John 6:68; 2 Tim. 3:17; 1 John 2:3-6).

[1] Dr. James Mook, “Theology 1: Section 2: Bibliology, Part 1: General/Natural Revelation,” (Lecture, The Master’s Seminary, Summer 2014), 1.

[2] John Walvoord, The Holy Spirit (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1991), 58.

[3] Dr. James Mook, “Theoloy 1: Section 2: Bibliology, Part 5: The Inerrancy of Scripture Defined,” (Lecture, The Master’s Seminary, Summer 2014), 84.

[4] Wayne Grudem, Systematic Theology, (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1994), 73.

Let Every Man Abide In The Same Calling Wherein He Was Called

by Charles Haddon Spurgeon

1 Corinthians 7:20

Some persons have the foolish notion that the only way in which they can live for God is by becoming ministers, missionaries, or Bible women. Alas! how many would be shut out from any opportunity of magnifying the Most High if this were the case. Beloved, it is not office, it is earnestness; it is not position, it is grace which will enable us to glorify God. God is most surely glorified in that cobbler’s stall, where the godly worker, as he plies the awl, sings of the Saviour’s love, ay, glorified far more than in many a prebendal stall where official religiousness performs its scanty duties. The name of Jesus is glorified by the poor unlearned carter as he drives his horse, and blesses his God, or speaks to his fellow labourer by the roadside, as much as by the popular divine who, throughout the country, like Boanerges, is thundering out the gospel.

God is glorified by our serving Him in our proper vocations. Take care, dear reader, that you do not forsake the path of duty by leaving your occupation, and take care you do not dishonour your profession while in it. Think little of yourselves, but do not think too little of your callings. Every lawful trade may be sanctified by the gospel to noblest ends. Turn to the Bible, and you will find the most menial forms of labour connected either with most daring deeds of faith, or with persons whose lives have been illustrious for holiness. Therefore be not discontented with your calling. Whatever God has made your position, or your work, abide in that, unless you are quite sure that he calls you to something else. Let your first care be to glorify God to the utmost of your power where you are. Fill your present sphere to His praise, and if He needs you in another He will show it you. This evening lay aside vexatious ambition, and embrace peaceful content.

6.27p

Weekly Links (4/6/2018)

by Stephen Rodgers

This year is flying by…it’s April already. But that means that it’s time for another pile of free resources. So at least there’s that.

Reset by David Murray (free audio book) – I don’t know this particular book, but David Murray is generally a reliable and insightful author.
Between the Cross and the Throne by Matthew Emerson (free Logos resource) – I don’t know either this book or the author, but if you’re the sort of person who compulsively collects free Logos resources, then here you go!
“False Teachers” (April 2018 Tabletalk) – I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again: Tabletalk is fantastic. If you’re not reading it already, you should be. So if you’re caught up, here’s a new issue! And if you’re not caught up, here’s a chronological archive.
The Glory of the Atonement (CredoMag) – There’s also a new issue of Credo Magazine out for Easter, appropriately on the subject of the atonement.

That’s it! Enjoy folks, and see you Sunday!

Pro Rege

Seed Planting in Youth Ministry

by Sarah Andrews

Youth ministry has taught me that God calls us to be faithful ministers of the gospel and trust Him with the results. We are to abide in His word, trust in Christ’s finished work and share it faithfully to people around us. We may not know how God will use the seeds we plant, but we can trust that God is sovereign and will work out His plan.

Even if the gospel is preached many times, it is God’s mercy that allows a rebellious heart to be softened. God helps us understand that we sin against Him, are deserving of His wrath, and are undeserving recipients of mercy. Without God, we cannot discern spiritual truths and reject the gospel.

I am greatly encouraged by the preaching of the Word in youth ministry, the discussions we have in small groups, and the fun times we spend with the youth. Kids who have grown up in church may be familiar with the gospel and Bible lessons, but it is God who will convict and bear fruit.

Recently we went to an youth retreat and learned about the power of the gospel. This shapes every area of our lives, from peacemaking and purity in relationships, to suffering in identity with Christ. The youth were challenged to consider what it means to be a true follower of Jesus: do we really love Him and obey Him? Since we have been bestowed with God’s mercies and have a new identity and heavenly home, we owe everything to God. He is our loving Father who knows what is wise and best for us, and submitting to Him is our best option.

When I look back to my time in middle school and high school, I recognize that it was truly God’s grace that brought me to salvation. I was raised in church and had head knowledge of the Bible. Faithful laborers of the gospel such as my parents, church staff, pastors and mentors shared with me the good news of eternal life found in Christ alone. However, I still lived for myself and did “Christian” activities without loving God. I was unsure if I was saved. When I went on my first missions trip before college, I saw what it meant to follow Christ and deny myself. I saw that I rebelled against God, and I wanted to place my identity in Christ and live in the newness of a Spirit-filled life.

God is sovereign and able to do the work in youth’s hearts, and anyone’s heart for that matter. We are faithful stewards of the gospel when we preach the good news and pray that people receive Christ as Lord. It can be discouraging when we don’t see immediate results or people reject God. However we must be faithful to pray for nonbelievers. We also must hold fast to our salvation; Jesus never changes, and He offers the free gift of salvation to all who believe. He sustains us as we are sanctified and become more like Christ. How assuring it is that our salvation can never be taken away!

As believers, we can “offer [our] bodies as living [sacrifices], holy and pleasing to God – this is [our] true and proper worship” (Romans 12:1). It is God’s will for us to humbly serve the church, be ready to do good and pray for one another. We are all God’s servants who have received God’s grace, and we mutually want the church to be encouraged and strengthened. Other people will benefit from our good works in faithfulness to God.

As we serve in our homes, workplaces, schools, neighborhoods and other areas of influence, our labor is not in vain. Let us be a light for Christ in a lost and dark world. We must prayerfully depend on Him to change, save and sanctity hearts. I am thankful to be a part of seed planting in youth ministry, and I pray that God will bring all youth to saving faith in Christ!

Only Ye Shall Not Go Very Far Away

by Charles Haddon Spurgeon

Exodus 8:28

This is a crafty word from the lip of the arch-tyrant Pharaoh. If the poor bondaged Israelites must needs go out of Egypt, then he bargains with them that it shall not be very far away; not too far for them to escape the terror of his arms, and the observation of his spies. After the same fashion, the world loves not the non-conformity of nonconformity, or the dissidence of dissent, it would have us be more charitable and not carry matters with too severe a hand.

Death to the world, and burial with Christ, are experiences which carnal minds treat with ridicule, and hence the ordinance which sets them forth is almost universally neglected, and even contemned. Worldly wisdom recommends the path of compromise, and talks of ‘moderation.’ According to this carnal policy, purity is admitted to be very desirable, but we are warned against being too precise; truth is of course to be followed, but error is not to be severely denounced. ‘Yes,’ says the world, ‘be spiritually minded by all means, but do not deny yourself a little gay society, an occasional ball, and a Christmas visit to a theatre. What’s the good of crying down a thing when it is so fashionable, and everybody does it?’ Multitudes of professors yield to this cunning advice, to their own eternal ruin.

If we would follow the Lord wholly, we must go right away into the wilderness of separation, and leave the Egypt of the carnal world behind us. We must leave its maxims, its pleasures, and its religion too, and go far away to the place where the Lord calls His sanctified ones. When the town is on fire, our house cannot be too far from the flames. When the plague is abroad, a man cannot be too far from its haunts. The further from a viper the better, and the further from worldly conformity the better. To all true believers let the trumpet-call be sounded, ‘Come ye out from among them, be ye separate.’

6.27a

Getting to the Heart

by Liannu Khai

“For no good tree bears bad fruit, nor again does a bad tree bear good fruit, for each tree is known by its own fruit. For figs are not gathered from thornbushes, nor are grapes picked from a bramble bush. The good person out of the good treasure of his heart produces good, and the evil person out of his evil treasure produces evil, for out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks.” (Luke 6:43-45)

Every Sparklers class begins in one of two ways: 1) We go over the 4 Sparkler Rules or 2) We review our heart verses, Luke 6:43-45. If you are curious about our Sparkler rules, you can read Paul Chen’s article on those. Instead, I wanted to take a bit of time to talk about the Sparklers’ heart verses, what we go over, and how they shape disciplining moments.

The goal of reviewing these verses in the beginning of class is to help them reflect on their heart. We, first, typically read the verse together. Then, the teacher reviewing it will either concentrate on a certain part of the verse (e.g. What does the word “abundance” mean?) or will go over the verse more generally, breaking down the illustration.

In these verses, Jesus talks about two types of trees. We see a good tree and a bad tree. What do these trees represent? They represent our hearts. As there are two types of trees, there are two types of hearts – good, “God-way” hearts and bad, “my-way” hearts. The trees bear fruits according to what kind of tree they are. As apple trees only grow apples, good trees will only grow good fruits. God-way hearts will only produce good, God-pleasing fruit. What is “fruit” though and how do people bear it? People don’t exactly grow apples and oranges from their arms. No way! Instead, a person’s fruit comes in the form of our words, thoughts, and actions. The words that come out of our mouths, the attitudes and thoughts that stir in our minds, and the actions we perform are all rooted in our hearts. Our fruit reveals the type of heart we have. How do we know whether our fruit is good fruit or bad fruit? The Bible, God’s word, tells us exactly what is good and what is bad. It tells us what pleases the Lord and what displeases him. When we do anything that displeases God, we sin. We produce bad fruit and reveal our “my-way” hearts. However, left to our own power, we can never please and obey God (Rom. 3:12) because of our wicked hearts (Jer. 17:9). We need to ask God to help us obey him. Ultimately, we need to ask God to change our hearts.

These verses aid us when we need to discipline any of the Sparklers because our goal is to help them see how their actions compare with scripture. Rather than making superficial, behavioral changes, we hope for a change of heart by attempting to dig to the root of the issue. We ask them questions to help them understand their fruit, the heart behind it, and what God’s word says about it. This is definitely not easy. They are not always responsive, but I pray that God can use these disciplining moments to plant seeds in their life. Our greatest prayer, as Sparklers staff, is that the kids may see their sinfulness and their great need for Christ to save them. I pray that as they grow older, Luke 6:43-45 will be written on their hearts as they examine their fruits, their heart, and their standing before God. It has definitely been written on mine.

Having Escaped The Corruption That Is In The World…

by Charles Haddon Spurgeon

2 Peter 1:4

Vanish for ever all thought of indulging the flesh if you would live in the power of your risen Lord. It were ill that a man who is alive in Christ should dwell in the corruption of sin. ‘Why seek ye the living among the dead?’ said the angel to Magdalene. Should the living dwell in the sepulchre? Should divine life be immured in the charnel house of fleshly lust? How can we partake of the cup of the Lord and yet drink the cup of Belial? Surely, believer, from open lusts and sins you are delivered: have you also escaped from the more secret and delusive lime-twigs of the Satanic fowler? Have you come forth from the lust of pride? Have you escaped from slothfulness? Have you clean escaped from carnal security? Are you seeking day by day to live above worldliness, the pride of life, and the ensnaring vice of avarice? Remember, it is for this that you have been enriched with the treasures of God.

If you be indeed the chosen of God, and beloved by Him, do not suffer all the lavish treasure of grace to be wasted upon you. Follow after holiness; it is the Christian’s crown and glory. An unholy church! it is useless to the world, and of no esteem among men. It is an abomination, hell’s laughter, heaven’s abhorrence. The worst evils which have ever come upon the world have been brought upon her by an unholy church.

O Christian, the vows of God are upon you. You are God’s priest: act as such. You are God’s king: reign over your lusts. You are God’s chosen: do not associate with Belial. Heaven is your portion: live like a heavenly spirit, so shall you prove that you have true faith in Jesus, for there cannot be faith in the heart unless there be holiness in the life.

‘Lord, I desire to live as one
Who bears a blood-bought name,
As one who fears but grieving Thee,
And knows no other shame.’

3.26p

Art Thou Become Like Unto Us?

by Charles Haddon Spurgeon

Isaiah 14:10

What must be the apostate professor’s doom when his naked soul appears before God? How will he bear that voice, ‘Depart, ye cursed; thou hast rejected me, and I reject thee; thou hast played the harlot, and departed from Me: I also have banished thee for ever from my presence, and will not have mercy upon thee.’ What will be this wretch’s shame at the last great day when, before assembled multitudes, the apostate shall be unmasked? See the profane, and sinners who never professed religion, lifting themselves up from their beds of fire to point at him. ‘There he is,’ says one, ‘will he preach the gospel in hell?’ ‘There he is,’ says another, ‘he rebuked me for cursing, and was a hypocrite himself!’ ‘Aha!’ says another, ‘here comes a psalm-singing Methodist-one who was always at his meeting; he is the man who boasted of his being sure of everlasting life; and here he is!’ No greater eagerness will ever be seen among Satanic tormentors, than in that day when devils drag the hypocrite’s soul down to perdition. Bunyan pictures this with massive but awful grandeur of poetry when he speaks of the back-way to hell. Seven devils bound the wretch with nine cords, and dragged him from the road to heaven, in which he had professed to walk, and thrust him through the back-door into hell.

Mind that back-way to hell, professors! ‘Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith.’ Look well to your state; see whether you be in Christ or not. It is the easiest thing in the world to give a lenient verdict when oneself is to be tried; but O, be just and true here. Be just to all, but be rigorous to yourself. Remember if it be not a rock on which you build, when the house shall fall, great will be the fall of it. O may the Lord give you sincerity, constancy, and firmness; and in no day, however evil, may you be led to turn aside.

6.26a

William Tyndale: The Man Who Lived and Died for the English Bible

by Josh Liu

Imagine you are a farmer who only spoke English, living in 16th century England—a time where the laity was largely scripturally inept and to read the Holy Scriptures in any language other than Latin was a crime. Imagine that you could only listen to God’s Word in another language. How far would you go to be able to read and understand God’s Word for yourself? How much do you treasure God’s Word?

William Tyndale may be considered, as one author put it, the man who gave God an English voice (David Teems). Tyndale’s life is perhaps the historical event that is foundational to the proliferation of modern English Bible translations. He was vehemently committed to bring the Bible into the English language from the original Hebrew and Greek languages, so that the common person can come to know God. To understand Tyndale’s impact on your English Bible, let us consider his life.

William Tyndale was born in 1494 in Gloucestershire in western England. He was sent to Oxford University at the age of 12 where he began studying a variety of subjects. Since he was young, he demonstrated great aptitude for languages. Before leaving Oxford, he earned a bachelor’s degree in 1512, a master’s degree in 1515, and was ordained as a priest. After leaving Oxford, Tyndale went on to Cambridge, where Erasmus and other scholars were stirring interest in the Greek New Testament. It is suggested that while at Cambridge, Tyndale first encountered the works of Martin Luther and Protestantism. Around 1521, Tyndale returned to Gloucestershire to serve as a tutor in the family of Sir John Walsh. During this time, he encountered many travelers with whom he would debate. On one occasion, while engaging a Catholic priest who said that “we are better to be without God’s law than the pope’s,” Tyndale responded by saying, “‘I defy the Pope and all his laws,’ and said that ‘if God spare my life ere many years, I will cause a boy that driveth the plough, shall know more of the scripture than thou dost’” (Foxe cited in William Tyndale: A Biography, 79).

To say the least, Tyndale was discontent with the Latin Vulgate. He concluded, “it was impossible to establish the lay people in any truth, except the Scripture were plainly laid before their eyes in their mother tongue” (Robert Demaus, William Tindale, 1886, 710). In his desire to translate the Bible into English, Tyndale went to London in 1523 hoping to gain support and permission from Cuthbert Tunstall, Bishop of London and friend of Thomas More and Erasmus. Tunstall, opposed to Reformation ideas, did not support Tyndale. Realizing that he would not be able to translate the Bible in London, Tyndale traveled to Martin Luther in Wittenberg, Germany in 1524. There he began translating the Greek New Testament into English.

In August 1525, Tyndale traveled to Cologne to print his first edition of the New Testament in English. Before it completed printing, Tyndale fled after being warned of a raid arranged by an opponent of the Reformation, John Cochlaeus. Tyndale fled down the Rhine River to Worms. In Worms, he was able to print several editions of the New Testament. In the spring of 1526, Tyndale began smuggling his English New Testament into England through bales of cotton. Upon learning about this, the archbishop of Canterbury and Bishop of London sought to destroy all copies and prohibited the selling, buying, or handling of Tyndale’s New Testament translation. The English authorities, including King Henry VII (king of England), considered Tyndale’s translation as heresy and sought to arrest him.

In 1527, Tyndale fled to Marburg for safety. While in Marburg, he began studying the Hebrew language and translated the Hebrew Pentateuch into English. In 1529, he moved from Marburg to Antwerp, looking to print his translation of the Pentateuch. However, he felt that it was too dangerous to print in Antwerp. From Antwerp, Tyndale boarded a boat to travel to Hamburg. During this voyage, he experienced a shipwreck and the loss of his translations. Eventually arriving in Hamburg, Tyndale began retranslating the Hebrew Pentateuch. In 1530, the Pentateuch was published in Marburg (and the Book of Jonah in Antwerp). These translations were eventually smuggled into England.

While living as an exile from England and a fugitive, Tyndale was always careful. There were numerous attempts at his capture. In November 1530, Thomas Cromwell, King Henry VIII’s chief minister, sent Stephen Vaughan, an English merchant known to be a proponent of the Reformation, to persuade Tyndale to return to England. Vaughan offered Tyndale a salary and safe passage to England. After an exchange of letters, Tyndale agreed to return to England on the condition that the king have the Bible translated into English. In 1534, after moving to Antwerp and residing with Thomas Poyntz, Tyndale began revising his New Testament translation and translated the next part of the Hebrew Old Testament: Joshua to 2 Chronicles. In the early summer of 1535, Harry Phillips arrived in Antwerp seeking to capture Tyndale. Phillips found Tyndale and shrewdly won his trust. In May 1535, Phillips lured Tyndale into a narrow passage where he was arrested by soldiers. After Tyndale’s capture, Poyntz’s home was raided. Miraculously, Tyndale’s translation work of Joshua to 2 Chronicles remained safe, and eventually contributed to the Matthew’s Bible of 1537.

Tyndale was imprisoned in Vilvorde Castle near Brussels. Though he suffered greatly while awaiting trial, Tyndale’s faithful devotion to bring the Word of God into the English common language never waned. Tyndale sent a request to someone in authority saying,

Wherefore I beg your lordship, and that by the Lord Jesus, that if I am to remain here through the winter, you will request the commissary to have the kindness to send me, from the goods of mine which he has, a warmer cap; for I suffer greatly from cold in the heat, and am afflicted by a perpetual catarrh, which is much increased in this cell; a warmer coat also, for this which I have is very thin; a piece of cloth too to patch my leggings. My overcoat is worn out; my shirts are also worn out…. And I ask to be allowed to have a lamp in the evening; it is indeed wearisome sitting alone in the dark. But most of all I beg and beseech your clemency to be urgent with the commissary, that he will kindly permit me to have the Hebrew Bible, Hebrew grammar, and Hebrew dictionary, that I may pass the time in that study. (Mozley as cited in William Tyndale: A Biography, 379)

Tyndale stood trial in August 1536. He was condemned as a heretic, excommunicated from the priesthood, and sentenced to death. On October 6, 1536, he was strangled, then burned. His last words are remembered as “Lord, open the king of England’s eyes” (Daniell, William Tyndale, 1994, 383).

Tyndale lived to bring God’s Word to the English people, as far as giving up his life. His devotion and martyrdom for God’s Word should remind us of not only the necessity of God’s Word but also its surpassing value. May you be impassioned to know God more, and for others to know God more—through His everlasting Word.

Note: See Pastor James’ recent College Life Retreat sermon on the life of William Tyndale.