U.S. NEWS & WORLD REPORT

November 18, 1996

TYNDALE'S NEW TESTAMENT VISITS AMERICA

William Tyndale dreamed of putting Bibles into the hands of ordinary English-speaking folks so even "a boy that driveth the plough" could learn of the Scriptures. But the Roman Catholic Church, which restricted Scripture study to the clergy and the educated elite, had other ideas.

In 1524, Tyndale went to Germany to print his translation of the New Testament, the first ever produced in English--complete with such familiar phrases as "the powers that be" and "Am I my brother's keeper?"

Denounced by Saint Thomas More as a "hellhound,"

Tyndale was burned at the stake for heresy in 1536.

His handiwork suffered, too. Though 3,000 copies of the 706-page work were printed, only one has survived intact. Two years ago, tiny Bristol Baptist College sold the Tyndale New Testament for $1.5 million to London's British Library, after refusing higher bids from collectors outside England. Next week, an exhibit featuring the book begins a tour of the United States.

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[ Roman Catholic "saint" condemns man for distributing bible .... JP ]