Notes from William Tyndale (1494 to 1536) Talk

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At a recent meeting of the Winchcombe History Group Alan Pilbeam spoke of the influence of William Tyndale on the English language.

 

Here are a few examples taken from internet sources of phrases and words we use today that have origins in the translations of Tyndale:

 

‘the spirit is willing’                         ‘fight the good fight’       ‘let there be light’

‘am I my brother keeper?’             ‘the salt of the earth’      ‘let not your heart be troubled’

‘ask and it shall be given’               ‘twinkling of an eye’       

 

Invented words include:

‘scapegoat’         ‘atonement’       ‘passover’           ‘shrewbread’      ‘mercy seat’       ‘fitly spoken’

 

Four words where Tyndale changed the meaning from the Greek:

 

Greek

Previous meaning

Tyndale emphasis

Ekklesia

Church

Congregation (i.e. equal people)

Presbyter

Priest

Elder ( i.e. leader)

Metanoia

Do penance

Repent (I.e. change of mind)

Agape

Charity

Love (i.e. self-sacrifice