William Tyndale citations

William Tyndale ou Tindale est un protestant anglais connu comme le premier traducteur du Nouveau Testament depuis le texte grec dans une langue moderne . Brillant érudit, il parlait l'hébreu, le grec, le latin, l'espagnol, l'anglais et le français, « si bien que chacune de ces langues aurait pu être sa langue maternelle ».

Influencé par les idées réformatrices de Martin Luther, Tyndale avait rencontré Érasme de Rotterdam, avait découvert son Nouveau Testament grec-latin et s'était mis à le traduire en anglais. Dans un premier temps, il rechercha la protection de Tunstall, évêque de Londres, mais lorsque ce dernier apprit ses intentions, il lui refusa l'accès à son palais de Lambeth.

S'il existait déjà au Moyen Âge plusieurs versions partielles ou romancées des récits bibliques en langue vernaculaire , le courant initié par la publication de la Bible de John Wycliffe fut condamné et la détention non autorisée des Saintes Écritures en anglais était passible en Angleterre de la peine de mort,. La traduction de Tyndale est tout à la fois la première bible traduite en anglais depuis les langues anciennes , la première édition anglaise imprimée, et la première Bible protestante. Elle fut un défi jeté à l’autorité de l'Église catholique et à la législation religieuse anglaise. En 1530, Tyndale écrivit un pamphlet : The Practyse of Prelates, par lequel il dénonçait le divorce de Henri VIII comme contraire aux Saintes Écritures.

Tyndale dut aller dans le Saint Empire pour étudier l'hébreu, car en Angleterre l'Édit d'Expulsion interdisait la détention de livres en hébreu en Angleterre. Mais en ce début de XVIe siècle, les écrits en grec ancien devenaient, pour la première fois depuis des siècles, accessibles à la communauté savante d'Europe. Fort des manuscrits rendus disponibles par la diaspora des érudits byzantins depuis la Chute de Constantinople , Érasme venait de traduire et d'éditer, sous le titre de « Novum Instrumentum » le texte grec des Saintes Écritures, dépassant la Vulgate. Tyndale, qui partageait l'idéal humaniste d’Érasme, choisit pour sa traduction l’anglais courant , langue alors jugée vulgaire, maladroite et roturière ; tout juste l'améliora-t-il par des tournures inspirées du grec classique et l’emploi de mots hébreux « anglicisés », initiative qui fut l'acte de naissance de l'anglais moderne naissant, qui sera la langue de Shakespeare et des grands auteurs de l'ère élisabéthaine,. Lorsqu’en 1534 le roi Henri VIII lut le manifeste de Tyndale intitulé « La Soumission du Chrétien » , il y trouva des raisons de rompre avec Rome,.

En 1535, Tyndale fut arrêté et jeté dans les geôles du château de Vilvorde, non loin de Bruxelles. Jugé en 1536, il fut convaincu d’hérésie, exécuté par strangulation, et son cadavre brûlé au bûcher. Ses dernières paroles, par lesquelles il formait le vœu « que le roi d'Angleterre ouvre les yeux », furent presque exaucées moins de deux années plus tard, avec l'impression de la « version autorisée du roi Henri » destinée à l'Église d'Angleterre — et qui reprenait largement le texte de Tyndale. Par là, la « Bible Tyndale », comme on l'appelait, contribua à l'essor de la Réforme dans le monde anglophone et tout l’Empire britannique. Elle exerça aussi une influence profonde sur la Bible de Genève, qui fut celle de la colonie de Jamestown et du Mayflower . Il n’est pas anodin qu'en 1611, les 54 érudits chargés par le Roi de compiler la Bible du roi Jacques, se soient, à leur tour, beaucoup inspiré de la traduction de Tyndale, et des traductions qui s'étaient appuyées dessus. Selon une étude, le Nouveau Testament de la Bible du roi Jacques reprendrait 83 % de la « Bible Tyndale », et l’Ancien Testament, 76 %. Wikipedia  

✵ 6. octobre 1494 – 6. septembre 1536
William Tyndale photo
William Tyndale: 38   citations 0   J'aime

William Tyndale: Citations en anglais

“If God spare my life, ere many yeares I wyl cause a boy that driveth the plough to know more of the Scripture, than he doust.”

As quoted in the Actes and Monuments of these Latter and Perillous Days, touching Matters of the Church (Foxe's Book of Martyrs) by John Foxe; variant: I will cause a boy that driveth the plough shall know more of the scripture than thou doest.
Contexte: I defie the Pope and all his lawes. If God spare my life, ere many yeares I wyl cause a boy that driveth the plough to know more of the Scripture, than he doust.

“Resistance to tyranny is obedience to God.”

This was used as an abolitionist and feminist slogan in the 19th century and has sometimes been attributed to Tyndale, but more frequently to Thomas Jefferson, and Benjamin Franklin, who has been cited as having wanted it to be the motto of the United States, as well as to Susan B. Anthony, who cited it as an "old Revolutionary maxim". The earliest definite citations of a source yet found in research for Wikiquote indicates that it was declared by Massachusetts Governor Simon Bradstreet after the overthrow of Dominion of New England Governor Edmund Andros in relation to the "Glorious Revolution" of 1688, as quoted in Official Report of the Debates and Proceedings in the State Convention: assembled May 4th, 1853 (1853) by the Massachusetts Constitutional Convention, p. 502. It is also quoted as a maxim that arose after the overthrow of Andros in A Book of New England Legends and Folk Lore (1883) by Samuel Adams Drake. p. 426
Misattributed

“Lord ope the King of England's eies.”

Reputedly Tyndale's last words while tied to the stake, as quoted in the Book of Martyrs by John Foxe. Contemporary accounts do not mention this statement: "Contemporaries noted no such words, however, only that the strangling was bungled and that he suffered terribly." Brian Moynahan, in God’s Bestseller: William Tyndale, Thomas More, and the Writing of the English Bible — A Story of Martyrdom and Betrayal (2002) p. 377.

“The preaching of God’s word is hateful and contrary unto them. Why? For it is impossible to preach Christ, except thou preach against antichrist; that is to say, them which with their false doctrine and violence of sword enforce to quench the true doctrine of Christ.”

The Obedience of A Christian Man (1528)
Contexte: The preaching of God’s word is hateful and contrary unto them. Why? For it is impossible to preach Christ, except thou preach against antichrist; that is to say, them which with their false doctrine and violence of sword enforce to quench the true doctrine of Christ. And as thou canst heal no disease, except thou begin at the root; even so canst thou preach against no mischief, except thou begin at the bishops.

“To have a faith, therefore, or a trust in any thing, where God hath not promised, is plain idolatry, and a worshipping of thine own imagination instead of God.”

The Obedience of A Christian Man (1528)
Contexte: Where no promise of God is, there can be no faith, nor justifying, nor forgiveness of sins: for it is more than madness to look for any thing of God, save that he hath promised. How far he hath promised, so far is he bound to them that believe; and further not. To have a faith, therefore, or a trust in any thing, where God hath not promised, is plain idolatry, and a worshipping of thine own imagination instead of God. Let us see the pith of a ceremony or two, to judge the rest by. In conjuring of holy water, they pray that whosoever be sprinkled therewith may receive health as well of body as of soul: and likewise in making holy bread, and so forth in the conjurations of other ceremonies. Now we see by daily experience, that half their prayer is unheard. For no man receiveth health of body thereby.
No more, of likelihood, do they of soul. Yea, we see also by experience, that no man receiveth health of soul thereby. For no man by sprinkling himself with holy water, and with eating holy bread, is more merciful than before, or forgiveth wrong, or becometh at one with his enemy, or is more patient, and less covetous, and so forth; which are the sure tokens of the soul-health.

“Whether it be so or no, I report me to experience.”

The Obedience of A Christian Man (1528)
Contexte: By grace I understand the favor of God, and also the gifts and working of his Spirit in us; as love, kindness, patience, obedience, mercifulness, despising of worldly things, peace, concord, and such like. If after thou hast heard so many masses, matins, and evensongs, and after thou hast received holy bread, holy water, and the bishop’s blessing, or a cardinal’s or the pope’s, if thou wilt be more kind to thy neighbor, and love him better than before; if thou be more obedient unto thy superiors; more merciful, more ready to forgive wrong; done unto thee, more despisest the world, and more athirst after spiritual things; if after that a priest hath taken orders he be less covetous than before; if a wife, after so many and oft pilgrimages, be more chaste, more obedient unto her husband, more kind to her maids and other servants; if gentlemen, knights, lords, and kings and emperors, after they have said so often daily service with their chaplains, know more of Christ than before, and can better skill to rule their tenants, subjects, and realms christianly than before, and be content with their duties; then do such things increase grace. If not, it is a lie. Whether it be so or no, I report me to experience. If they have any other interpretations of justifying or grace, I pray them to teach it me; for I would gladly learn it.

“By grace I understand the favor of God, and also the gifts and working of his Spirit in us; as love, kindness, patience, obedience, mercifulness, despising of worldly things, peace, concord, and such like.”

The Obedience of A Christian Man (1528)
Contexte: By grace I understand the favor of God, and also the gifts and working of his Spirit in us; as love, kindness, patience, obedience, mercifulness, despising of worldly things, peace, concord, and such like. If after thou hast heard so many masses, matins, and evensongs, and after thou hast received holy bread, holy water, and the bishop’s blessing, or a cardinal’s or the pope’s, if thou wilt be more kind to thy neighbor, and love him better than before; if thou be more obedient unto thy superiors; more merciful, more ready to forgive wrong; done unto thee, more despisest the world, and more athirst after spiritual things; if after that a priest hath taken orders he be less covetous than before; if a wife, after so many and oft pilgrimages, be more chaste, more obedient unto her husband, more kind to her maids and other servants; if gentlemen, knights, lords, and kings and emperors, after they have said so often daily service with their chaplains, know more of Christ than before, and can better skill to rule their tenants, subjects, and realms christianly than before, and be content with their duties; then do such things increase grace. If not, it is a lie. Whether it be so or no, I report me to experience. If they have any other interpretations of justifying or grace, I pray them to teach it me; for I would gladly learn it.

“Take heed, therefore, wicked prelates, blind leaders of the blind; indurate and obstinate hypocrites, take heed”

Preface to The Practice of Prelates (1531).
Contexte: Take heed, therefore, wicked prelates, blind leaders of the blind; indurate and obstinate hypocrites, take heed …. Ye will be the chiefest in Christ's flock, and yet will not keep one jot of the right way of his doctrine …ye keep thereof almost naught at all, but whatsoever soundeth to make of your bellies, to maintain your honour, whether in the Scripture, or in your own traditions, or in the pope's law, that ye compel the lay-people to observe; violently threatening them with your excommunications and curses, that they shall be damned, body and soul, if they keep them not. And if that help you not, then ye murder them mercilessly with the sword of the temporal powers, whom ye have made so blind that they be ready to slay whom ye command, and will not hear his cause examined, nor give him room to answer for himself.

“Understand therefore, that one thing in the scripture representeth divers things. A serpent figureth Christ in one place, and the devil in another; and a lion doth likewise.”

The Obedience of A Christian Man (1528)
Contexte: Understand therefore, that one thing in the scripture representeth divers things. A serpent figureth Christ in one place, and the devil in another; and a lion doth likewise. Christ by leaven signifieth God’s word in one place; and in another signifieth thereby the traditions of the Pharisees, which soured and altered God’s word for their advantage.

“If God promise riches, the way thereto is poverty. Whom he loveth, him he chasteneth: whom he exalteth, he casteth, down: whom he saveth, he damneth first. He bringeth no man to heaven, except he send him to hell first.”

The Obedience of A Christian Man (1528)
Contexte: If God promise riches, the way thereto is poverty. Whom he loveth, him he chasteneth: whom he exalteth, he casteth, down: whom he saveth, he damneth first. He bringeth no man to heaven, except he send him to hell first. If he promise life, he slayeth first: when he buildeth, he casteth all down first. He is no patcher; he cannot build on another man’s foundation.
He will not work until all be past remedy, and brought unto such a case, that men may see, how that his hand, his power, his mercy, his goodness and truth, hath wrought altogether. He will let no man be partaker with him of his praise and glory. His works are wonderful, and contrary unto man’s works.

“And if that help you not, then ye murder them mercilessly with the sword of the temporal powers, whom ye have made so blind that they be ready to slay whom ye command, and will not hear his cause examined, nor give him room to answer for himself.”

Preface to The Practice of Prelates (1531).
Contexte: Take heed, therefore, wicked prelates, blind leaders of the blind; indurate and obstinate hypocrites, take heed …. Ye will be the chiefest in Christ's flock, and yet will not keep one jot of the right way of his doctrine …ye keep thereof almost naught at all, but whatsoever soundeth to make of your bellies, to maintain your honour, whether in the Scripture, or in your own traditions, or in the pope's law, that ye compel the lay-people to observe; violently threatening them with your excommunications and curses, that they shall be damned, body and soul, if they keep them not. And if that help you not, then ye murder them mercilessly with the sword of the temporal powers, whom ye have made so blind that they be ready to slay whom ye command, and will not hear his cause examined, nor give him room to answer for himself.

“For no man by sprinkling himself with holy water, and with eating holy bread, is more merciful than before, or forgiveth wrong, or becometh at one with his enemy, or is more patient, and less covetous, and so forth; which are the sure tokens of the soul-health.”

The Obedience of A Christian Man (1528)
Contexte: Where no promise of God is, there can be no faith, nor justifying, nor forgiveness of sins: for it is more than madness to look for any thing of God, save that he hath promised. How far he hath promised, so far is he bound to them that believe; and further not. To have a faith, therefore, or a trust in any thing, where God hath not promised, is plain idolatry, and a worshipping of thine own imagination instead of God. Let us see the pith of a ceremony or two, to judge the rest by. In conjuring of holy water, they pray that whosoever be sprinkled therewith may receive health as well of body as of soul: and likewise in making holy bread, and so forth in the conjurations of other ceremonies. Now we see by daily experience, that half their prayer is unheard. For no man receiveth health of body thereby.
No more, of likelihood, do they of soul. Yea, we see also by experience, that no man receiveth health of soul thereby. For no man by sprinkling himself with holy water, and with eating holy bread, is more merciful than before, or forgiveth wrong, or becometh at one with his enemy, or is more patient, and less covetous, and so forth; which are the sure tokens of the soul-health.

“He will not work until all be past remedy, and brought unto such a case, that men may see, how that his hand, his power, his mercy, his goodness and truth, hath wrought altogether.”

The Obedience of A Christian Man (1528)
Contexte: If God promise riches, the way thereto is poverty. Whom he loveth, him he chasteneth: whom he exalteth, he casteth, down: whom he saveth, he damneth first. He bringeth no man to heaven, except he send him to hell first. If he promise life, he slayeth first: when he buildeth, he casteth all down first. He is no patcher; he cannot build on another man’s foundation.
He will not work until all be past remedy, and brought unto such a case, that men may see, how that his hand, his power, his mercy, his goodness and truth, hath wrought altogether. He will let no man be partaker with him of his praise and glory. His works are wonderful, and contrary unto man’s works.

“In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God and the Word was God…”

John 1:1; archaic spelling: In the beginnynge was the worde and the worde was with God: and the worde was God. The same was in the beginnynge with God. All thinges were made by it and with out it was made nothinge that was made. In it was lyfe and the lyfe was ye lyght of men and the lyght shyneth in the darcknes but the darcknes comprehended it not.
Tyndale's translations

“In him we live, move and have our being.”

Acts 17:28; archaic spelling: In him we lyve move and have oure beynge.
Tyndale's translations

“This word church has diverse significations.”

An answer unto sir Thomas More's dialogue (1531).

“He threatened me grievously, and reviled me.”

Tyndale had to appear before the administrator of the Worcester diocese on trumped-up heresy charges. Tyndale later recalled, adding that he had been treated like “a dog.” But there was no evidence to convict Tyndale of heresy.
The Watchtower 1995, 11/15. William Tyndale—A Man of Vision.