It has often been said that the shape of the Christian life is suffering now and glory later. Perhaps we could put it more precisely as: it is only through suffering that we enter glory. William Tyndale understood this. He understood the truth of Acts 14:22, that "...through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God."Tyndale was the man who gave his life to give us the Bible in English. In 1526, for the first time in history, the Bible was translated from the original Greek into English. He then went on to translate much of the Old Testament into English from the Hebrew, as well as revising his translation of the New Testament. Almost all modern English translations of the Bible are hugely dependent upon Tyndale's translation. We are indebted to Tyndale for the English translations that we use today.
However, none of this came without cost for Tyndale. The Roman Catholic church was viciously opposed to Tyndale both for his reformed doctrine and his translation of the Bible, from where his doctrine came. According to official Catholic doctrine the translation of Scripture into the ordinary language of the people was forbidden. In 1524 he had to flee to continental Europe from his homeland in England and spent the rest of his life in exile until he was burned at the stake in 1536. During those years of exile he speaks about ". . . my pains . . . my poverty . . . my exile out of mine natural country, and bitter absence from my friends . . . my hunger, my thirst, my cold, the great danger wherewith I am everywhere encompassed, and finally . . . innumerable other hard and sharp fightings which I endure." Translating the Bible cost Tyndale everything.
Tyndale recognised that this was the shape of the Christian life - suffering now, glory later. Or, to be more precise he knew that we only enter glory through suffering. Why don't I let him speak for himself. Here is what he has to say in his book The Obedience of a Christian Man. The language may be old but the truths are timeless:
A couple of pages later he says:If God promise riches, the way thereto is poverty. Whom he loveth 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 it 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 all together. He will let no man be partaker with him of his praise and glory.
Therefore, "...do not be suprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening. But rejoice insofar as you share Christ's sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed." (1Peter 4:12-13).Let us therefore look diligently whereunto we are called, that we deceive not ourselves. We are called, not to dispute as the pope’s disciples do, but to die with Christ that we may live with him, and to suffer with him that we may reign with him.
Extract from William Tyndale, The Obedience of A Christian Man, edited with an introduction by David Daniell (London: Penguin Books, 2000).
