In 1523 William Tyndale asked the bishop of London for permission to translate the New Testament into English. The bishop said no. Tyndale realized the work would not be welcome anywhere in England, so he left. In 1525 in the city of Worms, his New Testament came off the press, the first translation from Greek into English. Copies were smuggled into England. Church and government leaders were furious, and they bought up copies to get them off the streets. Ironically, that money helped fund Tyndale’s next work. He was finally betrayed, and on October 6, 1536, he was executed. John Foxe said he cried out, “Lord, open the King of England’s eyes!” He did not curse his enemies. He prayed for them.
