Dr. Herbert Samworth
A book review by Dr. Herbert Samworth This is the review of the first of the three books authored by J. F. Mozley and deals with the life of William Tyndale. When the Society for Promotion of Christian Knowledge (SPCK) published the book in 1937 it was the first major biography of Tyndale that appeared since the work of Robert Demaus in the late 19th century. It was not until 1994 that another...
read moreBy Dr. Herbert Samworth In the first article of this series, we sought to answer the question regarding the question of how we can know the Bible is the Word of God. In this article we will attempt to show the evidence that the Bible speaks of itself regarding this question. The question deals with our belief that the Bible is the Word of God. In others words, we have faith that the Scriptures...
read moreBy Dr. Herbert Samworth There is often great stress placed on the importance of reading and studying the Bible. People are exhorted to make daily Bible reading a priority in their lives. All of this is good and we would join in the encouragement of such a practice. However, a person, when beginning a course of Bible reading, is often faced with the question of how can he know that the...
read moreBy Dr. Herbert Samworth J. F. Mozley was the author of three books that are foundational to the history and translation of the English Bible. The first was entitled William Tyndale and was written and published in 1937. This was followed in 1940 by his vindication of John Foxe and his book Acts and Monuments. The third and final book dealt with the work of Miles Coverdale, called Coverdale and...
read moreTYNDALE AND HIS TRACTS – by Dr. Herbert Samworth Before Tyndale departed from Worms, he issued his first tract, exclusive of his translations of the Word of God. It was entitled a Compendious introduction, prologue or preface of Paul to the Romans. This is the first tract that Tyndale authored and although he did not attach his name to it, it was quickly recognized as his work. It was...
read moreTYNDALE IN WORMS – by Dr. Herbert Samworth After their effort to have the New Testament printed in Cologne was frustrated, William Tyndale and William Roye fled up the Rhine River to the city the Worms. Just five years before, Martin Luther had taken his noble stand for the Reformation in that very city. Like much of William Tyndale’s life and deeds, there is a paucity of information...
read moreA Review by Dr. Herbert Samworth I recently had the opportunity to see a film on the life of Sir Thomas More. It was subtitled “A Man for all Seasons.” The film swept the Academy Awards when it was first released over forty years ago. It would be interesting to consider exactly why that subtitle was chosen. It may have been because of More’s varied career as a humanist and social critic,...
read moreTYNDALE IN GERMANY – by Dr. Herbert Samworth If the earlier events of Tyndale’s life can only be sketched in outline, the years after his departure from England in late 1523 or early 1524 provide even more of a puzzle. We know that Tyndale came to the conclusion that he could not translate the Scriptures into English in London or even in England itself. Consequently he left his native...
read moreTYNDALE IN LONDON – by Dr. Herbert Samworth In the rehearsal of William Tyndale’s period of residence in London, we have as many of the original sources as for any time of his life. In his prologue to the books of Moses, published in Antwerp in 1530, Tyndale recounted the events that led him to London. As a result there are many who believe that Tyndale first formulated his plans to...
read moreLITTLE SODBURY MANOR – by Dr. Herbert Samworth The narration of Tyndale’s life has brought us to the year 1521. We are now on firmer ground as regards his activities. In that year he left Cambridge University and returned to his ancestral home – Gloustershire. He became a tutor to the children of Sir John and Lady Anne Walsh at Little Sudbury Manor, their home. Once again, we are...
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Due to the Constitutions of Oxford that passed in 1408 under the direction of Thomas Arundel, the Archbishop of Canterbury, translations of the Bible into English were forbidden. This action was in response to the work of John Wyclif under whose supervision the entire Bible had been translated from the Vulgate into English. For the following one hundred and thirty years, this prohibition would...
read moreTYNDALE AT CAMBRIDGE – by Dr. Herbert Samworth In our first study of Tyndale’s life, we have traced his birth, upbringing, and education at Oxford University. This brought us to the year 1516 and William Tyndale would have been about twenty-two years of age. The activities of Tyndale after the completion of his studies at Oxford are not certain. However, on the authority of John Foxe,...
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