I began reading the chapter on Tyndale last night and was stunned to learn how lasting his impact on the English language has been. Before he was martyred in 1536, Tyndale himself translated two thirds of the Bible into the English vernacular – the New Testament, the Pentateuch, Joshua to 2 Chronicles, and Jonah. The King James Bible which came 75 years after Tyndale's death is, according to biographer David Daniell, 83% Tyndale's words in the portions that he had translated.
Here's a portion of Piper's biography of Tyndale, pg. 34:
Here is a sampling of the English phrases we owe to Tyndale:
"Let there be light." (Genesis 1:3)
"Am I my brother's keeper?" (Genesis 4:9)
"The Lord bless thee and keep thee. The Lord make his face to shine upon thee and be merciful unto thee. The Lord lift up his countenance upon thee, and give thee peace." (Numbers 6:24-26)
"There were shepherds abiding in the field." (Luke 2:8)
"Blessed are they that mourn for they shall be comforted." (Matthew 5:4)
"Our Father, which art in heaven, hallowed be thy name." (Matthew 6:9)
"The signs of the times" (Matthew 16:3)
"The spirit is willing but the flesh is weak." (Matthew 26:41)
"He went out . . . and wept bitterly." (Matthew 26:75)
"In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God and the Word was God." (John 1:1)
"In him we live, move and have our being." (Acts 17:28)
"A law unto themselves" (Romans 2:14)
"Thou I speak with the tongues of men and of angels" (1 Corinthians 13:1)
"Fight the good fight." (1 Timothy 6:12)
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