Faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ. – Rom. 10:17
When William Tyndale set out to translate the Bible into English, he knew what it could cost him. In his day, the church and the crown had forbidden ordinary people from reading the Scriptures in their own language. But Tyndale couldn’t ignore what God had put on his heart. He wanted every farmer, farmhand, every house servant, every man, woman, and child to know God’s Word for themselves – to read it, hear it, and believe it. For doing that, Tyndale would ultimately be hunted down and executed.
His life reminds us of what the Apostle Paul meant when he wrote, “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news” (Romans 10:15). Tyndale’s feet carried the Gospel across borders and into danger. And because of his faithfulness (and those who came after him), we hold in our hands a Bible we can read freely today.
We don’t worship the Bible, but we do treasure it deeply. For it is the living Word of God – the message that reveals Christ and brings life to all who believe. Yet even today, in some corners of the world, owning a Bible can still mean prison or even death. In other places, people are free to have one but never open it. Millions more can’t read it at all because of illiteracy.
And still, God’s Word finds a way. Faith comes not only from reading and discovering who Jesus is, but from hearing – from the preached, spoken, shared Word of Christ. The Gospel isn’t limited by literacy or location! It breaks through barriers and crosses languages, and finds ears ready to hear.
Tyndale’s sacrifice – and the faithfulness of countless others – remind us how precious this Good News really is. The Word that gives us faith still calls us to carry it, speak it, and live it. Whether it’s shared in secret or preached in the open, it’s still the same message that changes hearts and brings life.
Former Blackout Artist 