The Obedience of a Christian Man (Penguin Classics) [Paperback]

William Tyndale (Author), David Scott Daniell (Editor, Contributor)

Book Description

Series: Penguin Classics | Publication Date: October 3, 2000

One of the key foundation books of the English Reformation, "The Obedience of a Christian Man" (1528) makes a radical challenge to the established order of the all-powerful Church of its time. Himself a priest, Tyndale boldly claims that there is just one social structure created by God to which all must be obedient, without the intervention of the rule of the Pope. He argues that Christians cannot be saved simply by performing ceremonies or by hearing the Scriptures in Latin, which most could not understand, and that all should have access to the Bible in their own language - an idea that was then both bold and dangerous. Powerful in thought and theological learning, this is a landmark in religious and political thinking.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

The Obedience of a Christian Man by William Tyndale, a principal translator of the King James Bible, was published in 1528, three years after the first publication of his English translation of the New Testament. Obedience defends the basic goal of his translation, and of the English Reformation that he helped incite: opening direct access for all believers, even the "boy that driveth the plough" to Scripture, the supreme authority of the Church. For reformers such as Tyndale, obedience to Scripture was a revolutionary act requiring complete commitment. Tyndale described this commitment with forcefulness that still reads fresh today:

To preach God's word is too much for half a man. And to minister a temporal kingdom is too much for half a man also. Either other requireth an whole man. One therefore cannot well do both.

The book is a landmark of political thought, expounding another fundamental principle of the English Reformation: that the king is the supreme authority of the state. (Tyndale's ideal of royal authority, however, is determined by Scripture's authority: "The most despised person in his realm is the king's brother and fellow member with him and equal with him in the kingdom of God and Christ.") The Obedience of Christian Man includes much rhetoric about obedience of woman to man that now appears archaic and offensive, but its tough-minded description of the uneasy relationship between power and love is timeless. --Michael Joseph Gross

About the Author

William Tyndale (c1495-1536) produced the first translation of the New Testament from the original Greek rather than the church's Latin version. It was denounced by the English bishops and Tyndale settled in Antwerp. Arrested for heresy and imprisoned in 1535, he was then strangled and burnt at the stake. David Daniell is Emeritus Professor of English at the University of London, author of the authoritative biography of Tyndale (Yale, 1994) and editor of Tyndale's Biblical translations.

Product Details

• Paperback: 272 pages
• Publisher: Penguin Classics (October 3, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0140434771
• ISBN-13: 978-0140434774
• Product Dimensions: 7.6 x 5 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #166,914 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

49 of 49 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Influential remarkable book written almost 500 years ago, December 26, 2002

By 

Mr. R. H. Elliott "roy99" (Ireland) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Obedience of a Christian Man (Penguin Classics) (Paperback)

This remarkable book needs to be set in context, it was written almost 500 years ago, during the brutal persecution of those who believed the simple Gospel and in the absolute authority of "Scripture alone".


William Tyndale, a gifted scholar educated at Oxford and ordained a priest, saw at first hand the widespread corruption within the Roman Catholic Church

Rome held ultimate power, even over the kings and government. The Pope and its bishops believed that they could not err in all matters spiritual. Their core belief was, and still is, that 'Church Tradition' holds equal, if not more authority than the Holy Bible, the infallible, inerrant Word of God.

Rome went to extreme lengths to prevent the ordinary folk from having any independent understanding of the Bible, particularly in what it said regarding, purgatory, confessing sins to a priest, selling of indulgences, praying to Mary, praying to Saints, salvation by works and money payments etc.


In defiance of the Pope's law Tyndale laid the foundation for the English Reformation when he completed the very first (from original Greek) English translation of the New Testament. This translation differed sharply from the Church's official Latin version, particularly as to how six key words were translated.

From the Greek Tyndale translated, "congregation" instead of "church", "elder" instead of "priest", "repentance" instead of "do penance", "love" instead of "charity", "favour" instead of "grace" and "knowledge" instead of "confess".

Tyndale's unique gift cut to the bedrock of Papal authority. Matthew 16 v 18 now read, "That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my congregation". One word, congregation, had at a stroke demolished the Pope's claim to be the head of Christ's Church and brought into sharp focus the contradictions of the Papal system, its customs, its practices, its friars, its priests, its bishops and its Pope.

Taking his cue from Matthew 7 v 15 & 16 he is scathing with righteous indignation when comparing the simple life and Gospel of Jesus Christ the very Son of God with that of the Pope - "Christ's vicar on earth". This unleashed the full might of the Papacy, Tyndale was hunted across Europe, his New Testament translation and books were burnt, as were people caught holding similar beliefs.


In this book Tyndale systematically examines English social and political life; he examines the relationship between church, and state; he sees one social structure created by God and the Christians responsibility within it. He examines the responsibility and obedience of children through to subjects, "what to do if the king, prince or ruler is evil", what to do with "the Popes false power" and how those in positions of responsibility and power ought to rule.

Tyndale writes with authority, he knows his Bible intimately, he has an unshakable confidence in the promises of God's Word and he knows with certainty that Truth will triumph regardless of a bleak situation.

Tyndale's is not an historical faith rooted in an ancient story, nor was it a dead faith; this is a living vibrant feeling faith firmly rooted in the power of the Living Word of God.

Tyndale knew many of his readers would be tortured and burnt; he starts the introduction bringing them comfort. Constantly echoing Scripture, the simplicity of the Gospel and New Testament doctrine he shows how adversity follows Gods chosen people and how God uses this adversity to purify His people, to strengthen their faith and to demonstrate that His grace is sufficient to meet their every need.

This book shows a man driven by one desire and one desire only, the desire that ordinary folk should be able, without fear, to read and understand the Word of God; to know that Salvation is a personal matter, justification is by faith alone in the finished work of our Lord and Savour Jesus Christ and His Redeeming Blood and that the fruits of this faith are good works.

Christian living is a life of service according to the New Testament and not according to the Church. Even in the 21st century this book brings the challenge of the Gospel - do those who claim to be Christian truly know the joy of this vibrant living feeling faith; are the fruits of this faith a life of service and giving?

In May 1535 William Tyndale was caught, interrogated for 16 months, defrocked as a priest and burnt as a heretic.

Today most who read this review will be privileged to enjoy freedom of worship, freedom of conscience, freedom of expression, freedom of the press and freedom from fear; we cannot even contemplate the conditions that Tyndale and his fellow labourers endured. We owe them all a great debt of gratitude for their faith courage and determination.

David Danell has done an excellent job in, modernising the spelling, adding end notes and in his introduction.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars From the Reformation's Genesis, October 21, 2006

By 

Readalots (South Texas, USA) - See all my reviews

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This review is from: The Obedience of a Christian Man (Penguin Classics) (Paperback)

This small book (235 pages of which 26 pages are endnotes) is the second of three texts William Tyndale published in the wake of his 1526 New Testament- the first English Bible. "The Obedience of a Christian Man" ("Obedience") offers considerable early Protestant theology with occasional glimpses into the Reformation as it is happening. "Obedience" is a preeminent primary source.

Much of what contemporary English speaking Protestant Christians assume (God is the source of life, God rules through human leaders, leave a place for Divine vengeance, believing leaders should rule with truth, Christ is the believer's mediator before God, etc.) is originally offered here. Writing from the Reformation's genesis, Tyndale is the first to proffer an English theology.

Editor David Daniell provides a helpful text with this paperback edition (2000). He alters Tyndale's 16th century language slightly for the sake of contemporary learning. Readers are focused by "Obedience's" idioms and practical theological application as well as amused by its various Reform era words (i.e. "volo", "shriven", aneled", "neverthelater", "menpleasers", etc.). These terms are presented with no textual definition and thus help convey the book's 16th century flavor. These idioms do not distract Tyndale's original theological tenants from effective 21st century application.

"Obedience" is somewhat technical and assumes readers' biblical familiarity. Tyndale is replete with Scripture quotes, and illusions. His illustrations are interesting- taken from his 1520s and 30s life as a fugitive from King Henry VIII's sheriffs (William Tyndale was ultimately captured in Belgium and burned as a heretic on October 6, 1536... 470 years ago this month). (Beware, as with all the earliest Protestant Reformers, Tyndale has a pronounced disregard, and verbal dislike, for Roman Catholic clergy and the Pope.) This book is recommended to all 16th century buffs, theology students, church historians, and pastors.

14 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Please get your facts straight - Tyndale deserves that, !, February 12, 2004

By 

B. F. Mooney "biologist" (Mooresville, NC USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Obedience of a Christian Man (Penguin Classics) (Paperback)

No offence, but please check your facts, then write. I am not sure who is referred to as Amazon's reviewer, but he or she or they deserve a raise! As a reader pointed out elsewhere in a review, ". . . Tyndales' words account for 84 per cent of the [KJV]New Testament, and for 75.8 per cent of the [KJV]Old Testament books that he translated." In fact when we read the KJV (more properly, the AV or Authorized version), we are in the main reading the beautiful, soaring word-music of Tyndale, surely one of the most-overlooked great writers of the English language. Anyone who loves the bible in English translation should read Tyndale's translation, especially those who presume (incorrectly) to dismiss him.