William Tyndale

The Parable of the Wicked Mammon William Tyndale

In this book William Tyndale, one of the most renowned religious scholars of the Reformation, writes his explanations of justification by faith.

The Parable of the Wicked Mammon is the very first work which carries William Tyndale's name. Selecting chapter sixteen from the Book of Luke as a basis, Tyndale explains crucial differences between emerging Protestant beliefs and the established Catholic system. By choosing this passage, Tyndale is able to explain justification and the fruits of it, thereby highlighting a central motivation behind the ensuing Reformation. The recognizable style and wit of the author is in full display, and his eloquence on religious beliefs persuasive.

Notably, this work sees the author acknowledge for the first time his new translation of the Biblical New Testament. Writing in part to blunt the blame levied upon the Protestant cause as being behind outbreaks of violence in Europe, Tyndale sought to frame his arguments in religious terms. By admitting his translation of the Bible, Tyndale reveals that he is opposed to keeping the scripture out of the hands of the common people.

The reaction to The Parable of the Wicked Mammon in England was swift; the work was banned and copies ordered destroyed by the authorities. Tyndale however continued to write, and became a pivotal figure in the Reformation when King Henry VIII used his famous work - The Obedience of a Christian Man - as a rationale for splitting the Church of England from the Catholic Church.

Tyndale's life and work continues to be a source of inspiration and a subject for study by Christians around the world.