While I am sowing in one place, they ravage the field I…
“While I am sowing in one place, they ravage the field I have just left. I cannot be everywhere. If Christians had the Scriptures in their own tongue, they could themselves withstand these sophists: without the Bible it is impossible to establish the laity in the truth. If God give me life, ere many years the ploughboys shall know more of the Scriptures than you do.”
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
Tyndale argues that without scripture in the vernacular, people cannot defend truth against sophistry; spreading the Bible empowers the laity.
In simple terms: Without the Bible in common language, people stay vulnerable to false teachings.
Key Takeaway
Promote scripture translation for public access.
Themes
religion
education
empowerment
truth
language
Mood
determined
hopeful
urgent
Type
theological
motivational
historical
When to use this quote
- church preaching
- education reform
- missionary work
- public debates
- literacy campaigns
Key Concepts
translation
literacy
authority
reformation
Questions to Reflect On
- How does language affect religious authority?
- What barriers exist to widespread scripture access?
A Different Perspective
Translation alone cannot change entrenched power structures without broader social reforms.