--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: While I am sowing in one place, they…" description: "\"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, t..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/166/william-tyndale-17190_bible_while-i-am-sowing-in-one-place-they-rava_734361.jpg" --- # 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…” quote by William Tyndale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/166/william-tyndale-17190_bible_while-i-am-sowing-in-one-place-they-rava_734361.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/166/william-tyndale-17190_bible_while-i-am-sowing-in-one-place-they-rava_734361.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/166/william-tyndale-17190_bible_while-i-am-sowing-in-one-place-they-rava_734361.jpg) > “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.” [William Tyndale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-tyndale/) ## 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. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Bible](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bible/) [Christian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/christian/) [Christianity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/christianity/) [Christians](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/christians/) [Inspirational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspirational/) [Scriptures](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/scriptures/) ## Related quotes > [Christians take Scriptures out of context to try to justify or to vindicate retreat and cowardice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randall-terry/christians-take-scriptures-out-of-context-to-try-to-justify-or-to/) [Randall Terry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randall-terry/) > [It has been left to the last Christians, or rather to the first Christians fully committed to blaspheming and denying Christianity, to invent a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gilbert-k-chesterton/it-has-been-left-to-the-last-christians-or-rather-to-the-first/) [Gilbert K. Chesterton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gilbert-k-chesterton/) > [The Scriptures sprang out of God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-tyndale/the-scriptures-sprang-out-of-god/) [William Tyndale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-tyndale/) > [Loud speech, profusion of words, and possessing skillfulness in expounding scriptures are merely for the enjoyment of the learned. They do not lead to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adi-shankara/loud-speech-profusion-of-words-and-possessing-skillfulness-in/) [Adi Shankara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adi-shankara/) > [According to scriptures at least I know the Bible states not to make any permanent marks on your body.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-vaughan/according-to-scriptures-at-least-i-know-the-bible-states-not-to-make/) [Bill Vaughan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-vaughan/) > [“It may sound simplistic, but is meant wholeheartedly. We are so privileged to have the Scriptures”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janette-oke/it-may-sound-simplistic-but-is-meant-wholeheartedly-we-are-so/) [Janette Oke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janette-oke/) > [Newspapers today have almost replaced the Bible, the Koran, the Gita and other religious scriptures.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahatma-gandhi/newspapers-today-have-almost-replaced-the-bible-the-koran-the-gita/) [Mahatma Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahatma-gandhi/) > [“The Holy Scriptures are words taught by the Spirit.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lailah-gifty-akita/the-holy-scriptures-are-words-taught-by-the-spirit/) [Lailah Gifty Akita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lailah-gifty-akita/) > [I think that people who study the scriptures get a dimension to their life that nobody else gets and that can’t be gained in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-r-mcconkie/i-think-that-people-who-study-the-scriptures-get-a-dimension-to-their/) [Bruce R. McConkie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-r-mcconkie/) > [The scriptures teach us the ways of the Lord. They answer questions about how to live today. They bring a light and a spirit…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-d-nadauld/the-scriptures-teach-us-the-ways-of-the-lord-they-answer-questions/) [Margaret D. Nadauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-d-nadauld/) > [The scriptures record remarkable accounts of men whose lives changed dramatically, in an instant, as it were: Alma the Younger, Paul on the road…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ezra-taft-benson/the-scriptures-record-remarkable-accounts-of-men-whose-lives-changed/) [Ezra Taft Benson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ezra-taft-benson/) > [“The Holy Bible is the written code of holy teachings.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lailah-gifty-akita/the-holy-bible-is-the-written-code-of-holy-teachings/) [Lailah Gifty Akita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lailah-gifty-akita/) > [“The scriptures do not present us with a series of Christian types to be imitated according to choice; they preach to us in every…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dietrich-bonhoeffer/the-scriptures-do-not-present-us-with-a-series-of-christian-types-to/) [Dietrich Bonhoeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dietrich-bonhoeffer/) > [“Meditation on scriptures is soothing to the soul.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lailah-gifty-akita/meditation-on-scriptures-is-soothing-to-the-soul/) [Lailah Gifty Akita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lailah-gifty-akita/) > [“The Soul (our true Self) has to be experienced, the Soul known through scriptures will not do. Work will not be completed through scriptural…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dada-bhagwan/the-soul-our-true-self-has-to-be-experienced-the-soul-known-through/) [Dada Bhagwan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dada-bhagwan/) ## More by William Tyndale > [My overcoat is worn out my shirts also are worn out. And I ask to be allowed to have a lamp in the evening…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-tyndale/my-overcoat-is-worn-out-my-shirts-also-are-worn-out-and-i-ask-to-be/) [William Tyndale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-tyndale/) > [Let every man of whatsoever craft or occupation he be of... serve his brethren.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-tyndale/let-every-man-of-whatsoever-craft-or-occupation-he-be-of-serve-his/) [William Tyndale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-tyndale/) > [The Law and the Gospel are two keys. The Law is the key that shutteth up all men under condemnation, and the Gospel is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-tyndale/the-law-and-the-gospel-are-two-keys-the-law-is-the-key-that-shutteth/) [William Tyndale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-tyndale/) > [I perceived how that it was impossible to establish the lay people in any truth except the Scripture were plainly laid before their eyes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-tyndale/i-perceived-how-that-it-was-impossible-to-establish-the-lay-people-in/) [William Tyndale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-tyndale/) > [We do not wish to abolish teaching and to make every man his own master, but if the curates will not teach the gospel,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-tyndale/we-do-not-wish-to-abolish-teaching-and-to-make-every-man-his-own/) [William Tyndale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-tyndale/) > [For if God be on our side, what matter maketh it who be against us, be they bishops, cardinals, popes, or whatsoever names they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-tyndale/for-if-god-be-on-our-side-what-matter-maketh-it-who-be-against-us-be/) [William Tyndale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-tyndale/) > [God's goodness is the root of all goodness; and our goodness, if we have any, springs out of His goodness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-tyndale/god-s-goodness-is-the-root-of-all-goodness-and-our-goodness-if-we/) [William Tyndale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-tyndale/) > [“when it was past men's help: then holp God.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-tyndale/when-it-was-past-men-s-help-then-holp-god/) [William Tyndale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-tyndale/) > [We had better be without God's laws than the Pope's.” To which Tyndale passionately responded: “I defy the Pope, and all his laws; and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-tyndale/we-had-better-be-without-god-s-laws-than-the-pope-s-to-which-tyndale/) [William Tyndale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-tyndale/) > [I know divers, and divers men know me, which love me as I do them: yet if I should pray them, when I meet…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-tyndale/i-know-divers-and-divers-men-know-me-which-love-me-as-i-do-them-yet/) [William Tyndale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-tyndale/) > [And as the circumcised in the flesh, and not in the heart, have no part in God's good promises; even so they that be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-tyndale/and-as-the-circumcised-in-the-flesh-and-not-in-the-heart-have-no-part/) [William Tyndale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-tyndale/) > [In the old covenants the people were sprinkled with blood of calves without, in their bodies, to bind them to keep the law; else…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-tyndale/in-the-old-covenants-the-people-were-sprinkled-with-blood-of-calves/) [William Tyndale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-tyndale/) > [I call God to record against the day we shall appear before our Lord Jesus, that I never altered one syllable of God's Word…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-tyndale/i-call-god-to-record-against-the-day-we-shall-appear-before-our-lord/) [William Tyndale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-tyndale/) > [I will cause a boy who drives a plow to know more of the scriptures than the pope.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-tyndale/i-will-cause-a-boy-who-drives-a-plow-to-know-more-of-the-scriptures/) [William Tyndale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-tyndale/) > [Many things there be in the scripture, which have a carnal fulfilling, even there where they be spoken or done; and yet have another…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-tyndale/many-things-there-be-in-the-scripture-which-have-a-carnal-fulfilling/) [William Tyndale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-tyndale/) [Explore all 37 William Tyndale quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-tyndale/) ## More Bible quotes > [I think a new world will arise out of the religious mists when we approach our Bible with the idea that it is not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aiden-wilson-tozer/i-think-a-new-world-will-arise-out-of-the-religious-mists-when-we/) [Aiden Wilson Tozer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aiden-wilson-tozer/) > [From Augustine down, theologians have tried to compel people to accept their special interpretation of the Scripture, and the tortures of the inquisition, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matilda-joslyn-gage/from-augustine-down-theologians-have-tried-to-compel-people-to-accept/) [Matilda Joslyn Gage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matilda-joslyn-gage/) > [“God hates Hell. 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He hates it so much that He was willing to take on human…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evan-minton/god-hates-hell-he-hates-the-idea-of-people-going-there-he-hates-it-so/) [Evan Minton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evan-minton/) > [“The Devil can cite Scripture for his purpose, Sergeant,’ Anthony Payne replied. ‘That is from The Merchant of Venice, but it holds great truth.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-arnold/the-devil-can-cite-scripture-for-his-purpose-sergeant-anthony-payne/) Michael Arnold > [When you put your hand on the Bible, you are saying something much stronger than just telling your peers that you're going to tell…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-greenwood/when-you-put-your-hand-on-the-bible-you-are-saying-something-much/) [Lee Greenwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-greenwood/) > [“Scripture also teaches that human beings are morally responsible creatures”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-a-peterson/scripture-also-teaches-that-human-beings-are-morally-responsible/) Robert A. Peterson > [“The wife of a junior officer cooped up in a horrible canvas partition in steerage for five months wrote: "I had enjoyed much peace…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-taylor/the-wife-of-a-junior-officer-cooped-up-in-a-horrible-canvas-partition/) Stephen Taylor > [O Word of God incarnate . . . 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