PHOENIX FLIES 2026 | That the scripture should come to light

This exhibition celebrates Tyndale’s act by showcasing some of the most significant Bibles ever printed.

Five hundred years ago, a small book printed in Germany was smuggled across the English Channel and changed the English-speaking world forever. Included in that book, the New Testament, were phrases familiar to today’s English speakers, such as “let not your heart be troubled,” “the salt of the earth,” and “fight the good fight.” More important than the poetic language, though, was the theological act of opening the text of the New Testament to the common reader. William Tyndale’s translation of the New Testament, and his subsequent translation of major portions of the Old Testament, was a theological act of defiance. As such, the translation was Tyndale’s attempt to fulfill the bold statement articulated by his inspiration Erasmus of Rotterdam: “Christ wishes His mysteries published as openly as possible.”

This exhibition celebrates Tyndale’s act by showcasing some of the most significant Bibles ever printed. These include the Latin, Greek, and German Bibles that inspired Tyndale and served as his sources, early printings of his English translations, and the major English Bibles that have adopted and adapted his work over the centuries. In addition, the exhibition gathers the few extant sources that tell who Tyndale was, how he accomplished his work, and the many controversies that his English translation set off.

If the event is full, please register for the waitlist to be notified if a spot becomes available.