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The Tyndale Bible was an illegal translation of portions of the Bible into English, the first high-quality English translation that was based on the ancient Greek.  Though prohibited by King Henry VIII and the Catholic Church, William Tyndale fled England to Germany and secretly completed his translation of the New Testament from Greek into English in 1525 (shortly after Martin Luther translated the Bible into German).  Then Tyndale arranged for the printing of his translation in Germany, and the sale of the printed copies of his English translation to the public in England.

The Tyndale Bible was an illegal translation of portions of the Bible into English, the first high-quality English translation that was based on the ancient Greek.  Though prohibited by King Henry VIII and the Catholic Church, William Tyndale fled England to Germany and secretly completed his translation of the New Testament from Greek into English in 1525 (shortly after Martin Luther translated the Bible into German).  Then Tyndale arranged for the printing of his translation in Germany, and the sale of the printed copies of his English translation to the public in England.

Demand by the public in England was high for this Bible, but the supply was low due to limitations of the printing press and the opposition by the authorities.  Only 15,000 copies could be printed between 1525 and 1530.  High demand and low supply means this:  a high price.  The King and church authorities began buying up copies of this Bible in Europe to keep it out of the hands of the public, but often had to pay the "market price" to buy up the copies.  This money then went to the printers and provided the funds for them to pay for the printing of more Tyndale Bibles.  This effect of supply and demand made it difficult to censor and suppress this Bible.

Demand by the public in England was high for this Bible, but the supply was low due to limitations of the printing press and the opposition by the authorities.  Only 15,000 copies could be printed between 1525 and 1530.  High demand and low supply cause this:  a high price.  The King and church authorities began buying up copies of this Bible in Europe to keep it out of the hands of the public, but often had to pay the "market price" to buy up the copies.  This money then went to the printers and provided the funds for them to pay for the printing of more Tyndale Bibles.  This effect of supply and demand made it difficult to censor and suppress this Bible.

Supply and demand comprise a very powerful force, stronger than any individual or government.  Over time, supply and demand prevail, and ultimately the authorities endorsed the idea of an English translation of the Bible, leading to the printing of the magnificent King James Version less than a century later, in 1611.  But the unstoppable effect of supply and demand did not occur soon enough to help Tyndale himself.  He kept improving his translation of the New Testament (his final version was completed in 1635) and also worked on completing an initial translation of the Old Testament.  But he was captured in Belgium before he could translate all of the Old Testament.  His last words were "Lord, open the king of England's eyes" before he was executed as a heretic in 1536.

Supply and demand comprise a very powerful force, stronger than any individual or government.  Over time, supply and demand prevail, and ultimately the authorities endorsed the idea of an English translation of the Bible, leading to the printing of the magnificent King James Version less than a century later, in 1611.  But the unstoppable effect of supply and demand did not occur soon enough to help Tyndale himself.  He kept improving his translation of the New Testament (his final version was completed in 1635) and also worked on completing an initial translation of the Old Testament.  But he was captured in Belgium before he could translate all of the Old Testament.  His last words were "Lord, open the king of England's eyes" before he was executed as a heretic in 1536.