Quick Summary
William Tyndale (c. 1494–1536) was the first to translate the New Testament into English directly from Greek and the Pentateuch from Hebrew, defying church authority. His precise, vernacular prose, which coined terms like 'scapegoat' and 'atonement', formed the basis of the King James Bible and shaped modern English. His theological translations, such as rendering 'ekklesia' as 'congregation', challenged Catholic doctrine and promoted a priesthood of all believers.