This is the first episode in our new series exploring William Tyndale’s life, Bible translation, and legacy. Tony Watkins interviews experts in the sixteenth century and the history of the Bible. In this first episode, they explore the history of Bible translation prior to William Tyndale and the cultural context in which he lived and worked.

We’re very grateful for contributions from:

• Bruce Gordon, the Titus Street Professor of Ecclesiastical History at Yale Divinity School, and author of The Bible a Global History
• Alec Ryrie, Professor of the History of Christianity at the University of Durham
• Simon Burton, John Laing Senior Lecturer in Reformation History at the School of Divinity at the University of Edinburgh
• Karl Gunther, historian of the Reformation from the Hamilton School for Classical and Civic Education in the University of Florida

Link to Season 5 of the Tyndale House Podcast on New Testament manuscripts: https://tyndalehouse.com/2025/01/16/s5e1-what-is-a-manuscript-and-why-should-we-study-them/

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This week we have one of our occasional ‘Meet the Scholar’ episodes. Dr Tony Watkins interviews Dr Petra Ratkovics (yes, she did indeed pass her viva!) about her PhD on the influences of Jeremiah in Paul’s theology as well as her plans for the future.

Time stamps:

00:00 Petra is about to submit her thesis!

1:15 Petra’s background

3:10 Why Petra became interested in Theology

4:20 Petra’s PhD topic

7:30 How Petra came to see the links between Jeremiah and Paul’s theology

13:05 Idea of the new covenant and how we can only boast in the Lord

16:25 The Lords presence in the covenant community

22:35 How might this work help the church?

24:45 Petra’s plans for the future, particularly with Hungarian language resources

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We kick off the new year with one of our occasional ‘Meet the Scholar’ episodes, which, this week, features Dr Catherine McDowell, Professor of Old Testament at Palm Beach Atlantic University, in conversation with Dr Tony Watkins. In this episode, Catherine talks about her research into the language of ‘image and likeness’ found in the book of Genesis, and its links to Mesopotamian culture, as well as her forthcoming book on idolatry. 

Catherine’s book The Image of God in the Garden of Eden is published by Eisenbrauns and is available from Amazon and other retailers.

Her forthcoming book on idolatry is part of the Essential Studies in Biblical Theology series published by IVP which can be found here.

0:00 Introduction
0:50 Catherine's current work tracing idolatry through the Bible
1:20 Catherine's motivations for this work
1:50 Catherine’s research into the terms ‘image' and ‘likeness’, particularly in Genesis
6:18 'image and likeness' ideas through the rest of scripture
9:40 links to Mesopotamian culture
12:55 links to Egyptian culture
14:00 how this work links with Catherine’s work on idols
15:45 what does it mean for humans to 'know good and evil'
17:30 the origins of idolatry
21:50 Counters to the theme of idolatry throughout the Bible
24:05 How does this help the church?
27:35 Conclusion

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In the final episode of this Advent series, Tony Watkins talks to Christopher Ash, Writer in Residence at Tyndale House, Cambridge, about Simeon and Anna meeting the baby Jesus and the impact of their words on Mary. This four-part series for Advent is exploring Luke chapters 1 and 2, which are the focus of Christopher’s book of Advent devotions, Repeat the Sounding Joy (The Good Book Company, 2019).

Repeat the Sounding Joy, by Christopher Ash is available from The Good Book Company and other booksellers.

Timings:

00:00 Introduction

01:07 Reading of the passage Luke 2:21-38

3:35 The significance of Jesus’ name

5:18 How does Mary ever manage to get her head around Jesus’ mission?

5:50 The rewarding of long term waiting: Simeon (and Anna)

9:40 Jesus as the consolation of Israel

10:40 Simeon’s prayer, the Psalms and their use in Christian liturgy

13:17 The shadow of the cross

15:30 The rewarding of long term waiting: Anna

16:44 Simeon and Anna as the fixed points in the temple

17:40 A model of long term waiting: Anna

19:15 The significance of Anna’s genealogy

20:25 What can we learn from Simeon and Anna?

24:36 Concluding remarks

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In the third episode of this Advent series, Tony Watkins talks to Christopher Ash, Writer in Residence at Tyndale House, Cambridge, about the arrival of Mary and Joseph in Bethlehem and the Shepherd's visit to the new baby. This four-part series for Advent is exploring Luke chapters 1 and 2, which are the focus of Christopher’s book of Advent devotions, Repeat the Sounding Joy (The Good Book Company, 2019).

Repeat the Sounding Joy, by Christopher Ash is available from The Good Book Company and other booksellers.

Want to explore some of these issues in more depth? Why not check out some of the articles on our website?

Not in that poor lowly stable: https://tyndalehouse.com/2021/12/08/not-in-that-poor-lowly-stable/
Who were the Magi?: https://tyndalehouse.com/resources/christmas-resources/

Time codes
00:00 introduction
0:51 ’Not Old, Not Young, Not Done'
2:10 Misconceptions around Christmas
5:50 why are Joseph and Mary going to Bethlehem?
7:45 the impact of Joseph and Mary being unmarried 
9:05 the shadow of the cross on the nativity
9:55 The shepherds
13:10 Shepherding and Kingship imagery throughout the Bible
14:55 Why does Matthew leave out the Shepherds and Luke leaves the wise men?
16:25 Tension between the two narratives (Matthew and Luke)
17:04 How is the baby a sign to the shepherds?
18:40 The significance of Luke 2:14
22:00 How did Mary understand these things?
25:00 Mary as a model of faith

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In the second episode of this Advent series, Tony Watkins talks to Christopher Ash, Writer in Residence at Tyndale House, Cambridge, about the visit of the angel Gabriel to Mary. This four-part series for Advent is exploring Luke chapters 1 and 2, which are the focus of Christopher’s book of Advent devotions, Repeat the Sounding Joy (The Good Book Company, 2019). 

Repeat the Sounding Joy, by Christopher Ash is available from The Good Book Company and other booksellers.

Christopher Ash is a preacher, teacher, and writer. After working in telecommunications and as a teacher of maths, Christopher studied theology at Oxford, where he was awarded the Denyer and Johnson prize. He was ordained and served as an Assistant Minister in St. Andrew the Great in Cambridge, before leading a church plant to All Saints, Little Shelford, in 1997. In 2004 he and Carolyn moved to London where Christopher served as Director of the Proclamation Trust’s Cornhill Training Course until July 2015.

Christopher and his wife Carolyn have been entrusted with three sons and a daughter (all now grown up) and ten grandchildren. They belong to Cambridge Presbyterian church.

As Writer-in-Residence, Christopher hopes to encourage younger scholars to grow in faithful loving loyalty to Jesus, and to use their gifts to serve the church of Christ. Christopher’s writing mostly focuses on the Psalms. Carolyn serves as Chaplain to the women members of Tyndale House staff.

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In this four-part series for Advent, Tony Watkins talks to Christopher Ash, Writer in Residence at Tyndale House, Cambridge, about Luke chapters 1 and 2. These chapters are the focus of Christopher’s book of Advent devotions, Repeat the Sounding Joy (pub. Good Book Company). In this first episode, Christopher and Tony discuss the birth of John the Baptist.

Repeat the Sounding Joy, by Christopher Ash is available from The Good Book Company and other booksellers.

Christopher Ash is a preacher, teacher, and writer. After working in telecommunications and as a teacher of maths, Christopher studied theology at Oxford, where he was awarded the Denyer and Johnson prize. He was ordained and served as an Assistant Minister in St. Andrew the Great in Cambridge, before leading a church plant to All Saints, Little Shelford, in 1997. In 2004 he moved to London where Christopher served as Director of the Proclamation Trust’s Cornhill Training Course until July 2015.

Christopher and his wife Carolyn have been entrusted with three sons and a daughter (all now grown up) and ten grandchildren. They belong to Cambridge Presbyterian church.

As Writer-in-Residence, Christopher hopes to encourage younger scholars to grow in faithful loving loyalty to Jesus, and to use their gifts to serve the church of Christ. Christopher’s writing mostly focuses on the Psalms.

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Tony Watkins interviews Dr Dirk Jongkind, Vice Principal (Academic) about his new book, ‘Growing in Understanding: Devotions for Christian Academics’ (published by Apollos in 2025).

GROWING IN UNDERSTANDING: DEVOTIONS FOR CHRISTIAN ACADEMICS is available directly from IVP or from your normal bookseller.

Dirk Jongkind is probably best known as editor of the Tyndale House Greek New Testament. However, before he ended up in the academy, Dirk worked in the horticultural sector (together with his wife Marion), growing tropical cut-flowers (Heliconia) in greenhouses in his native country, the Netherlands. He enjoyed this hands-on setting, yet decided to follow his life’s fascination with the history and text of the Bible. He completed a M.A. in Old Testament at Tyndale Theological Seminary (1999, Badhoevedorp, nr. Amsterdam), and moved to the United Kingdom for an M.Phil. in New Testament at Cambridge University, where he also completed a PhD in 2005. At this time he was employed for a brief project at the British Library as part of the preparation of the Codex Sinaiticus Digitisation project.

At Tyndale House, Dirk does research in the transmission of the text of the New Testament which has resulted in the Tyndale House Edition of the Greek New Testament (2017). He also maintains an interest in lexical and grammatical studies. He is an Associate Editor of the Tyndale Bulletin. Working at Tyndale House gives unique opportunities to contribute to the practice and vision of theological education.

He has taught in a wide variety of settings ranging from big conference rooms and university halls to the back rooms of small rural chapels and local village pubs. Dirk is a Fellow of St Edmund’s College and a Member of the Faculty of Divinity.

Apart from explaining the Bible and the many ways in which one passage resonates with others, he also enjoys speaking about how Christians can be good scholars and pursue knowledge and truth without compromising their commitment to faith.

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The second of a two-part interview with Peter Williams, Principal of Tyndale House, Cambridge, and author of 'Can We Trust the Gospels?’. In this episode, Tony Watkins and Peter Williams explore what the Gospels DON’T mention.

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The first of a two-part interview with Peter Williams, Principal of Tyndale House, Cambridge, and author of 'Can We Trust the Gospels'. In this episode, Tony Watkins and Peter Williams explore the evidence found within the Gospels that point to its reliability.

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