The October Testament

The October Testament is the combined work of three people:

William Tyndale, 1535: This is Tyndale’s last New Testament as it was taken into the Matthew Bible, completed just before he was captured. In 1536 he was martyred. Few realize that the King James Version relied heavily on Tyndale. Therefore readers will find much that is familiar here.

John Rogers, 1537: A year after Tyndale died, Rogers published his New Testament together with notes and commentaries in the little-known but important Matthew Bible. King Henry VIII then licensed it, and the Matthew Bible was authorized for use in the churches. In 1555 Rogers was burned at the stake by Queen Mary.

Ruth Magnusson Davis, 2016: Now, almost 500 years later, Ruth M. Davis has updated Tyndale’s scriptures and Rogers’ notes with a gentle hand, guarding the historic language and truth of the faith.

As well as the notes and commentaries of the New Testament from the 1537 Matthew Bible, Ruth added some additional treasures. The MB already contained Tyndale’s 1534 prologue to Romans, which Tyndale drew mainly from Martin Luther (so readers may learn his mind also about this “most pure evangelion,” as he called it). But Ruth also added some of Tyndale’s 1534 prologues upon the gospels and epistles along with some marginal notes that Rogers omitted. As well, there are commentaries from Luther, from the great preacher St. Chrysostom, and other jewels.

Why October Testament? The reference to the month of October recalls Martin Luther’s September Testament. Also, because the advent of October signals that the end of a year is approaching, it is a reminder that the year of our Lord is drawing onward to its close.

– Link to sample scriptures
– Link to “reviews”
– Link to “Preface: How Ruth Updated the New Testament”

Version information and to purchase:

Coming from Baruch House Publishing:

1. Kindle edition of the bare scriptures of the October Testament
2. Leather bound version of the original edition