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T y n da l e H o u s e C A M B R I D G EEquipping the World Church
T y n d a l e H o u s e Equipping the World Church
T oday the most dominant voices in education and the media are
non-Christian and often anti-Christian. Never has it been more urgent to train those who can lead their culture away from secularism and help believers grow in confidence and encourage their faithfulness to Scripture.
The call is for many more servant-hearted
leaders who have spent years deeply
engaged in the study of the Bible in a context
where Christian character is formed. That is
what Tyndale House is all about.
Seventy years ago, when Tyndale House
was founded, there were few evangelical
Bible scholars. Those that did exist were far
less well trained than their counterparts
of other theological persuasions, and had
produced only a handful of reference
tools on the Bible. As a result, evangelical
Christians were ill equipped to express
their convictions regarding the Bible and
sidelined in public life and in education.
Yet today there is a growing band of
highly-trained evangelical Bible scholars
serving the world church – with Tyndale
House having played a substantial role in
bringing that about. But this can only be
the beginning.
It takes 10,000 hours
Author Malcolm Gladwell argues that it
usually takes at least 10,000 hours to master
a field. Tyndale House sees this as the
minimum period of study to develop into a
Bible expert – and is making that possible.
Such experts become able to read the
Bible in its three original languages, are
deeply familiar with other ancient sources
and what modern writers have said about
them, and have a specialist area they know
better than anyone else on the planet.
Tyndale House is not a college, rarely runs
courses, and offers no qualifications. Rather
it is a study centre – based round one of the
world’s finest academic libraries of the Bible
– dedicated to generating Bible experts
in the service of the Church.
Housed amid the buildings of the
University of Cambridge, at any one time
Tyndale House is home for fifty scholars
from all over the world and staying for
between a week and four years. Some are
in the formative years of their PhD. Others
have already written many books and visit
to work on a project.
The outcome is at least ten new Bible
experts released for the global church each
year, along with the continued development
of many others. At the same time we are
making the results of the very best biblical
scholarship easily available for all through
print and the internet.
This means those ultimately impacted by
our scholarship can be counted in millions.
But despite all this progress – and faced with
the ever growing need – we know this is
simply not enough.
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THE wORlD CHURCH URGEnTlY nEEDS MORE EvAnGElICAl BIBlE ExPERTS.
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that is why, with God’s help and yours, we are committed to –
Doubling our in house capacity to have
100 study spaces in our library.
Providing even more active training to
those who are becoming Bible experts.
Expanding our online resources for
the world church.
To do this we need your partnership through
prayer, advocacy, and financial support.
Together we will honour God by seeing his
Church grow and lives and nations changed.
Peter Williams, Warden of Tyndale House
“Tyndale House is a study centre dedicated to generating Bible experts in the service of the Church.”
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“ Without Tyndale House, Haitian churches would have very limited access to solid theological education and leadership development.”
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The churches of poverty-stricken Haiti greatly need leaders who
have an effective theological education. However, this is an immense challenge – due to the limited number of people in the developing world qualified to teach and equip others for ministry.
Making the situation an even larger challenge
is the fact that Haiti often loses its
credentialed leaders to the developed world.
This is why I am so thankful for the
resources of Tyndale House. Indeed, without
it, Haitian church leaders would have very
limited access to solid theological education
and leadership development.
For my part, serving as the President
and Professor of Old Testament at Haiti’s
Emmaus Biblical Seminary, I had quickly
sensed the urgency to earn a PhD in Old
Testament studies as a response to the
need for sound theological education.
This led to me enrolling in a distance
learning programme with St. John’s College
in nottingham, England – allowing me to
pursue a degree without abandoning my
post. This included four weeks at Tyndale
House each year to conduct research in
support of my studies.
In addition, my time at Tyndale House
linked me with many others who share the
Emmaus Biblical Seminary’s commitment to
providing top-quality theological education
to developing nations. This has led to greater
levels of prayer, finance, and practical support
as we train pastors, missionaries, church
planters, evangelists, Bible teachers, and
Christian educators to impact communities,
large and small, across the nation.
Indeed, the contribution of Tyndale House
has served to raise the bar of educational
quality in Haiti to an unprecedented level.
Matt ayars, President and Professor of Old Testament, Emmaus Biblical Seminary of Haiti
T y n d a l e H o u s e Equipping the World Church
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BUIlDInG THE GlOBAl CHURCH BY EqUIPPInG ITS FUTURE TEACHERS AnD PASTORS
BUIlDInG THE GlOBAl CHURCH BY EqUIPPInG ITS FUTURE TEACHERS AnD PASTORS
“A great door for effective work has opened to me.”
1 CorInthIans 16:9
I left my middle-class family in Hong Kong for college in the United States
as a “B+ Christian” – who knew her Bible stories sufficiently well but not much more. My goal was to enter a field that guaranteed a stable career path. God had other plans.
By way of a convoluted route involving six
years of training in civil engineering, seven
working in the family clothing business, and
ten years of schooling at Fuller Theological
Seminary, I became a faculty member at
Palmer Theological Seminary of Eastern
University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
I love working in an evangelical setting that
celebrates diversity among its faculty, staff,
and students – in age, gender, ethnicity,
denominational affiliation and life experiences.
I equally enjoy teaching and writing for people
in the church. My aim is for the Bible to come
alive for the average believer, taking them to
a level of engagement that is intellectually
enlivening and spiritually enriching.
The challenges involved have caused
me to think long and hard about what type
of a biblical scholar I ought to be, and how I
may contribute to the lives I touch. It is here
that Tyndale House and the Tyndale library
has been such a wonderful gift in my
professional development and discipleship.
I came initially five years ago, drawn to the
idea of spending time at a world-renowned
library devoted entirely to my field of study.
now Tyndale House is first on the list when
I plan my summer, having gone from a
nervous first timer to an eager returnee
year after year.
Here I find a respite from the heavy
academic, administrative, and ministerial
demands of the rest of the year. At the same
time the life of the mind is nurtured and
freed to roam. In the quietness of the library,
curiosity and creativity meet.
not only is Tyndale House a haven for
research and study, it is a ministry that
reaches into global congregations. Indeed, it
amazes me to see how much God has already
enabled Tyndale House to do for biblical
scholarship and the global church, given its
present limited resources and facilities.
Dr Diane Chen, Associate Professor of New Testament, Palmer Theological Seminaryof Eastern University
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T y n d a l e H o u s e Equipping the World Church
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“ Tyndale House and the Tyndale Library has been such a wonderful gift in my professional development and discipleship.”
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“ Tyndale House is a community devoted to nurturing both biblical scholarship and those families engaged in pursuing it.”
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BUIlDInG THE GlOBAl CHURCH BY EqUIPPInG ITS FUTURE TEACHERS AnD PASTORS
My expectation, when coming from the United States to Tyndale
House for my Cambridge PhD, was that scholarship would be a largely silent venture. Something to be pursued in the isolation of a desk and books. Emerging only every so often to engage with others.
Instead, outside life interfered in every
way, from financial struggles to unexpected
pregnancies, to housing and health crises.
Had my study desk been anywhere other
than at Tyndale House these would likely
have been enough to bring my PhD to a stop.
But Tyndale House is more than a library
with desks: it is a community devoted to
nurturing both biblical scholarship and those
families engaged in pursuing it.
when my baby arrived Tyndale House did
something unprecedented – by granting me
a desk in the chapel area, where noise was
permissible. I would walk around the chapel
with him, reading while walking, and writing
while he slept on the floor.
At Tyndale House my family experienced
a communal life we’d never known – with a
genuine international dimension. Yanjaa,
from Mongolia, was able to pursue a Masters
degree in Teaching English as a Second
language, though she had never done any
schooling in English. I became her editor at
night, with her when all the children were
in bed. During the day she watched my
children while I taught at the University or
attended seminars.
Eszter from Hungary watched both our
children as her chosen ministry while her
husband studied in the library. Our three
families all sacrificed deeply for each other. In
return we received a depth of friendship and community none of us had dared dream about.
It was this amazing community that
made it possible for me to finish my PhD in
such excellent time - effectively two and a
half years – and then continue as a Junior
Research Fellow at Tyndale House. From
the rich foundation of mutual sacrifice,
commitment to scholarship, and devotion to
family life, I know God has been preparing
me for what is ahead.
Dr elizabeth robar, Junior Research Fellow, Tyndale House
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T y n d a l e H o u s e Equipping the World Church
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“ What proved to be a great mentoring experience was interaction – at tea, coffee and lunch – with readers, some of whom were well-known godly Biblical scholars.”
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HElPInG BIBlE SCHOlARS TO BE THEIR BEST THROUGH TRAInInG, MEnTORInG AnD SUPPORT
“Every scribe who becomes a disciple of the kingdom of heaven is like a man who is master of a house who brings out from his treasure things new and old.”
MattheW 13:52
Having undertaken the initial part of my doctorate in the isolation of
a university library elsewhere, coming to Tyndale House to complete my research was a stark contrast and such an amazing and fruitful experience.
Making a significant difference was the
immediate accessibility of its rich resources
in the library. However, what proved to be a
great mentoring experience was interaction
– at tea, coffee and lunch – with readers,
some of whom were well-known godly
Biblical scholars.
The freedom to share my thoughts with
others in the same boat as myself, writing
their PhD, proved to be a good testing
ground to research ideas and preparing
me for the final viva.
Having personally experienced the
value of the training, mentoring and
support at Tyndale House, when offered the
appointment as its warden I immediately
grasped the opportunity. I had grown to
appreciate the critical role of this amazing
research centre in helping mould the
future generation of godly Biblical scholars.
now I was able to play my part in making
this happen.
There is always the risk that a period of
doctoral studies on the Bible will turn a frog
into a tadpole – all head and no heart. This is
why Tyndale House puts such emphasis on
the spiritual life and community fellowship
– with the weekly chapel services playing a
vital roll.
The effectiveness of this approach can
be seen in that, during my nineteen years
as warden, there was not one failure at
the viva.
More than that, I have seen many who
completed their PhD return for their
sabbatical in order to research, write and
be renewed. Their testimony of the crucial
impact of the fellowship and facilities
provided by Tyndale House speaks for
itself. And they have gone on to play their
part in mentoring those following them in
the pursuit of a PhD.
Indeed, at the annual Tyndale House
Alumni breakfast, alumni often speak of the
critical and formative role Tyndale House
played – not only in securing their doctorate
but in shaping them to equip the rising
generation of pastors and teachers.
Dr Bruce Winter, Tyndale House Warden 1987-2006
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T y n d a l e H o u s e Equipping the World Church
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lETTInG THE ACADEMIC wORlD HEAR An EvAnGElICAl vOICE FOR THE BIBlE
Literally hundreds of commentaries and other Bible study resources, used
on a weekly basis by ministers all over the world, have been written at Tyndale House. More than that, every major modern Protestant Bible translation has been enriched significantly through the input of scholars associated with it.
This may not be obvious, as “Tyndale House”
is not normally inscribed on the covers of
such volumes. But its impact is extensive and
profound as it brings evangelical convictions
to the world of academia.
This is possible because Tyndale House
fosters world-class biblical scholarship,
which deals with some of the most critical
issues for the church in the twenty-first
century. Thus, the work done there is going
to impact the church worldwide for years to
come. Much of it also will be directly and
immediately applicable to church life and
ministry in the next decade.
I know all this from personal experience,
having almost completed my second period
of research leave at Tyndale House.
Throughout this time I have constantly been
struck by the uniqueness of this place, both
in terms of its mission and impact.
In particular, Tyndale House is no ivory
tower producing academic work in isolation
from real life. Here my family and I
experience – and can contribute to – a
unique form of Christian community. It is in
this context that Tyndale House is advancing
the cause of Christ, partnering with scholars
to help the church be better grounded in the
word of God.
I am deeply grateful for the uniqueness
of this place and the impact of its
worldwide ministry.
George h. Guthrie, Benjamin W. Perry Professor of Bible Union University, Jackson, Tennessee
T y n d a l e H o u s e Equipping the World Church
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“ Tyndale House fosters world-class biblical scholarship, which deals with some of the most critical issues for the church today.”
“ The word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.”
heBreWs 4:12 esV
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“ I credit my time at Tyndale House with equipping me to stand firm and clear as an evangelical in my present influential role.”
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SUPPORTInG AnD PROMOTInG A CREDIBlE EvAnGElICAl wORlD vIEw
It was while at Tyndale House that I organised and edited the ‘NIV
Proclamation Bible’ – published by Hodder & Stoughton in 2013. This robust study Bible brings together material contributed by 60 scholars and pastors from four continents – many being those I met through my connection to Tyndale House.
This is just one example of the way the
significant ministry of Tyndale House is
supporting and promoting an evangelical
world view.
It is equally true for me on a personal
basis. I credit the influence and benefit of my
time at Tyndale House with equipping me to
stand firm and clear as an evangelical in my
present and influential role as Director of
Church Society, the senior conservative
evangelical body in the Church of England.
Church Society publishes a theology
journal, magazine, books and has a
comprehensive website. It engages in
politics, both ecclesiastical and national.
And has a say in the appointment of vicars in
125 parishes across the country.
Beyond my leadership of Church Society
I am Adjunct lecturer in Church History at
wales Evangelical School of Theology, and
also the Review Editor of ‘Churchman’, the
international journal of theology. In addition,
my ministry within the Church of England
particularly involves promoting a credible
evangelical theology to the church.
It was while studying for an MPhil in Old
Testament that I first encountered Tyndale
House. I returned when starting my
Cambridge PhD in seventeenth-century
biblical interpretation, with particular
reference to John Owen’s commentary
on Hebrews.
Alongside my studies came the
networking and friendship with other
scholars. I always felt I was working in a
supportive and inspiring community. Plus,
there was the ability to bounce ideas off
people working in different fields, without
which my work would have been the poorer.
like so many others who have shared the
same experience, my much valued time at
Tyndale House has equipped, shaped and
informed me to hold fast and to promote an
evangelical world view – and communicate it
more effectively.
Lee Gatiss, Director of Church Society
“Your word is a lamp for my feet and a light for my path.”
PsaLM 119:105
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T y n d a l e H o u s e Equipping the World Church
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SUPPORTInG THE GlOBAl CHURCH wITH THE SCHOlARSHIP ITS lEADERS nEED
It was with thirty-four years of combined experience, through two
mission organisations, that my wife and I came to Tyndale House. We did so having gathered a large number of colleagues from all over the world, both indigenous ministers and expat missionaries, serving in a variety of fields from evangelism to church planting to leadership training.
This collective experience confirmed that
most are stretched thin just doing the work
of the ministry. Meanwhile, although some
of humanity’s questions are timeless, others
are new and demand new answers.
As C. S. lewis said, “To be ignorant and
simple now – not to be able to meet the
enemies [of the gospel] on their own ground
– would be to throw down our weapons,
and to betray our uneducated brethren who
have, under God, no defense but us against
the intellectual attacks of the heathen.
Good philosophy needs to exist, if for no
other reason, because bad philosophy
needs to be answered.”
My mind goes to those serving God, for
example, in northern Siberia, the savannas of
Kenya and the mountains of Peru. we must
resource these faithful pastors, teachers and
mission personnel in the midst of their busy
and pressured lives. And Tyndale House,
through its senior staff and the readers
there, comprise a premier league think tank
to do so.
For some this will be by spending time
personally at Tyndale House. For my part,
while there, I have learned to think more
critically and with greater intellectual
integrity. I have also been pointed to the
help I need through caches of both print
and online articles and journals.
But there are also those, in large numbers,
for whom time at Tyndale House is not a
possibility. For them it is we, its alumni, who
are part of the answer – even more so as
the Tyndale network grows and knowledge
base spreads.
However, for most, it is about creating
and making available the increasingly rich
resources of the Tyndale House Scripture
Tools for Every Person [STEP] programme.
T y n d a l e H o u s e Equipping the World Church
Bringing them, wherever they are serving
God, the vast treasure of resources to equip
them for their task.
adam richardson, PhD student, Tyndale House
“Always be prepared to make a defence to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you.”
1 Peter 3:15
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“ We must resource these faithful pastors, teachers and mission personnel in the midst of their busy and pressured lives.”
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T y n d a l e H o u s e Equipping the World Church
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In my role training pastors, missionaries, and Bible school teachers worldwide,
I have experienced much joy – but also felt great sorrow.
The joy has come from teaching highly
productive servants of the Church from
every continent. The sorrow has been from
seeing how few Biblical resources many of
these students and ministerial colleagues
have at their disposal.
I’ve always wished that what I can so
easily access at Tyndale House was available
to everyone – including throughout the
Majority world. That’s why, when I heard
this was the plan, I wanted to be part of it.
Tyndale House’s commitment is to build
Scripture Tools for Every Person [STEP]. Put
simply, STEP is an ongoing project to give easy
access to its wealth of resources previously
only available to specialist scholars. Even if
users lack access to reliable internet or
powerful computers, they will receive it on
micro-SD cards able to run on the most
modest of equipment including older
laptops, cheap tablets and smart phones.
I am able to be involved because my
mission agency seconded me. They had
quickly grasped the game-changing potential
of STEP for my students and colleagues in
the many Majority world seminaries and
Bible colleges where I lecture.
I’ve now led a team of volunteers tagging
the English Standard version [ESv] with
codes that link it automatically with the
Greek and Hebrew. I’ve also been developing
a way to automatically tag the Bible in any
language. we already have 280 languages
for which we can provide partial information
about the Hebrew and Greek. Though this is
presently in English, we want to eventually
provide it in everyone’s mother-tongue.
As for the colleagues and students that I
teach, I’ve already introduced hundreds to
some of these tools through the Tyndale
Toolbar. And been thrilled to see them using
this software, searching for the information
they need, and doing in-depth biblical studies
with tools never before in their reach.
I thank God for Tyndale House and its
dedication to the highest levels of biblical
scholarship together with a dogged intention
of making it available everywhere – no
matter how much effort it takes.
Dale a. Brueggemann, STEP Director of Distance learning
EqUIPPInG THE MAJORITY wORlD wITH HIGH-qUAlITY BIBlICAl MATERIAlS THROUGH DIGITAl RESOURCES
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“I’ve always wished what I can access at Tyndale House so easily was available to everyone, including throughout the Majority World.”
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UnDERPInnInG EvAnGElICAl SCHOlARSHIP THROUGH A wORlD-ClASS BIBlICAl RESEARCH lIBRARY
T y n d a l e H o u s e Equipping the World Church
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“ The Tyndale library has provided me with all the resources I could conceivably need to satisfy my research needs.”
I am from Slovakia – where less than 1 per cent of the population are
evangelicals. And, consequently, where evangelical biblical scholarship is on the fringe of the spectrum.
The resulting lack of resources and absence
of a stimulating environment eventually
brought me to Tyndale House. This was to
commence my postgraduate studies at the
University of Cambridge – with a special
interest in the textual criticism and
manuscripts of the Bible.
To my delight, the Tyndale library has
provided me with all the resources I could
conceivably need to satisfy my research
requirements, facilitating all my research
tasks to an incredible degree.
This is hardly surprising as the library
houses one of the world’s most outstanding
collections of academic biblical studies
books and journals. By specialising strictly on
volumes dealing with the biblical text,
interpretation, languages, and historical
background, the library is able to hold
virtually all the important academic titles
within these disciplines.
vital for me was the benefit that all the
books at the library are always available,
enabling me to use my time much more
effectively. I estimate that in six hours at the
Tyndale library I can achieve as much as I
would in one full working day at a university
library where I’d have to chase after all the
books every morning.
Moreover, Tyndale staff are constantly
updating the shelves with the latest titles and
periodicals. Indeed, their attentiveness to my
needs at every possible level is what adds to
making this place an unparalleled marvel.
I must confess that when first coming to
Cambridge I planned, upon completion of my
MPhil, to proceed with a PhD elsewhere.
However, after less than one month at
Tyndale House, I knew beyond doubt that my
heart longed to stay – and, by God’s grace
and provision, I did.
Peter Malik, PhD student, Tyndale House
What is originating in a place of study in the city of Cambridge is now
shaping minds, lives, churches and communities around the world. Indeed, the scholarship flowing from Tyndale House is impacting churches and Christian thinking from humble townships to metro-cities and everything in between.
As the result of seventy years of dedicated work –
• Almost two-thousand Tyndale House alumni
are active in 100 countries, serving in
universities, seminaries and churches.
• Almost three-hundred mother-tongue Bibles
can be accessed through the Tyndale House
online STEP resource.
• There is a growing use of the Tyndale web
resources in 100 countries by some 10,000
online users.
• Millions globally are being enriched by
publications such as the Tyndale Old Testament
and new Testament Commentary series and
the scholarship that has contributed to Bible
translations.
The challenge, in the face of growing need
and opportunities, is now to extend that reach –
through a vibrant and visionary programme
of expansion.
“Do your best to present yourself to
God as one approved, a worker who does not
need to be ashamed and who correctly handles
the word of truth.”2 tIMothy 2.15
CREATInG BIBlE ExPERTS FOR THE wORlD CHURCH
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T y n d a l e H o u s e Equipping the World Church
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ALUMNI ACTIVE IN
COUNTRIES
100 BEING HELPED THROUGH
PUBLICATIONS AND BIBLE
SCHOLARSHIP
Millions
MOTHER-TONGUE BIBLES ACCESSIBLE
300ALMOST
WEB RESOURCES BEING USED By
USERS ON EVERy CONTINENT
10,000
2323
AnAlYSIS OF InCOME & ExPEnDITURE FOR YEAR EnDED 30TH APRIl 2013
InCoMe: £728,263 eXPenDIture: £771,609
1% Other
5% Rental income from library
8% Conferences Publications
1% Governance
3% Fund raising
14% rental income from accommodation
34% restricted income
34% undesignated income
97% Charitable activites
T y n d a l e H o u s e Equipping the World Church
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“Tyndale House is a jewel in the crown of Cambridge, boasting the most comprehensive
biblical research library in the country. So, its planned expansion
is indispensable if it is to be made available to yet more
graduate researchers.”
the reverend Dr John stott
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“The American Christian community in particular has
benefited immeasurably from the work of Tyndale House and holds a
major stake in helping to keep it strong. I urge Americans to stand behind
Tyndale House in every way possible.”
Dr Duane Litfin, President, Wheaton College, Chicago,
Illinois, usa
T y n d a l e H o u s e Equipping the World Church
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“ My five-month stay at Tyndale House in 2006 was an extraordinarily productive time. I loved it. The combination of worship, fellowship over tea and disciplined seclusion surrounded by thousands of relevant books is unlike anything else I have experienced.”
Dr John Piper, Bethlehem Baptist Church, Minneapolis, Minnesota, usa
“ The extraordinary holdings of the Tyndale House Library, reinforced by the assets of the Library of the University of Cambridge, make Tyndale House a superlative place for biblical scholars to engage in serious research and writing. It has been an immeasurable boon to both young and senior scholars in the past; I would like to think its best days are still ahead.”
Dr D a Carson, trinity evangelical Divinity school, Deerfield, Illinois, usa
“ Tyndale House has played a remarkable role in enabling fine scholarship in biblical studies, partly by virtue of its excellent library, partly as a setting for interaction between scholars there. Many important books have been written there and many an important idea first blossomed there.”
Professor richard Bauckham, emeritus Professor of new testament studies, university of st andrews
Tyndale House36 Selwyn GardensCambridgeCB3 9BA
0044 1223 566601www.tyndale.cam.ac.uk
T y n da l e H o u s e C A M B R I D G EEquipping the World Church
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