Inter-Varsity Press

CONTENTS

Preface

INTRODUCTION

Tears of Blood to Bless the World

CHAPTER ONE

William Tyndale

“Always Singing One Note”—A Vernacular Bible: The Cost of Bringing the Bible to England

CHAPTER TWO

John G. Paton

“You Will Be Eaten by Cannibals!”: Courage in the Face of Fierce Opposition

CHAPTER THREE

Adoniram Judson

“How Few There Are Who Die So Hard”: The Cost of Bringing Christ to Burma

CONCLUSION

This Momentary Affliction for Eternal Glory

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------P Pr e f a c e

This is the fifth book in a collection called “The Swans Are Not Silent.” By swans I mean the inspiring lives of faithful Christians in history. They are not silent in the sense that their lives still speak powerfully for our encouragement and guidance.

The terminology of swans not being silent comes from the story of St. Augustine’s retirement as the Bishop of Hippo in North Africa in a.d. 430. He was one of the greatest voices for biblical truth in the history of the Christian church. When Eraclius, his humble successor, preached at the retirement celebration, he said, “The cricket chirps, the swan is silent.”

When I first read that years ago, I said, No, Eraclius, the swans are not silent. They go on speaking. That is, they continue speaking, if someone tells their story and gives them a voice. That is what I am trying to do with these stories—fifteen of them now (three in each book).

One of the most sobering discoveries of my life is that God spreads the life-giving news about Jesus Christ by means of suffering and martyrdom. That’s what the lives of William Tyndale, Adoniram Judson, and John Paton illustrate. They were living—and dying—examples of Colossians 1:24: “I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I am filling up what is lacking in Christ’s afflictions for the sake of his body, that is, the church.”

Afflictions are not merely the result of missionary fruitfulness, but also the means. God has appointed our pain to be part of his powerful display of the glory of Christ. The worth of Jesus in the world shines more brightly in the lives of those who say by their sacrificial lives, “I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ” (Philippians 3:8).

Few things inspire me to live radically for Christ more than the story of those who did. I pray that this will be the effect on you as well. The nations are in desperate need. And Christ is a great Savior.