The Revision Revised by John William Burgon

(7 User reviews)   2949
By Charlotte Girard Posted on Nov 15, 2025
In Category - Adventure
Burgon, John William, 1813-1888 Burgon, John William, 1813-1888
English
Ever wonder how we got the Bible we read today? John William Burgon's 'The Revision Revised' isn't just a dusty old theological text—it's a detective story about a book. Burgon throws down the gauntlet in the late 1800s, arguing that a major new English translation of the Bible got it dangerously wrong. He claims scholars cut out important verses and changed meanings based on what he saw as flimsy evidence. This book is his fiery, detailed defense of the traditional text. It’s a passionate, one-sided argument that asks a huge question: when you're dealing with a sacred text, how much change is an update, and how much is a betrayal? If you like historical drama or debates about truth, this will grab you.
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Including a Vindication of the Traditional Reading of 1 Timothy III. 16. By John William Burgon, B.D. Dean of Chichester. “Little children,—Keep yourselves from idols.”—1 John v. 21. Dover Publications, Inc. New York 1971 CONTENTS Dedication. Preface. Article I. The New Greek Text. Article II. The New English Version. Article III. Westcott And Hort’s New Textual Theory. Letter To Bishop Ellicott, In Reply To His Pamphlet. Appendix Of Sacred Codices. Index I, of Texts of Scripture,—quoted, discussed, or only referred to in this volume. Index II, of Fathers. Index III, Persons, Places, and Subjects. Footnotes [Transcriber’s Note: This book contains much Greek text, which will not be well-rendered in plain text versions of this E-book. Also, there is much use of Greek characters with a vertical bar across the tops of the letters to indicate abbreviations; because the coding system used in this e-book does not have such an “overline”, they are rendered here with underlines. It also contains some text in Syriac, which is written right-to-left; for the sake of different transcription methods, it is transcribed here in both right-to-left and left-to-rights, so that regardless of the medium of this E-book, one or the other should be readable.] The following is PREBENDARY SCRIVENER’S recently published estimate of the System on which DRS. WESTCOTT AND HORT have constructed their “_Revised Greek Text of the New Testament_” (1881).—That System, the Chairman of the Revising Body (BISHOP ELLICOTT) has entirely adopted (see below, pp. 391 to 397), and made the basis of his Defence of THE REVISERS and their “_New Greek Text._” (1.) “There is little hope for the stability of their imposing structure, if _its foundations have been laid on the sandy ground of ingenious conjecture_. And, since barely the smallest vestige of historical evidence has ever been alleged in support of the views of these accomplished Editors, their teaching must either be received as intuitively true, or _dismissed from our consideration as precarious and even visionary_.” (2.) “DR. HORT’S System _is entirely destitute of historical foundation_.” (3.) “We are compelled to repeat as emphatically as ever our strong conviction that the Hypothesis to whose proof he has devoted so many laborious years, _is destitute not only of historical foundation, but of all probability, resulting from the internal goodness of the Text which its adoption would force upon us_.” (4.) “ ‘We cannot doubt’ (says DR. HORT) ‘that S. Luke xxiii. 34 comes from an extraneous source.’ [_Notes_, p. 68.]—_Nor can we, on our part, doubt_,” (rejoins DR. SCRIVENER,) “_that the System which entails such consequences is hopelessly self-condemned_.” SCRIVENER’S “Plain Introduction,” &c. [ed. 1883]: pp. 531, 537, 542, 604. DEDICATION. To The Right Hon. Viscount Cranbrook, G.C.S.I., &c., &c., &c. MY DEAR LORD CRANBROOK, _Allow me the gratification of dedicating the present Volume to yourself; but for whom—(I reserve the explanation for another day)—it would never have been written._ _This is not, (as you will perceive at a glance,) the Treatise which a few years ago I told you I had in hand; and which, but for the present hindrance, might by this time have been completed. It has however_ grown out _of that other work in the manner explained at the beginning of my Preface. Moreover it contains not a few specimens of the argumentation of which the work in question, when at last it sees the light, will be discovered to be full._ _My one object has been to defeat the mischievous attempt which was made in 1881 to thrust upon this Church and Realm a Revision of the Sacred Text, which—recommended though it be by eminent names—I...

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The Story

This isn't a novel with a plot, but the story it tells is full of conflict. In the 1880s, a group of scholars published the Revised Version (RV) of the New Testament, meant to be a more accurate update to the King James Bible. John William Burgon, a staunch defender of the traditional Greek text behind the KJV, saw this as a disaster. 'The Revision Revised' is his point-by-point takedown. He goes through the changes—words altered, verses shortened, whole passages questioned—and argues, often with great emotion, that the revisors relied on unreliable ancient manuscripts and misguided theories. For Burgon, this wasn't just academic; it was about protecting the very words of scripture from what he believed was corruption.

Why You Should Read It

You should read this not to agree with Burgon (many of his textual arguments have been superseded by later scholarship), but to feel the heat of a foundational debate. His writing is uncompromising and vividly opinionated. Reading it, you get a front-row seat to a moment when people were fighting over the bedrock of their faith. It shows how high the stakes felt. Beyond theology, it's a fascinating look at how we decide what an "authoritative" text is. Burgon forces you to think: Who gets to decide what the original words were? What do we lose—or gain—when we change revered texts?

Final Verdict

This book is perfect for readers curious about Bible translation history, or anyone who enjoys a good, old-fashioned intellectual brawl. It's not a balanced modern analysis—it's a primary source, a passionate manifesto from one side of a huge 19th-century battle. You'll need some patience for his Victorian prose and detailed arguments, but the core drama is timeless. If you've ever wondered why different Bibles have different verses, Burgon's fiery defense is a compelling place to start understanding the conflict.



📜 Public Domain Notice

This is a copyright-free edition. It is available for public use and education.

Ashley Thomas
8 months ago

To be perfectly clear, the emotional weight of the story is balanced perfectly. Exceeded all my expectations.

Oliver Moore
9 months ago

Solid story.

5
5 out of 5 (7 User reviews )

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