The Traditional Text of the Holy Gospels by John William Burgon

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By Charlotte Girard Posted on Nov 15, 2025
In Category - Philosophy
Burgon, John William, 1813-1888 Burgon, John William, 1813-1888
English
Ever wonder if the Bible you're reading today is exactly what the original authors wrote? That's the explosive question John William Burgon tackles in this 19th-century deep dive. Forget modern debates—Burgon was fighting his own version wars over 150 years ago. He argues passionately that the 'Traditional Text'—the version passed down through centuries of church use—is more trustworthy than the older manuscripts scholars were starting to favor. This book isn't a dry lecture; it's a detective story about faith, evidence, and which ancient clues we should trust. If you've ever been curious about where your Bible came from, this is a fascinating and surprisingly urgent place to start.
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Late Rector of Bucknell, Oxon; Editor of the Fourth Edition of Dr. Scrivener’s “Plain Introduction to the Textual Criticism of the New Testament”; and Author of “A Guide to the Textual Criticism of the New Testament” Πᾶσι Τοῖς Ἁγίοις ἐν Χριστῷ Ἰησοῦ PHIL. i. 1 London George Bell And Sons Cambridge: Deighton, Bell and Co. 1896 CONTENTS Preface. Introduction. Chapter I. Preliminary Grounds. Chapter II. Principles. Chapter III. The Seven Notes Of Truth. Chapter IV. The Vatican And Sinaitic Manuscripts. Chapter V. The Antiquity of the Traditional Text. I. Witness of the Early Fathers. Chapter VI. The Antiquity Of The Traditional Text. II. Witness of the Early Syriac Versions. Chapter VII. The Antiquity Of The Traditional Text. III. Witness of the Western or Syrio-Low-Latin Text. Chapter VIII. Alexandria and Caesarea. Chapter IX. The Old Uncials. The Influence Of Origen. Chapter X. The Old Uncials. Codex D. Chapter XI. The Later Uncials And The Cursives. Chapter XII. Conclusion. Appendix I. Honeycomb—ἀπὸ μελισσίου κηρίου. Appendix II. Ὄξος—Vinegar. Appendix III. The Rich Young Man. Appendix IV. St. Mark i. 1. Appendix V. The Sceptical Character Of B And א. Appendix VI. The Peshitto And Curetonian. Appendix VII. The Last Twelve Verses Of St. Mark’s Gospel. Appendix VIII. New Editions Of The Peshitto-Syriac And The Harkleian-Syriac Versions. General Index. Index II. Passages Of The New Testament Commented On. Footnotes “Tenet ecclesia nostra, tenuitque semper firmam illam et immotam Tertulliani regulam ‘Id verius quod prius, id prius quod ab initio.’ Quo propius ad veritatis fontem accedimus, eo purior decurrit Catholicae doctrinae rivus.”—CAVE’S _Proleg._ p. xliv. “Interrogate de semitis antiquis quae sit via bona, et ambulate in eâ.”—Jerem. vi. 16. “In summa, si constat id verius quod prius, id prius quod ab initio, id ab initio quod ab Apostolis; pariter utique constabit, id esse ab Apostolis traditum, quod apud Ecclesias Apostolorum fuerit sacrosanctum.”—TERTULL. _adv. Marc._ l. iv. c. 5. PREFACE. The death of Dean Burgon in 1888, lamented by a large number of people on the other side of the Atlantic as well as on this, cut him off in the early part of a task for which he had made preparations during more than thirty years. He laid the foundations of his system with much care and caution, discussing it with his friends, such as the late Earl of Selborne to whom he inscribed The Last Twelve Verses, and the present Earl of Cranbrook to whom he dedicated The Revision Revised, for the purpose of sounding the depths of the subject, and of being sure that he was resting upon firm rock. In order to enlarge the general basis of Sacred Textual Criticism, and to treat of the principles of it scientifically and comprehensively, he examined manuscripts widely, making many discoveries at home and in foreign libraries; collated some himself and got many collated by other scholars; encouraged new and critical editions of some of the chief Versions; and above all, he devised and superintended a collection of quotations from the New Testament to be found in the works of the Fathers and in other ecclesiastical writings, going far beyond ordinary indexes, which may be found in sixteen thick volumes amongst the treasures of the British Museum. Various events led him during his life-time to dip into and publish some of his stores, such as in his Last Twelve Verses of St. Mark, his famous Letters to Dr. Scrivener in the _Guardian_ Newspaper, and in The Revision Revised. But he sedulously amassed materials for the greater treatise up to the time of his death. He was then deeply impressed with the incomplete state of his...

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This book isn't a novel, but the story it tells is full of high stakes. In the late 1800s, new, older manuscripts of the Greek New Testament were discovered. Scholars began to argue that these older copies were more accurate, which meant changing some familiar verses in the Gospels. John William Burgon, a scholar and clergyman, saw this as a dangerous mistake. His book is a fierce defense of the 'Traditional Text'—the version used by Christians for centuries—against these newer academic theories. He examines the evidence, questions the reliability of the newly favored manuscripts, and makes a case that tradition and widespread historical use are powerful indicators of truth.

Why You Should Read It

You get to watch a brilliant mind grapple with a fundamental question: What makes a text reliable? Burgon's passion is contagious. He's not a detached academic; he's a believer fighting for what he sees as the integrity of Scripture. Reading him, you feel the weight of the argument. It’s a masterclass in persuasive writing, even if you don't agree with all his conclusions. It also makes you realize that debates about 'original texts' aren't a modern invention—they've been raging for a very long time.

Final Verdict

This is a must-read for anyone interested in the history of the Bible, textual criticism, or 19th-century religious thought. It's perfect for thoughtful Christians who want to understand the foundations of their faith's central text, or for history buffs who enjoy a good intellectual battle. Be warned: it's detailed and scholarly in parts, but Burgon's fiery conviction keeps the pages turning. You won't find a neutral take here—you'll find a powerful, opinionated, and deeply researched argument that continues to echo today.



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Christopher Allen
4 months ago

Thanks for the recommendation.

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