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Electronic Set B

Plot

The late 19th century marked a turning point in biblical criticism. B. F. Westcott and F. J. A. Hort compiled some of the oldest manuscripts of the New Testament. Their compilation has served as the template for almost every modern translation of the Bible. Because of this, people often forget that Westcott and Hort’s critical text faced considerable controversy. John Burgon was one of Westcott and Hort’s fiercest detractors, believing that they sought to “modify” the scriptures according to their various agendas. In his lectures on inspiration and interpretation, Burgon defends the inerrancy of the Textus Receptus, the collection of Greek texts that provided the material for the King James Version and the German Reformation Bible. Today, people associate Burgon’s name with biblical inerrancy as well as the Dean Burgon Society, a leader in the King- James-Only Movement.

Kathleen O’Bannon
CCEL Staff