The Dean Burgon Society Deserves Its Name
TEN REASONS WHY
Pastor D. A. Waite, Th.D., Ph.D.
President, The Dean Burgon Society
Dean John William Burgon
(1813-1888)
DEDICATION
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
FOREWORD
TABLE OF CONTENTS
CHAPTER I AS DEAN BURGON, THE DEAN BURGON SOCIETY IS A DEFENDING SOCIETY
CHAPTER II
AS DEAN BURGON, THE DEAN BURGON SOCIETY IS AN EDUCATIONAL SOCIETY
CHAPTER III
AS DEAN BURGON, THE DEAN BURGON SOCIETY IS AN ADAMANT SOCIETY
CHAPTER IV
AS DEAN BURGON, THE DEAN BURGON SOCIETY IS A NEGLECTED SOCIETY
CHAPTER V
AS DEAN BURGON, THE DEAN BURGON SOCIETY IS A BELIEVING SOCIETY
CHAPTER VI
AS DEAN BURGON, THE DEAN BURGON SOCIETY IS AN UNDAUNTED SOCIETY
CHAPTER VII
AS DEAN BURGON, THE DEAN BURGON SOCIETY IS A RELEVANT SOCIETY
CHAPTER VIII
AS DEAN BURGON, THE DEAN BURGON SOCIETY IS A GROWING SOCIETY
CHAPTER IX
AS DEAN BURGON, THE DEAN BURGON SOCIETY IS AN OBEDIENT SOCIETY
CHAPTER X
AS DEAN BURGON, THE DEAN BURGON SOCIETY IS A NEEDED SOCIETY
CONCLUDING REMARKS
To the many Dean Burgon members, some of whom have been a part of the
Dean Burgon Society since its beginning in November, 1978.
To the DBS Executive Committee members and the DBS Advisory Council
members who have helped in speaking, recruiting, writing, and giving to this cause.
And to the many, who, though they are not DBS members, share in our
position "IN DEFENSE OF TRADITIONAL BIBLE TEXTS."
This is to acknowledge the valuable assistance of Yvonne Sanborn Waite,
Daniel Waite, and Miss Barbara Egan for their careful proofreading of the manuscript and
helpful suggestions.
This book began as a message that was first given at the Calvary Baptist
Church, in Warren, Maine, when Dr. Don Champeon was the Pastor. The occasion was the 12th
Annual Dean Burgon Society Conference. The date was Thursday, May 31, 1990. It is available, as
delivered, either in audio cassette (#1850/5 for a gift of $4.00+S&H) or in
video cassette (#1850/VC2 for a gift of $15.00+S&H). The message has been
available as a 67-page report since that time. This book is the result of scanning that report
of the 1990 message and putting it into the present format with a few additions, subtractions,
and changes as needed.
The present edition gives ten sound reasons why our Dean Burgon Society
deserves its name. These reasons are formed by an acrostic of the ten letters of Dean Burgons
name. The reasons are just as true today, in the year 2001, as they were in 1990. As Dean
Burgon, the Dean Burgon Society is (1) defending, (2) educational, (3) adamant, (4) neglected,
(5) believing, (6) undaunted, (7) relevant, (8) growing, (9) obedient, and (10) needed.
For many years now, almost from its very beginning in 1978, the Dean
Burgon Society has been vilified, misunderstood, criticized, and even slandered for taking to
itself the honored name of Dean John William Burgon (1813-1888). I believe the reason for these
attacks stems from ignorance--ignorance either of the position of Dean Burgon or of the Dean
Burgon Society, or both. It is hoped that this book will help to dispel such ignorance. It is
also hoped that all who read it will agree with these ten reasons which show that the Dean
Burgon Society truly deserves its name!
Pastor D. A. Waite, Th.D., Ph.D.
President, The Dean Burgon Society
March 15, 2001
Proverbs 22:1
"A good name is rather to be chosen
than great riches, . . ."
Ecclesiastes 7:1
A good name is better than precious ointment; . . ."
A. The History Of Our Name 1
B. Two Areas Of Difference 1
1. Specific Work And Ministry 1
2. Doctrinal Basis 1
C. An Acrostic 2
A. The History Of Our Name. The Dean Burgon Society, has borne its name
since its founding, November 3-4, 1978, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Over the course of
years, some critics of our position have questioned the propriety of this designation. Though
not seeking it, controversy dogged the steps of both Dean Burgon and the Dean Burgon Society.
On the bottom of the first page of our Dean Burgon News, we print the following:
"The Dean Burgon Society, Inc. proudly takes its name in honor of
Rev. John William Burgon (1813--1888), the Dean of Chichester in England, whose tireless and
accurate scholarship and contribution in the area of New Testament Textual Criticism; whose
defense of the Traditional Greek New Testament Text against its many enemies; and whose firm
belief in the verbal inspiration and inerrancy of the Bible, we believe, have all been
unsurpassed either before or since his time!"
B. Two Areas of Difference. It might be well at the outset to mention at
least two areas in which the Dean Burgon Society differs from Dean Burgon.
1. Specific Work and Ministry. Our specific work and ministry is not
identical to that of Dean Burgon. Our emphasis is outlined in our "Purpose and
Object" found on pages 8-9 of our "Articles of Faith, Operation, &
Organization." There are 13 specific objectives enumerated which guide the DBS in its
work and ministry. Though we appreciate his guidelines on New Testament textual criticism and
his excellent opposition to the Westcott and Hort-type Greek text, we as a Society have no
intention of entering into the details of textual criticism as did Dean Burgon.
2. Doctrinal Basis. Our doctrinal basis is not identical to that of Dean
Burgon. Our name does not imply we are Anglican in theology. Our "Articles of Faith"
(pp. 2-6) spell out clearly our doctrinal position. In some areas, we are opposed to the tenets
of the Church of England. One example of this would be in the area of "Salvation" (p.
5).
C. An Acrostic. I would suggest "Ten Reasons Why the DBS Deserves
its Name." These ten reasons form an acrostic after the ten letters of the name,
"D-E-A-N---B-U-R-G-O-N."
1. "D"--As
Dean Burgon, The DBS is a Defending
Society.
2. "E"--As
Dean Burgon, The DBS is an Educational Society.
3. "A"--As
Dean Burgon, The DBS is an Adamant
Society.
4. "N"--As
Dean Burgon, The DBS is a Neglected Society.
5. "B"--As
Dean Burgon, The DBS is a Believing
Society.
6. "U"--As
Dean Burgon, The DBS is an Undaunted Society.
7. "R"--As
Dean Burgon, The DBS is a Relevant Society.
8. "G"--As
Dean Burgon, The DBS is a Growing
Society.
9. "O"--As
Dean Burgon, The DBS is an Obedient
Society.
10."N"--As
Dean Burgon, The DBS is a Needed Society.
In the pages that follow, I would like to compare, in these ten respects,
both Dean Burgon and the Dean Burgon Society. In some cases, I will give quotations from Dean Burgon's own words or the words of his biographer.
AS DEAN BURGON, THE DEAN BURGON SOCIETY IS A DEFENDING SOCIETY
A. Dean Burgon Was A DEFENDING Individual.
1. Burgon DEFENDED the Old Testament Masoretic Hebrew Text.
a. Burgon Thought "Tinkering the Hebrew Text" Was "Incredible
Folly." Burgon wrote:
"Pray let us have the Revised Old Testament [of the E.R.V. of
1881] by itself. It ought to contain a great deal well deserving of study, . . . above all
if they have not been guilty of the "Incredible folly of tinkering the Hebrew
Text." [John William Burgon--Late Dean of Chichester--A Biography, Two Volumes,
(Hereafter called "Biography" by Dr. Edward Meyrick Goulburn, Vol. II, p.
241; available as #1619, 801 pages, two volumes, for a GIFT of $40.00+S&H].
b. Burgon Took The Old Testament "Simply on the Authority of the Divine
Master." His biographer wrote:
"As to the authenticity of the supernatural narratives of the Old
Testament, Burgon calls attention to the fact that the most marvellous of these, and those
which have most proved stumbling-blocks, are witnessed to by our Lord and His Apostles; and
that therefore we, as Christians, have no need to trouble ourselves with any independent
consideration of the difficulties involved in them; we take them simply on the authority of
the Divine Master, Who can neither deceive nor be deceived, and Who is sponsor for
them." [Goulburn, Biography, Vol. II, p. 374.]
2. Burgon DEFENDED the New Testament Textus Receptus Greek Text.
First, let me give a brief summary of Burgon's views on the Textus Receptus,
and then follow this with some examples of Burgon's views on the Textus Receptus.
a. Summary Of Dean Burgon's Views On The Textus Receptus. It is
important to see Dean Burgon's complete comments relative to the New Testament Textus Receptus
Greek Text. Here are some of Dean Burgons statements about the Textus Receptus.
(1) The Textus Receptus as it now stands is "quite good enough for all
ordinary purposes." It is "an excellent text as it stands" and the
use of it "will never lead critical students of the Scripture seriously astray."
(2) The Textus Receptus is the "true" text in an estimated
"nine cases out of ten [90%]." If Edward Miller's citation of Burgon's notes in
his Textual Commentary on Matthew 1-14, [#1756 for a gift of $7.00+S&H]
can be taken as a general trend, had Burgon completed his work, following his own guidelines,
this 90% "true" figure for the Textus Receptus would have to be revised upward. The
figure would be either 99.9% or 99.6% in favor of the Textus Receptus for Matthew 1-14, rather
than merely an estimate of 90%! Heres how I arrive at these two figures:
(a) The Textus Receptus 99.6% Accurate. Though Edward Miller made many
changes of his own, there were only 39 changes Miller made which were attributed
to Dean Burgon's notes. There are 140,521 Greek words in the Textus Receptus Greek New
Testament [Cf. Missing in Modern Bibles by Dr. Jack Moorman, p. 41; available as #1726
for a GIFT of $8.00. There are 8,765 Greek words in the Textus Receptus for Matthew 1-14
[Cf. Missing in Modern Bibles, p. 38]. If only 39 words are changed, this is 39
out of 8,765 words, or only 0.4% changes. This means that there is 99.6% agreement in
Millers work with the Textus Receptus where he quotes Dean Burgon. If this were the same
percentage for the entire 140,521 Greek words in the Textus Receptus, it would only mean 0.4% x
140,521 or only a total of 562 words that would be changed in the New Testament. These 39
changes break down as follows: Name spelling only = 5; change in word order only = 2;
spelling only = 15; verb prefix only = 4; article only = 2; and different words = 11.
(b) The Textus Receptus 99.9% Accurate. If the "different words"
are the only major changes to be noted, this would be 11 words out of a possible
8,765 or only 0.12%. This means there is 99.9% agreement in Miller's work with the
Textus Receptus where he quotes Dean Burgon. If this were the same percentage for the entire
140,521 Greek words in the Textus Receptus, it would only mean 0.12% x 140,521 or only a total
of 169 words that would be "different words" in the New Testament. This is indeed a
very, very small number of words, whether 0.4% (562 out of 140,521 words) or 0.12% (169 out of
140,521 words). Dean Burgons percentage of agreement with the Textus Receptus would be very,
very high, whether you take 99.6% (139,959 out of 140,521 words) or 99.9%
(140,352 out of 140,521 words). So what is all the problem?
(3) The Textus Receptus revision in the "many lesser details"
could not be undertaken during Burgon's lifetime because his requirements for the task
could not be fulfilled during that time frame.
(4) The Textus Receptus revision in the "many lesser details" must
be preceded by at least six major, monumental efforts, most of which have not been
fulfilled even in the year 2001 when this book has been written.
(5) The Dean Burgon Society's Position on the Textus Receptus in View of the
Foregoing Is This: Dean Burgon's requirements were fulfilled neither in the Westcott-Hort
Greek text, nor in the Nestle-Aland 26th or 27th edition Greek text, nor in the Hodges-Farstad
so-called "Majority Greek Text." Therefore, the Dean Burgon Society is holding firmly
to the Textus Receptus that underlies the King James Bible until all of Dean Burgon's
prerequisites for revision have been fully met! We do so without apology and without fear of
logical contradiction!
b. Examples Of Dean Burgon's Views On The Textus Receptus.
(1) Burgon Esteemed The "Received Text" to Be "Quite Good
Enough for All Ordinary Purposes. He wrote:
". . . essentially the Received Text is full 1550 years old,--(yes,
and a vast deal older,)--I esteem it quite good enough for all ordinary purposes.
. . ." [Burgon, REVISION REVISED, p. 392; available as #611, 591 pages for
a GIFT of $25.00+S&H]
(2) Burgon Believed The Textus Receptus To Be "An Excellent Text as it
Stands, and That the Use of it Will Never Lead Critical Students of Scripture Seriously
Astray." He wrote:
"Obtained from a variety of sources [that is, the Textus Receptus
or the Traditional Greek Text] this text proves to be essentially the same in all. That it
requires revision in respect of many of its lesser details is undeniable; but it is at least
as certain that it is an excellent text as it stands and that the use of it will never
lead critical students of scripture seriously astray,--which is what no one will venture
to predicate concerning any single critical edition of the N.T. which has been published
since the days of Griesbach, by the disciples of Griesbachs school." [Burgon, Revision
Revised, p. 269].
(3) Burgon Estimated The Textus Receptus to Be the True Text "In Nine
Cases out of Ten." He wrote:
"At least, I will convince every fair person that the truth is what I
say it is--viz. that in nine cases out of ten the commonly Received Text is the true
one." [Goulburn, BIOGRAPHY, Vol. II, p. 278]
For further analysis of this, see section #2, a, (2) above, on page
4.
(4) Burgon Listed Fourteen requirements for any revision of the Textus
Receptus Proving Why In His Day Such A Revision Was Impossible: He wrote:
"Having regard to the Greek text exclusively, we also (strange to
relate) had singled out exactly eight from the members of the New Testament company--[1]
divines of un-doubted orthodoxy, who for their [2] splendid scholarship and [3]
proficiency in the best learning, [4] might (as we humbly think), [5]
under certain safeguards, have been [6] safely entrusted even with the
responsibility of revising the Sacred Text, [7] under the guidance of
Prebendary Scrivener (who among living Englishmen is facile princeps in these pursuits) it is
scarcely anticipated that, [8] when unanimous, such Divines [9]
would ever have materially erred. But then, of course [10] a previous [11]
lifelong familiarity with the science of textual criticism, [12] or at least
leisure for prosecuting it now, for ten or twenty years, [13] with absolutely
undivided attention--would be the indispensable requisite for the success of such an
undertaking; [14] and this, undeniably, is a qualification rather to be
desiderated [that is, "desired"] than looked for at the hands of English
divines of note, in our present day." [Burgon, Revision Revised, pp. 108-9].
(5) Burgon Believed That For an "Authoritative Revision of the Greek
Text" They Were "Not Yet Mature" in His Day. He wrote:
". . . an authoritative revision of the Greek text will have
to precede any future revision of the English of the New Testament. Equally certain is it
that for such an undertaking, we are not yet mature; either in Biblical learning or
Hellenistic scholarship." [Burgon, Revision Revised, pp. 124].
(6) Burgon Demanded at Least Six Prerequisites Before Any Authoritative
Revision of the Textus Receptus Could Be Successfully Completed. Burgon was writing on page
124 of his book, Revision Revised, as quoted in paragraph "(5)" above. After
stating that "for such an undertaking we are not yet mature: either in Biblical
learning or Hellenistic scholarship," Burgon went on to tell why they were
"not yet mature" in his day [1883]. It was for the same reasons, we are not yet
mature in our day either. These six prerequisites rule out the Nestle-Aland Greek Text (ether
the 26th or 27th editions). They also rule out the so-called "Majority Greek Text" of
Hodges and Farstad, published by Nelson as we will show later as well as the "Majority
Greek Text" of Robinson and Pierpont!
(a) Prerequisite #1: We Need at Least "500 More Copies" of the New
Testament "Diligently Collated." Burgon wrote:
"Let 500 more copies. of the Gospels, Acts, and Epistles be
diligently collated." [Burgon, Revision Revised, p. 125].
This has not yet been done!
(b) Prerequisite #2: We Need at Least "100" "Ancient
Lectionaries" "Very Exactly Collated." Burgon wrote:
"Let at least 100 of the ancient Lectionaries be very exactly
collated also." [Burgon, Revision Revised, p.12 5].
This has not yet been done!
(c) Prerequisite #3: We Need, "Above All," the Church
"Fathers" to Yield "Their Precious Secrets" by "Ransacking" Them,
"Indexing" Them, and "Diligently Inspecting" Them. Burgon wrote:
"Above all, let the Fathers, be called upon to give up their precious
secrets. Let their writings be ransacked and indexed, and (where needful) let the MSS. of
their works be diligently inspected in order that we may know what actually is the evidence
they afford." [Burgon, Revision Revised, p. 125].
This has not yet been done!
(d) Prerequisite #4: We Need the "Most Important of the Ancient
Versions" to Be "Edited Afresh" and Let Their "'Languages" Be
"Really Mastered by Englishmen." Burgon Wrote:
"Let the most important of the Ancient Versions be edited afresh, and
let the languages in which these are written be for the first time really mastered by
Englishmen." [Burgon, Revision Revised, p. 125].
This has not yet been done!
(e) Prerequisite #5: We Need "Whatever Unpublished Works of the Ancient
Greek Fathers' to be "Printed." Burgon wrote:
"Nay, let whatever unpublished works of the Ancient Greek Fathers are
anywhere known to exist,--(and not a few precious remains of theirs are lying hid in great
national libraries, both at home and abroad,)--let these be printed. The men could easily be
found: the money, far more easily . . . ." [Burgon, Revision Revised, pp.
125-26].
This has not yet been done!
(f) Prerequisite #6: We Need "For the First Time" the
"Science of Textual Criticism" to Be Prosecuted "In a Scholarlike Manner."
Burgon wrote:
"Yes, and in the meantime--(let it in all faithfulness be added)--the
science of textual criticism will have to be prosecuted for the first time in a scholarlike
manner. Fundamental principles.--sufficiently axiomatic to ensure general acceptance,--will
have to be laid down for mans guidance. . . ." [Burgon, Revision Revised
p.227].
This has not yet been done!
c. Proof That Neither the "Nestle-Aland Greek Text--26th or 27th
Edition" Nor the So-called "Majority Greek Text of Hodges-Farstad" Followed
Burgons Six Prerequisites and Are Therefore Not What Burgon Would Call "Authoritative
Revisions" of the Textus Receptus.
(1) The "Nestle-Aland Greek Text--26th or 27th Edition Refused To
Follow Burgon's Six Prerequisites and Therefore Is Not What Burgon Would Call an
"Authoritative Revision" of the Textus Receptus. If you examine closely the
Nestle-Aland Greek Text--26th or 27th edition--in the Preface, you will find out a
number of things. Using Kurt Alands 1967 totals for extant Greek manuscript evidence, the
edition explains what evidence was used in making up its Greek text. In the first place, there
are about 20 Ancient Versions. This figure is derived from the research of Dr. Jack Moorman in
his Early Manuscripts and the Authorized Version--a Closer Look! [ #1825 for a
gift of $15.00+S&H], pp. 28-48. The total number of Church Fathers who wrote
extensively during the first six centuries was 300, as Burgon has estimated. Here is the
evidence used by Nestle-Aland.
The Nestle-Aland Greek Text--26th Edition
1. Papyrus Fragments-- 81 out of 81 = 100% of the evidence
2. Uncials-- 246 out of 267 = 92% of the evidence
3. Cursives-- 202 out of 2764 = 7% of the evidence
4. Lectionaries-- 5 out of 2143 = 0.23% of the evidence
Total MSS: 534
out of 5,255 = 10% of the MSS evidence
5. Ancient Versions-- 3 out of 20 = 15% of the evidence
6. Church Fathers-- 72 out of 300 = 24% of the evidence
Total Non-MSS: 75 out of 320 = 23% non-MSS evidence
Grand Total: **609 Out of 5,575 = 11% of ALL evidence**
In the above statistics you will notice that Dean Burgons prerequisite #1
was not followed. Prerequisite #2 was not followed. Prerequisite #3 was not followed.
Prerequisite #4 was not followed. Prerequisite #5 was not followed. Prerequisite #6 was not
followed. In fact, Nestle-Aland consistenly follows the false principles of Westcott and Hort.
Because of this, they group all the so-called Byzantine texts as just one witness. They reject
entirely Dean Burgon's methodology in textual criticism. The use of a mere 10% of the
manuscript evidence is also decidedly against Burgon's sound principles. Nothing short of
100% of the evidence must be used for any major revision of the Textus Receptus that underlies
the King James Bible! The same is true of their handling of the non-manuscript evidence of
Ancient Versions and Church Fathers. 23% of that evidence is also woefully defective.
Dean Burgon would demand 100% of the evidence to be used.
(2) The So-called "Majority Greek Text" of Hodges & Farstad
Also Refused to Follow Burgon's Six Prerequisites and Therefore Is Not What Burgon Would Call
an "Authoritative Revision" of the Textus Receptus. If you examine closely the
so-called Majority Greek Text of Hodges and Farstad, in the Preface, you will find out
the following things. Using Kurt Aland's 1967 totals for extant Greek manuscript evidence, the
edition makes use of the following evidence. As I said earlier, there are about 20 Ancient
Versions according to the research of Dr. Jack Moorman in his Early Manuscripts and the
Authorized Version--a Closer Look! [ #1825 for a gift of $15.00+S&H],
pages 28-48. The total number of Church Fathers who wrote extensively during the first six
centuries was 300, as Burgon has estimated. Here is the evidence used by Hodges and Farstad.
The So-Called "Majority Greek Text of Hodges-Farstad"
1. Papyrus Fragments-- 8 out of 81 = 10% of the evidence
2. Uncials-= 4 out of 267 = 1% of the evidence
3. Cursives- 414 out of 2764 = 15% of the evidence
4. Lectionaries-- 0 out of 2143 = 0% of the evidence
Total MSS: 426 out of 5,255 = 8% of the MSS evidence
5. Ancient Versions-- 0 out of 20 = 0% of the evidence
6. Church Fathers-- 0 out of 300 = 0% of the evidence
Total Non-MSS: 0 out of 320 = 0% of the non-MSS evidence*
Grand Total: **426 out of 5,575 = 7% of ALL evidence**
In the above statistics you will notice that Dean Burgons prerequisite #1
was not followed. Prerequisite #2 was not followed. Prerequisite #3 was not followed.
Prerequisite #4 was not followed. Prerequisite #5 was not followed. Prerequisite #6 was not
followed. In fact, the so-called Majority Greek Text of Hodges & Farstad follows the false
principles of Westcott and Hort when they refer to "intrinsic and transcriptional
probabilities" [Preface, p. xxii]. The same is true when they make use of the "genealogical
method" [Preface, p. xii] for John 7:53--8:11 and for the book of Revelation.
The editors refused to follow completely Dean Burgon's methodology in textual criticism. The
use of a mere 8% of the manuscript evidence is also decidedly against Burgon's sound
principles. Nothing short of 100% of the evidence must be used for any major revision of
the Textus Receptus that underlies the King James Bible! The same is true of their handling of
the non-manuscript evidence of Ancient Versions and Church Fathers. 0% of that evidence is
preposterous! Dean Burgon would demand 100% of this evidence to be used.
What right does this so-called "Majority Text" and what right does
the "Majority Text Society" have in claiming they are following Dean John William
Burgon in such a document as this so-called "Majority Greek Text"? To all such people
who are under the false impression that this text, is fulfilling the plan, program, and wishes
of Dean John William Burgon, let them look again at his six prerequisites on pages 6-7
above. Then let them study the above table which shows their use of only 7% of ALL the
evidence rather than 100% of the present evidence which would fulfill every one of the six
prerequisites! Some of those who have this false impression are: (1) Terence Brown (formerly
with the Trinitarian Bible Society [TBS] in London; (2) Andrew Brown (formerly with TBS in
London); (3) Theodore Letis; (4) Wilbur Pickering; (5) The Majority Text Society, and others.
To those who yet have questions about this matter, I would recommend that they order and read
two pamphlets: (1) "Seven Defects in the So-called 'Majority Greek Text'" ( #1448,
for a GIFT of 2/$1.50+&H) and "Why Reject the Majority Text." (
#1727, for a GIFT of 2/$1.50+S&H).
3. Burgon DEFENDED The King James Bible.
a. Burgon Believed the "Men of 1611" Produced "A Work of Real
Genius. He wrote:
". . . the plain fact being that the men of 1611--above all that
William Tyndale 77 years before them--produced a work of real genius; seizing with
generous warmth the meaning and intention of the sacred writers, and perpetually varying the
phrase, as they felt or fancied that Evangelists and Apostles would have varied it, had they
had to express themselves in English: . . ." [Burgon, Revision Revised, p.
167].
b. Burgon Stated That the King James Bible Translators "Understood
Their Craft" and That "The Spirit of Their God Was Mightily upon Them." He
wrote:
"Verily, those men understood their craft! 'There were giants
in those days. As little would they submit to be bound by the new cords of the Philistines as
by their green withes. Upon occasion, they could shake themselves free from either. And why?
For the selfsame reason: viz. Because the Spirit of their God was mightily upon them."
[Burgon, Revision Revised, p. 196].
c. Burgon Considered the King James Bible to Be "The Noblest Literary
Work in the Anglo-Saxon Language. He wrote:
"It may be confidently assumed that no revision of our Authorized
Version however judiciously executed, will ever occupy the place in public esteem which is
actually enjoyed by the work of the translators of 1611,--the noblest literary work in the
Anglo-Saxon language." [Burgon, Revision Revised, p. 113].
d. Burgon Would Not "Entertain for a Moment" the Project of Any
"Rival Translation" to the King James Bible. Burgon wrote:
"But certainly only as a handmaid is it to be desired. As something
intended to supersede our present English Bible we are thoroughly convinced that the project
of a rival translation is not to be entertained for a moment. For ourselves, we
deprecate [disappove of] it entirely." [Burgon, Revision Revised, p.
114].
e. Burgon Thought Any Revision of the King James Bible Should Be in a Way
Like "Marginal Notes" or a Similar Way. He wrote:
"The method of such a performance, whether by marginal notes
or in some other way, we forbear to determine." [Burgon, Revision Revised, p.
114].
f. Burgon Thought of Any Revision of the King James Bible as Only a
"Companion in the Study" for "Private Edification." He wrote:
"To be brief,--As a companion in the study and for private
edification: as a book of reference for critical purposes, especially in respect of
difficult and controverted passages:--we hold that a revised edition of the Authorized
Version of our English Bible, (if executed with consummate ability and
learning,) would at any time be a work of inestimable value." [Burgon, Revision
Revised, p. 113-114].
g. Burgon Was Against Any "Future Revision" of the English New
Testament until an "Authoritative Revision of the Greek Text Had Been Completed. He
wrote:
"Enough has been offered by this time to prove that an
authoritative revision of the Greek Text will have to precede any future revision of the
English of the New Testament." [Burgon, Revision Revised, p. 124].
4. Burgon Defended the Plenary, Verbal Inspiration and Inerrancy of All
Sixty-six Books of the Bible. Before looking at this section of quotations from Dean
Burgon, it must be made clear that when he uses the word, "Bible," or "Holy
Scripture," he is referring to the Hebrew/Aramaic and Greek books, chapters,
verses, words, letters, syllables, jots, and tittles that God breathed out by inspiration
and the various human writers wrote down as they were led by the Holy Spirit. Unless he
makes it clear by the context, he does not refer to any translation of that "Bible,"
whether English, Spanish, French, German, or any other language. You should not be confused on
this point. Dean Burgon has been misunderstood and misquoted in this very crucial point.
Remember, unless otherwise defined, each time Dean Burgon uses the word, "Bible"
or "Holy Scripture," he is referring to the original languages of
Hebrew/Aramaic and Greek.
a. Burgon Held That the Very "Words" of the Bible Were
"Inspired," and "Every Syllable as Well. He wrote:
"But if, instead of the 'theory of verbal inspiration,' I am asked
whether I believe the words of the Bible to be inspired,--I answer, to be sure I do,--every one
of them: and every syllable likewise. Do not you?--Where,--(if it be a fair question,)--Where
do you, in your wisdom stop? The book, you allow is inspired. How about the chapters?
How bout the verses? Do you stop at the verses, and not go on to the words?" [Burgon, Inspiration
and Interpretation, p. 75].
b. Burgon also believed in plenary, verbal inspiration of "every
book" of the Bible. He wrote:
"The Bible (be persuaded) is the very utterance of the Eternal;--as
much God's Word, as if high Heaven were open, and we heard God speaking to us with human
voice. Every book of it is inspired alike; and is inspired entirely." [Burgon,
Inspiration and Interpretation, p. 76]
c. Burgon Denied Any "Inspiration" of Any Kind to the
"Apocryphal Books." He wrote:
"Inspiration is not a difference of degree, but of kind. The
Apocryphal Books are not one atom more inspired than Bacon's Essays." [Burgon,
Inspiration and Interpretation, p. 76].
d. Burgon Believed That Verbal Inspiration of the Bible Extended down to the
"Very Letters." He wrote:
"But the Bible, from the Alpha to the Omega of it, is filled to
overflowing with the Holy Spirit of God: the books of it, and the sentences of it, and the
words of it, and the syllables of it, aye and the very letters of it." [Burgon, Inspiration
and Interpretation, p. 76]
e. Burgon Repeated His Firm Belief in the Verbal "Inspiration" of
"Every 'Jot' and Every Tittle" of the Bible. He wrote:
"Some here present may remember my repeated and unequivocal assertion
that Holy Scripture is inspired from the Alpha to the Omega of it:--not some parts more, some
parts less, but all equally, and all to overflowing;--that we hold it bo be, not generally
inspired but particularly; that we see not how with logical consistency we can avoid
believing the words as well as the sentences of it; the syllables as well as the words; the
letters as well as the syllables; every jot and every tittle of it( to use our
Lords expression,) to be Divinely inspired: . . ." [Burgon, Inspiration and
Inter- pretation, p. 94]
f. Burgon Also Believed in the Inerrancy of the Bible since "No Error
or Blot of Any Kind Could Possibly Exist Within its Pages." He wrote:
"--and further, that until the contrary has been proved, we shall
maintain that no misapprehension or misstatement, no error or blot of any kind, can possibly
exist within its pages:--that we hold the Bible to be as much the Word of God, as if God
spoke to us therein with human lips;--and that, as the very utterance of the Holy Ghost, we
cannot but think that it must be absolute, faultless, unerring, supreme." [Burgon, Inspiration
and Interpretation, p. 94].
g. Burgon Believed That When You "Read the Bible" You must Believe
"That You Are Reading an Inspired Book" Which Is Inspired in Every Part. He
wrote, speaking of students at Oxford University who were studying for the ministry:
"And while you read the Bible, read it believing that you are reading
an inspired book:--not a book inspired in parts only, but a book inspired in every part:--not
a book unequally inspired, but all inspired equally:--not a book generally
inspired,--substance indeed given by the Spirit, the words left to the option of the writers;
but the words of it as well as the matter of it all--all given by God: As it is written,--
Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of
God."' [Burgon, Inspiration and Interpretation, p. 114]
h. Burgon Did Not Believe Preachers Could "Ex- Pound a Text"
Unless They Believed "The Words to Be "Inspired." He wrote:
"How can you [that is, the ministerial students at Oxford
University] pretend to expound a text unless you hold the words of that text to be
inspired? What inferences can you venture to draw from words, the Divinity of which you dare
not affirm?" [Burgon, Inspiration and Interpretation, p. 117]
5. Burgon Defended Against Heresy in His Angli- can Church. Apostasy and
heresy were present in Dean Burgon's day, even as it is in our own day. Burgon was not a man to
be content to sit in silence while apostasy and heresy were permitted within the clergy of his
own Church. He felt the heretics should leave the ministry! He did his best to expose them on
every occasion possible.
a. Burgon Was a "Watch-dog" Who "Barked Furiously" When
Even "The Smallest Danger Threatened the Church or the Faith. Burgon's biographer,
Goulburn, wrote:
"'What a splendid watch-dog he is!' said one in the author's hearing,
after perusing and throwing on the table one of the Burgonian Philippics;--how loud and
furiously he barks when the smallest danger threatens the Church or the Faith which is
entrusted to the Churchs keeping! Yes! It is the business of a watch-dog to bark
furiously, and even to fly at the throat of pilferers and thieves; and of all pilferers and
thieves there are none who more rouse the indignation of honest God-fearing men, than those
who would rob the Church of her faith, and the Christian of his hope, by the gradual
depredations of rationalism." [Goulburn, Biography, Vol. II, p. 67].
b. Burgon "Hit His Opponents Rather Hard" Because the "Words
of Inspiration" Were "Seriously Imperilled." He wrote:
"If, therefore, any do complain that I have sometimes hit my
opponents rather hard, I take leave to point out that to everything there is a season, and
a time to every purpose under the sun: a time to embrace, and a time to be far from
embracing,': a time for speaking smoothly, and a time for speaking sharply. And when the
words of inspiration are seriously imperilled, as now they are, it is scarcely possible for
one who is determined effectually to preserve the Deposit in its integrity, to hit either too
straight or too hard." [Burgon, Revision Revised, pp. vii-viii .]
c. Burgon Thwarted the "Liberal Party" at Oxford University on
"More than One Occasion" by His "Unflinching Conservatism." Goulburn,
Dean Burgons biographer, wrote:
"It is to be wished that it were equally creditable to the government
of the day, who seem to have been terrified out of a most suitable appointment by a few
disparaging words in Parliament, inspired no doubt by the so-called liberal party in the
University [that is, Oxford], who had been thwarted on more than one occasion by
Burgon's stedfast and unflinching conservatism and by his efforts to preserve the connexion
of the University with the Church. This party was for revolutionising Oxford; he for
reforming it indeed, where it needed reform (had not the new Theological School been
established very mainly by his influence?), but always on the old lines." [Goulburn,
Biography, Vol. II, p. 136.]
d. Burgon Preached a Sermon Against the "Dis-establishment of
Religion" in Oxford Which Was Removing Belief in the Thirty-Nine Articles of Faith.
Goulburn wrote:
"'Your University Tests Bill,' . . . 'is but one of a series of
assaults destined to effect an entire separation between the University [that is, Oxford]
and the Church.' . . . 'its effect would be nothing less than the de-Christianizing of the
Colleges of Oxford.' . . . the Tests which it abolished were the subscription to the
Thirty-Nine Articles, and the avowal thereby of membership in the Church of England, which
hitherto every one, on presenting himself for a degree, had been most properly required to
make. This subscription was now required no longer, except in the case of degrees in the
Faculty of Divinity." [Goulburn, Biography, Vol. II, pp. 178-79].
The above quotations about the "University Tests Bill" were taken
from Burgon's sermon on "The Disestablishment of Religion in Oxford, the Betrayal of a
Sacred Trust, preached before the University of Oxford; Nov. 21st, 1880 , . . ." [Goulburn,
Biography, Vol. II, p. 178].
e. Burgon Wrote a Lengthy Criticism of "Essays and Reviews"
Six of Whose Authors Were "Ministers of the Church of England Who Were Making Light of
Their Sacred Profession." He wrote:
"Secondly,--'Essays and Reviews' attracted notice because six of its
authors were ministers of the Church of England. Here were six clergymen openly making light
of their sacred profession, and apparently worse than regardless of their ordination vows."
[Burgon, Inspiration and Interpretation, p. xi].
f. Burgon Agreed with an Infidel's Description of the Apostasy Contained in
the "Essays and Reviews" Which He Refuted. He wrote:
"As an infidel, but certainly in this instance most truthful as well
as able Reviewer, remarked concerning the work in question,--'In their ordinary, if not plain
sense, there has been discarded the Word of God, the creation, the fall, the redemption,
justification, regeneration, and salvation, miracles, inspiration, prophecy, heaven and hell,
eternal punishment and a day of judgment, creeds, liturgies, and articles, the truth of
Jewish history and Gospel narrative, a sense of doubt thrown over even the incarnation, the
resurrection, and ascension, the Divinity of the Second Person, and the Personality of the
Third." [Burgon, Inspiration and Interpretation, p. xi]
This was the nature and the degree of apostasy that Burgon refuted clearly
in the beginning pages of his book, Inspiration and Interpretation. Remember that six of
the seven authors of these Essays and Reviews were members of his own Church of England.
This did not stop him from exposing their theological errors!
g. Burgon "Handled" the Writers of "Essays and Reviews"
Just as "Freely" as They "Handled "Divine Truth. He wrote:
"When critics are clamorous for the 'free handling' of Divine Truth,
they must not be surprised to find themselves freely handled too. If free discussion is to be
the order then let there be free discussion of 'Essays and Reviews,' as well as of the Bible.
Six Clergymen of the Church of England who enter upon a crusade against the Faith of the
Church of England must not be astonished if they are looked upon in the light of immoral
characters and treated as such. Accordingly, I have handled them as freely as they have
handled the Prophets, Apostles, and Evangelists of Christ." [Burgon, Inspira-
tion and Interpretation, p. xxvi].
h. Burgon Identified the Authors of "Essays and Reviews" as
Being Guilty of "Blasphemy," "Irreligion," and "Infidelity."
He wrote:
"Some respectable persons, I doubt not, will think my treatment of
them [that is, the authors of "Essays and Reviews"] harsh and
uncharitable. I invite them to consider that we do not expect blasphemy from Ministers of the
Gospel,--irreligion from teachers of youth,--infidelity from the Professor's chair: nor are
we called upon to tolerate it either." [Burgon, Inspiration and Interpretation,
p. xxiv].
i. Burgon Believed "Essays and Reviews" Sapped the
"Foundation of Faith." He wrote:
"[Referring to Essays and Reviews] . . . a volume, the
confessed tendency of which is to sap the foundation of Faith and to introduce irreligion
with a flood-tide." [Burgon, Inspiration and Interpretation, p. xxiv]
j. Burgon Did Not Think "Punctilious Courtesy" Should Be Practiced
in Denouncing Those Who Handle the Things of God in an Outrageous Manner." He wrote:
"[Burgon was going] mercilessly to uncover their baseness, and
uncompromisingly to denounce it. If I may declare my mind freely, punctilious courtesy in
dealing with such opinions, becomes a species of treason against Him after whose Name we are
called, and whom we profess to serve. Seven men may combine to handle the things of God, it
seems, in the most outrageous manner; while themselves are to be the objects of
consideration, tenderness, respect! I cannot see their title to any consideration at
all." [Burgon, Inspiration and Interpretation, p. xxiv].
k. Burgon Exposed His Church's Clergymen Who Denied the "Fact of Our
Lord's Resurrection" as the Worst Enemies of Christ. He wrote:
"Will men try to persuade us that the idea of our Lord's
resurrection is a more secure basis for the Church's Faith than the fact of our Lord's
resurrection? . . . Not only will I not treat men with tenderness who put forth such
blasphemous folly, . . . but I will hold them up to ridicule, to the very utmost of my power.
Nay, I would make them objects of unqualified reprobation to all, if I could as they deserve,
for they are the worst enemies of the Gospel of Christ." [in his footnote, Burgon
stated: "I have softened the expression originally employed in this place, out of
deference to the opinions of some wise and good men. But I do not think that St. John, (the
Evangelist and Apostle of Dogma,) would have thought my language too strong: nor St. Paul
either."] [Burgon, Inspiration and Interpretation, pp. 248-49].
l. Burgon Urged His Fellow Anglican Clergymen Who Were Heretics to
"Recall Their Words" or "Resign Their Stations." He wrote:
[Speaking of the writers of the Essays and Reviews] "They
must first withdraw from the cause which they have betrayed, cease to profess the teaching
which they have disbelieved, resign their commission in a Church to whose doctrine and
discipline they openly proclaim themselves to be opposed. . . . they cannot imagine,
for a moment, that, as honest men, they can remain where they are! They must either recall
their words or resign their stations." [Burgon, Inspiration and Interpretation,
p. xxviii.]
6. Burgon Defended Against the Heresy of Romanism and "Romanizing
Practices" Within His Church. Some uninformed writers have set forth the absurd and
inaccurate information to the effect that Burgon was in favor of Romanizing tendencies within
his Anglican Church and that he agreed with the Oxford Movement of Pusey and Newman. Nothing
could be further from the truth as these quotations will show very clearly!
a. Burgon "Abhorred" "Romanism." He wrote:
"I see further that if I had a parish in London, I should stand
almost alone.--Romanism I abhor." [Goulburn, Biography, Vol. I, p. 186].
b. Burgon "Condemned Entirely" the Roman Catholic Error of
"Prayer for the Dead." He wrote:
"Prayer for the dead in the sense of a prayer that their ultimate
doom, for weal or for woe, may be reversed--or even mitigated--is a 'fond conceit,' finding
countenance neither in Scripture nor in antiquity. I condemn it entirely." [Goulburn,
Biography, Vol. II, p. 246].
c. Burgon Was Opposed to Either "Ritualism" or "Romanising
Practices" in His Church. Here's a quote from a letter of August 23, 1889, to Burgon's
biographer, Goulburn:
"You ask me about Burgon in Convocation . . . . He brought with him
strongly his dislike to that 'thing called ritualism.' I remember one occasion, on which he
pointed with a distinctness which could not be mistaken, to our encouraging Romanising
practices." [Goulburn, Biography, Vol. II, 77 194.]
d. Burgon Protested Strongly Against a "Florid Ritual" Which Made
"Communion" Similar to the "Roman Mass." Burgon's biographer, Goulburn,
wrote:
"But his letter to the Archbishop was only the precursor of a much
lengthier and more substantial protest, which later in this same year Burgon made against the
introduction into the Church of England of a florid ritual, utterly unauthorised, as he
thought, by the Book of Common Prayer, or rather condemned by it, when fairly and reasonably
interpreted, and the tendency and effect of which was to assimilate the service of the holy
communion as closely as possible to the Roman mass." [Goulburn, Biography,
Vol. II, p. 189].
e. Burgon Opposed "Romanising and Ritualising Tendencies" in His
Church as Well as "Rationalism Which Was Undermining the Faith." Goulburn wrote:
"The close of this year gave Burgon occasion to declare himself as
much opposed to the Romanising and ritualising tendencies in the Church as he had hitherto
showed himself to be to the rationalism which was slowly on all sides undermining the faith,
and dero- gating from the honour and perfection of Gods Holy Word." [Goulburn, Biography,
Vol. II, p. 84.]
f. Burgon Was So Much Against "Romanizing" of His Church That He
Preached Two Sermons Against it in 1873. Goulburn wrote:
"On Wednesday and Thursday, the 1st and 2nd of October, in the year
1873, was held the Oxford Diocesan Conference, the proceedings of which elicited from
Burgon two sermons, preached on the 12th and 19th of the month, and published by him with a
word of Preface dated on the 28th." [Goulburn, Biography, Vol. II, p. 84].
A footnote gives more information on the two sermons. They were entitled:
"The Oxford Diocesan Conference; and Romanizing [sic] Within the Church of England:
two Sermons preached by John W. Burgon, B.D., Vicar of St. Mary the Virgins, Fellow of Oriel
College, and Gresham Lecturer in Divinity." [Goulburn, Biography, Vol. II, p. 84].
g. Burgon Repudiated the Two Resolutions Made by the Oxford Diocesan
Conference Which Furthered the Romanising Movement Within the Church of England."
Goulburn summed up Burgons repudiation of the Conference:
"Burgon explains that to both these resolutions he personally
entertained the strongest repugnance: but he discerns underlying both of them (and there is
no doubt he was right in his discernment) the 'growing impatience of the faithful laity at
the Romanising movement within the Church of England, which is even now making its way in
many quarters unrestrained, and even unrebuked [p. 12]; in the second sermon, taking
up a position directly hostile to many of my personal friends [preface, p. 5]; he
launches out with his usual plain speaking and intrepidity against the Romanising practices
and tenets which were being introduced and inculcated; against the representing tradition as
an unwritten word, of co-ordinate authority with the written [p. 18]; against saint
worship and Mariolatry [p. 19]; against enforced habitual auricular confession [pp.
77] against transubstantiation, and all the observances and ceremonial in connexion with
the Holy Communion which are grouped round transubstantiation, such as vestments, the
eastward position, fasting, communion, and non-communicatingattendance, as well as the
phraseologies unknown to our own Book of Common Prayer, such as high mass and low mass [pp.
22, 23]. . . ." [Goulburn, Biography, Vol. II, p. 85].
h. Burgon Preached Against the "Ritualists" and Various "Romish
Doctrines" Which He Called "Mediaevalism in the Church of England." Goulburn
wrote:
"Burgon preached before the University [of Oxford] his sermon
on 'Nehemiah, a Pattern to Builders' . . . The burning question was the revival of
mediaevalism in the Church of England by the ritualists, their distortion of the proportions
of the Faith by exclusively dwelling upon the doctrine of the Holy Eucharist 'as if it were
the sum and substance of all Divinity,' and their industrious advocacy of the 'Romish
doctrine of confession.' As the 'lighted candles and incense and birettas, and the use of the
chasuble,--Burgon 'cannot away with them;--'the masculine vigour which the severe study of
Scripture imparts to a well trained mind must produce a recoil from all such trumpetry, an
utter revulsion of mind. It was the old, old story which he had heard so often
before,--that the Bible, studied as a whole furnishes the sufficient refutation of all
religious error, whether ritualistic or rationalistic." [Goulburn, Biography,
Vol. II, pp. 160-161]
7. Burgon Defended Against the Errors of the English Revised Version of 1881
and the Underlying Greek Text. He wrote an entire book entitled Revision Revised,
one third of which pointed out the many, many errors of the English Revised Version of 1881
itself, and two thirds of which repudiated both the Greek Text and the theory behind the Text
that underlay it. Just two quotes will suffice for our purposes here.
a. Burgon Believed the ERV's "Revision of the Sacred Text" Was
"Untrustworthy from Beginning to End." He wrote:
"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 am thoroughly convinced, and am able to
prove, is untrustworthy from beginning to end. The reason is plain. It has been constructed
throughout on an utterly erroneous hypothesis." [Burgon, Revision Revised,
pp. v-vi].
b. Burgon Felt He Had "Crushed the Revised Version" of 1881 So it
Would "Never Lift up its Head Again." He wrote:
"One thing, however,' he continued after a short pause, 'is a
consolatory reflexion, that I have been enabled to crush the Revised Version of the New
Testament, so that I believe it will never lift up its head again." [Goulburn, Biography,
Vol. II, p. 291]
B. As Dean Burgon, the Dean Burgon Society Is a Defending Society.
1. The Dean Burgon Society Motto Is "In Defense of Traditional Bible
Texts." The very motto which appears on our Dean Burgon Society seal shows that we are
definitely a Defending Society.
2. As Dean Burgon, the Dean Burgon Society Defends the "Masoretic
Hebrew Text." The Dean Burgon Society "Articles of Faith, Operation &
Organization" state clearly:
"We believe that the texts which are the closest to the original
autographs of the Bible are the Traditional Masoretic Hebrew Text for the Old Testament, . .
." [DBS Articles of Faith, p. 2]
3. As Dean Burgon, the Dean Burgon Society Defends the "Textus Receptus."
The DBS "Articles of Faith" state:
"We believe that the texts which are the closest to the original
autographs of the Bible are the . . Traditional Greek Text for the New Testament underlying
the King James Version (as found in The Greek Text Underlying The English Authorized
Version of 1611' as published by the Trinitarian Bible Society in 1976)." [DBS
Articles of Faith, pp. 2-3].
4. As Dean Burgon, the DBS Defends the King James Bible. The DBS "Articles
of Faith states:
"We believe that the King James Version or Authorized Version of the
English Bible is a true, faithful, and accurate translation of these two providentially
preserved texts, which in our time has no equal among all of the other English Translations.
The translators did such a fine job in their translation task that we can without apology
hold up the Authorized Version of 1611 and say, 'This is the Word of God!' while at the same
time realizing that, in some verses, we must go back to the underlying original language
Texts for complete clarity, and also compare Scripture with Scripture." "We believe
that all the verses in the King James Version belong in the Old and the New Testaments
because they represent words we believe were in the original texts, although there might be
other renderings from the original languages which could also be acceptable to us today. For
an exhaustive study of any of the words or verses in the Bible, we urge the student to return
directly to the Traditional Masoretic Hebrew Text and the Traditional Received Greek Text
rather than to any other translation for help." [DBS Articles of Faith, p.
3].
5. As Dean Burgon, the DBS Defends the Plenary, Verbal Inspiration and
Inerrancy of All Sixty-six Books of the Bible. The DBS "Articles of Faith"
state:
"We believe in the plenary verbal divine inspiration of the sixty-six
canonical books of the Old and the New Testaments (from Genesis to Revelation) in the
original languages and their consequent infallibility and inerrancy in all matters of which
they speak (2 Timothy 3:16-17; 2 Peter 1:21; 1 Thessalonians 2:13). The books known as the
Apocrypha, however, are not the Inspired Word of God in any sense whatsoever." [DBS Articles
of Faith, p. ]
6. As Dean Burgon, the DBS Defends Against the Heresy of Romanism. The
DBS Articles of Faith do not have any specific statement concerning "Romanism"
as such, but throughout these "Articles," the heresy of Romanism is precluded.
[Cf. DBS Articles of Faith, pp. 2-6].
7. As Dean Burgon, the DBS Defends Against Westcott and Hort's Greek Text.
The Dean Burgon Society's Articles of Faith lists 13 "objects." Object #4
states:
"4. To defend the Traditional Received Greek Text which underlies the
King James Version (as found in The Greek Text Underlying The English Authorized Version
of 1611' as published by the Trinitarian Bible Society in 1976." [DBS Articles of
Faith, p. 7].
This rules out "Westcott and Hort's" Greek text. Object #6 states:
"6. To expose and publicize the defects, deficiencies, errors, and
mistakes both in the texts used and in the translation process and results of any and all
modern translations of the Bible, whether in English, or in other languages, which are not
based on the Traditional Masoretic Hebrew Text and Traditional Received Greek Text which
underlie the King James Version." [DBS Articles of Faith, p. 71].
Again, this rules out the "Westcott and Hort's" Greek Text. Object
#7 states in part:
". . . Further, it shall be our purpose to keep abreast of future
bibliographic offerings in order to criticize and warn against those deviating from the
Traditional Masoretic Hebrew Text and the Traditional Received Text which underlie the King
James Version." [DBS Articles of Faith, p. 7].
This also discards "Westcott and Hort's" Greek text.
8. As Dean Burgon, the DBS Defends Against the English Revised Version of
1881. Object #6 speaks to this:
"6. To expose and publicize the defects, deficiencies, errors, and
mistakes both in the texts used and in the translation process and results of any and all
modern translations of the Bible, whether in English, or in other languages, which are not
based on the Traditional Masoretic Hebrew Text and Traditional Received Greek Texts which
Underlie the King James Version." [DBS Articles of Faith, p. 7].
Object #5 states:
"5. To defend the Traditional English Translation of the Bible--the
King James Version (or Authorized Version)--as a true, faithful, and accurate translation
from the underlying original Texts which have been providentially preserved for us, which
Translation has no equal in our time among all of the other English translations."
[DBS Articles of Faith, p. 7]
This certainly includes the English Revised Version (ERV) as being inferior
to the King James Bible.
AS DEAN BURGON, THE DEAN BURGON SOCIETY IS AN EDUCATIONAL SOCIETY
A. Dean Burgon Was An EDUCATIONAL Individual.
1. Burgon EDUCATED By Writing His Many Books On The Traditional Text.
Dean Burgon's books on the Traditional Greek Text which have been re-printed by the Dean Burgon
Society are five in number: (1) The Revision Revised (#611 for a GIFT of
$25.00 +S&H); (2) Inspiration and Interpretation (#1220 for a GIFT of $25.00+S&H);
(3) The Last Twelve Verses of Mark (#1139 for a GIFT of $15.00+S&H);
(4) The Traditional Text of the Holy Gospels (#1159 for a GIFT of $16.00+S&H);
and (5) Causes of Corruption of the Holy Gospels (#1160 for a GIFT of $15.00+S&H).
These are powerful EDUCATIONAL tools which should be owned and read by everyone!
2. Burgon EDUCATED By Training Men For The Ministry. Burgon was greatly
used in his day in the preparation and training of what we call today, "preacher
boys," in his own denomination. He held a post at Oxford University for many years as well
as being an active Pastor. The last half of his book, Inspiration and Interpretation, is
a series of lectures about the Word of God to young men at Oxford who were studying for the
ministry.
B. As DEAN BURGON. The DEAN BURGON SOCIETY Is An EDUCATIONAL Society.
1. The Dean Burgon Society EDUCATES By Its DBS News. Since its
founding in 1978, the Dean Burgon Society has published from time to time the Dean Burgon
News. This is an educational venture, going to many individuals, pastors, and school
libraries.
2. The Dean Burgon Society EDUCATES by its Printed Pamphlets. Through
the years of its existence, the DBS has published the following pamphlets and/or booklets: (1) The
Articles of Faith, Operation & Organization (#958, 16 pp.); (2) Bible
Preservation (#1389, 8 pp.); (3) Defects in the So-called "Majority"
Greek Text (#1448, 16 pp.); (4) Defects in the New King James Version (#1465,
28 pp.); (5) The K.J.V. 1611 Compared to the Present K.J.V. (#1495, 12 pp.); (6)
Defects in the New American Standard Version (#1518, 38 pp.); (7) How We Got Our
Bible (#1562, 38 pp.); (8) Why Reject the "Majority Text" (#1727,
16 pp.); (9) Awana Churches--Keep Using the 'Old King James (#1738, 40 pp.);
(10) Awanas Errors in Leaving Their King James Bible Stand (#1823, 24 pp.);
and (11) Defects in the New International Version (#2054, 38 pp.). These are all
available from the Dean Burgon Society for the asking. Gifts would be appreciated.
3. The Dean Burgon Society EDUCATES By Its Annual Meetings On Audio And
Video Cassettes and Message Book. Each year, during our Dean Burgon Society annual
meetings, the messages are recorded on both audio and video cassettes, and are made available
to anyone who wants to hear and/or see them. Most of these messages are then compiled into an
annual DBS Message Book. This is certainly an EDUCATIONAL ministry. We do get requests
for the tapes, videos, and Message Book each year so that people can learn from the DBS
messages.
4. The Dean Burgon Society EDUCATES By Its "Articles of Faith."
The Dean Burgon Society's ARTICLES OF FAITH, OPERATION & ORGANIZATION is an
educational pamphlet in and of itself. It gives information about the DBS such as: (1) Our
Name; (2) Our Articles of Faith on (a) The Bible; (b) The Trinity; (c) The Person Of
Christ; (d) The Birth of Christ; (e) The Death of Christ; (f) The Resurrection Of Christ; (g)
Salvation; (h) Heaven and Hell; (i) Spiritual Unity; (j) Purity of the Church; (k) Separation;
(1) Creation; (3) Our Purpose and Object, including 13 different Objects; (4) Our Membership;
(5) Our Officers and Administration, including (a) Titled Officers; (b) Executive Committee
Officers; (6) Our Finances; (7) Our Parliamentary Authority; (8) Our Meetings; (9) Our Prayer
and Praise; (10) Our Tax-Exempt Provisions and the Dissolution of the Society; and (11) Our
Amendments. This is Educational throughout.
5. The Dean Burgon Society EDUCATES By Making Over 1,000 Titles Available In
Defense of the King James Bible And Its Underlying Texts. As of this writing, there are a
total of over 1,000 titles available through the Dean Burgon Society and/or the Bible for Today
defending both the King James Bible and its underlying Hebrew and Greek Texts. These consist of
books (both old reprints, and current volumes), articles, pamphlets, tracts, audio cassettes,
and video cassettes. Certainly this is EDUCATIONAL.
AS DEAN BURGON, THE DEAN BURGON SOCIETY IS AN ADAMANT SOCIETY
A. Dean Burgon Was An ADAMANT Individual.
1. Burgon was ADAMANT In His Refusal to Compromise in General.
a. Burgon Refused to Compromise In General By Sticking to His Colours.
Goulburn
quoted from Dean Burgon's letter to a young fellow student. He wrote:
"Anyhow, our course is clear. Through good and ill report to
stick to our colours, praying for sweet tempers and strong hearts (if need be):
advancing nothing one does not feel sure of: and when once advanced, dying rather than
recalling . I am inclined to think with you, that a fiery trial is at hand." [Goulburn,
Biography, Vol. I, p. 148].
b. Burgon Refused To Compromise In General By Delivering Himself with
Courage. Goulburn wrote of Burgon:
"For his trumpet gave no uncertain sound, and on all great questions
as they arose,--and there were many,--he delivered himself with courage, as one who was
convinced himself and strove to convince others." [Goulburn, Biography, Vol.
II, p. 405]
c. Burgon Refused To Compromise In General By His "INDOMITABLE FORCE OF
WILL." Goulburn wrote:
". . . the character [of Burgon] itself was one of great
originality, with a vivid colour, and an indomitable force of will all its own. This force of
will which gave him a tenacity of purpose in carrying into effect everything he undertook, by
its very unyieldedness failed entirely to carry others with it. Compromise was a word unknown
to him . . . and therefore he stood and acted alone and never had (as indeed he never cared
to have) a following among his equals." [Goulburn, Biography, Vol. I, p.
xii).
d. Burgon Refused To Compromise In General By His Obvious
"Sincerity." Goulburn wrote:
"There could never be a doubt of Dean Burgon's sincerity. It was
written in his very looks, as it found expression in his words, in his writings, [and]
his actions." [Goulburn, Biography, Vol. II, 403].
2. Burgon was ADAMANT In His Refusal to Compromise on the Word of God.
a. Burgon Refused To Compromise On The Word Of God By "Maintaining the
Integrity of the Written Word of God." Burgon's biographer, Goulburn, wrote:
"Burgon was in this country the leading religious teacher of his
time, who brought all the resources of genius and profound theological learning to rebut the
encroachments of rationalism by maintaining inviolate the integrity of the written Word of
God as the Church has received it . . ." [Goulburn, Biography, Vol. I, p. 1]
b. Burgon Refused to Compromise On The Word Of God By His "Burning
Zeal" For It. Goulburn wrote:
"Burgon exhibited in his reply a crowning specimen of that burning
zeal for Gods Truth, and that splendid uncompromising intrepidity and outspokenness, which
characterized all his controversial efforts." [Goulburn, Biography, Vol. II,
p. 272]
c. Burgon Refused To Compromise On The Word Of God By Maintaining "A
Burning Zeal for the Word of God" as a Champion in a Cause. Goulburn quoted from the
Pastor who delivered Burgon's funeral sermon. He wrote:
"It was his burning zeal for the Word of God which stirred him to
come forward as a champion in a cause which he thought was being betrayed by those who should
have been its guardians." [Goulburn, Biography, Vol. II, p. 405].
d. Burgon Refused To Compromise On The Word Of God By His
"Reverence" For It. Goulburn wrote:
"No part of his character was more remarkable than his reverence for
the Word of God." [Goulburn, Biography, Vol. II, p. 403]
e. Burgon Refused To Compromise On The Word Of God By "Treasuring"
it as "Infinitely Precious." Goulburn wrote:
"Every jot and tittle of the Scriptures was infinitely precious to
him. He treasured them not as the word of man, but the Word of God, given by a real,
immediate inspiration, and communicated to His servants, Prophets, Evangelists, Apostles,
each in his own good time." [Goulburn, Biography, Vol. II, p. 406]
B. As Dean Burgon, the Dean Burgon Society Is an Adamant Society.
1. As Dean Burgon, the DBS Is Adamant in Its Refusal To Compromise In
General. The Dean Burgon Society has showed that it is ADAMANT in its general
doctrinal tenacity. There are not very many organizations at take all of the firm stands in
doctrine: (1) The eternal Sonship of the Lord Jesus Christ (Article II, C, p. 4); (2) The power
of Christ's redeeming Blood (Article II, E, p. 5); (3) The Biblical separation from both
apostasy and from "disorderly" brethren (Article ii, k, p. 6); and (4) the direct
creation by God of the universe and of man in six literal solar days (Article ii, l, p. 6). It
would be difficult to find very many organizations that are clear on all four of these above
doctrinal distinctives--especially since each of them is under severe attack in our days! The
DBS is ADAMANT in the defense of each one of them!
2. As Dean Burgon, the DBS Is ADAMANT In Its Stand On The Texts and
Translations Of The Bible. Though the above paragraph sets the Dean Burgon Society off as a
separatist and Fundamentalist Society without ties either to the apostasy or to neo-evangelical
compromises, it is basically a one-issue society! As such, it takes an ADAMANT stance on
the following things:
(1) We believe the Bible is infallible and inerrant in all matters of
which it speaks. This is unlimited inerrancy (Article II, A, p. 2).
(2) We believe the original language texts which have been
providentially preserved and the closest to the original autographs of the Bible are the
Traditional Masoretic Hebrew Text for the Old Testament and the Traditional Greek Text for the
New Testament which texts were the texts used as the source for the King James Bible (Article
II, A, pp. 2-3).
(3) We believe the King James Bible is a true and accurate translation
of these two providentially preserved texts which has no equal among all of the other English
translations (Article II, A, p. 3).
(4) We believe the King James Bible is such a fine translation we can
without apology hold it up and say "This is the Word of God" in English! (Article II,
A, p. 3).
(5) We believe all the verses in the King James Bible belong there
because they represent words that were in the original Texts (Article II, A, p. 3).
(6) We believe that for an exhaustive study of any of the words or
verses in the Bible, we urge the student to return directly to the Traditional Masoretic Hebrew
Text and the Traditional Received Greek Text rather than to any other translation for help
(Article II, A, p. 3).
(7) We believe Dean Burgon's books and others of a similar nature should
be reprinted and circulated (Article III, B, 1, pp. 6-7).
(8) We believe the Traditional Masoretic Hebrew Text of the Old
Testament that underlies the King James Bible must be defended (Article III, B, 3, p. 7).
(9) We believe the Traditional Received Greek Text of the New Testament
which underlies the King James Bible must be defended (Article III, B, 4, p. 7).
(10) We believe the Traditional English Translation of the Bible--the
King James Version (or Authorized Version) must be defended as a true, faithful, and accurate
translation from the underlying original Texts which have been providentially preserved for us,
which Translation has no equal in our time among all of the other English
"Translations" (Article III, B, 5, p. 7).
(11) We believe we must expose and publicize the defects, deficiencies,
errors, and mistakes both in the Texts used and in the Translation process and results of any
and all modern translations of the Bible, whether in English, or in other languages, which are
NOT based on the Traditional Masoretic Hebrew Text and Traditional Received Greek Text which
underlie the King James Bible (Article III, B, 6, p. 7).
(12) We believe we should especially analyze the so-called
"Majority Greek Text" of Zane Hodges and reply thereto (Article III, B, 7, p. 7).
(13) We believe we should criticize and warn against any future
bibliographic offerings deviating from the Traditional Masoretic Hebrew Text and the
Traditional Received Greek Text which underlie the King James Bible. (Article III, B, 7, p. 7).
(14) We believe we should revive interest in the firsthand study of the
Hebrew and Greek Text of the Bible by the three general means indicated in the "Articles
of Faith" (Article III, B, 8, p. 8).
(15) We believe we should acquire, print, sell, and distribute other
sound books by the scholars who lived around the time of Dean John William Burgon who defended
the Traditional Masoretic Hebrew Text, the Traditional Received Greek Text, and the King James
Bible, giving sound reasons why these Texts and this Version should be accepted as the best
(Article III, B, 9, p. 8).
(16) We believe we should acquire, sell, and distribute English
Scriptures in the King James Version, and translations in other languages which are based
solely and exclusively on the Traditional Masoretic Hebrew Text and the Traditional Received
Greek Texts which underlie the King James Bible(Article III, B, 10, p. 8).
(17) We believe we should encourage articles, research, books, and other
materials devoted to the study of the history, canon, text, authority, inspiration, and
translation of the Bible (Article III, B, 11, p. 8).
(18) We believe we should inform believers about the danger of using and
recommending Bibles which, while claiming to be the King James Bible, actually make changes in
the text (Article III, B, 12, pp. 8-9).
(19) We believe we should encourage the most careful scrutiny of Bibles
published in languages other than English which deviate from the Traditional Masoretic Hebrew
Text and the Traditional Received Greek Text which underlie the King James Bible (Article III,
B, 12, p. 9).
(20) We believe we should organize, write, edit, publish, and circulate
widely a "Newsletter" which will concentrate on the various objectives of the Society
listed in its "Articles of Faith" and those additional objectives which might
be determined from time to time (Article III, B, 13, p. 9).
AS DEAN BURGON, THE DEAN BURGON SOCIETY IS A NEGLECTED SOCIETY
A. Dean Burgon Was A NEGLECTED Individual.
1. Burgon was NEGLECTED By His Not Being On The English Revised Version (ERV)
Of 1881. Though eminently qualified, Dean Burgon was not chosen by his Anglican Church to
sit on the revision committee when the English Revised Version (ERV) was made. Dr. Scrivener
was about the only conservative on that committee who knew well the intricacies of textual
criticism. Burgon would have made an excellent member of that team. He was not selected,
however, but was NEGLECTED! Perhaps this was due to Burgon's strong and fearless faith
and belief in the inerrancy of every Word of God together with his battle with members of his
own church who were leaning toward apostasy.
2. Burgon was NEGLECTED By His Being Attacked Or Laughed At. In many
of the contemporary books, including his own biography, Burgon was attacked or laughed at in
some way or another. Present day writers either neglect him entirely, or else seem to imply
that his writings were sharp and much too belligerent. I have read five books of his on textual
criticism, and find his words most appropriate for the occasion. He had a serious mission of
the defense of the imperilled words and even letters of Scripture, so he laid out his arguments
in straightforward, hard-hitting terms, appropriate for his subject matter.
3. Burgon was NEGLECTED By Not Being Elevated To Anglican Bishop, Only To
Dean. In Burgon's day, as in our own, there was much political influence brought to bear on
Anglican appointments to the office of Bishop. In fact, church politics existed then, as now,
in virtually all of the churches. Burgon was "passed over" for important promotions
because of his exposure of apostasy within his own church as well as his courageous stand for
the Traditional Text of the New Testament in opposition to the spurious Greek text of Westcott
and Hort.
B. As DEAN BURGON, The DEAN BURGON SOCIETY Is A NEGLECTED Society.
1. As Dean Burgon, The DBS Is NEGLECTED By Being Little Known. We are
not in all the news magazines, either secular or Christian. Probably very few of those in the
media even know of our existence since 1978. That's all right. We try the best we can to make
our cause known. We'll be content to let the Lord make our cause known as, and when, He sees
fit. We have had ads in the Sword of the Lord from time to time which had some very good
response. We might have some more, as the Lord gives us the funds. We are advertised on several
radio stations both for thirty minutes each week and five minutes per day. We have some schools
and colleges who subscribe for their libraries to our Dean Burgon News--even some that
are neo-evangelical and even liberal. This is surprising, is it not? They don't take our
position, yet they want to know what it is! But by and large, DBS is NEGLECTED by being
little known.
2. As Dean Burgon, The DBS Is NEGLECTED By Being Attacked, Set Aside, and
Laughed at. The DBS is attacked by the Westcott and Hort group of Christians (even by
Fundamentalists) since we are the so-called "Textus Receptus Text" group of
Christians. All such attacks are answered by truth and facts. We go right on our way, standing
for the truth as it is in the Traditional Masoretic Hebrew Text, the Traditional Received Greek
Text, and the Traditional English King James Bible. We are not deterred by any attack.
AS DEAN BURGON, THE DEAN BURGON SOCIETY IS A BELIEVING SOCIETY
A. Dean Burgon Was A BELIEVING Individual.
1. Burgon was A BELIEVING Individual By Holding To The Plenary, Verbal
Inspiration of The Bible.
Throughout his book on Inspiration and Interpretation
(available as #1220 for a GIFT of $25.00+S&H), Dean Burgon spelled out in
great detail his unshakable belief in the plenary, verbal inspiration of the Bible. In fact, he
believed every letter of the Bible was inspired. Such strong belief was entirely absent from
Westcott and Hort, his contemporaries.
2. Burgon was A BELIEVING Individual By Urging The Reading Of The Bible From
Genesis To Revelation. Certainly a man would not advocate reading through the Bible from
Genesis to Revelation as Dean Burgon did unless he really BELIEVED in it. He knew
firsthand the power of the Bible, the Word of God. This is found also in Inspiration and
Interpretation.
3. Burgon was A BELIEVING Individual By Holding To The Creation Of The World
In Six Literal Days. Goulburn, his biographer, wrote:
"I insist on taking everything in this Chapter of Genesis quite
literally. I cannot even suffer it to be called a poem or a psalm. It is neither. . . . But
Genesis I is very severe, very unadorned prose. It purports to be, and undoubtedly it is,
history in the strictest sense; revealed history, and therefore true history. It claims to be
and it certainly is the history of six ordinary days." [Goulburn, Biography,
Vol. II, p. 248]
Dean Burgon had no doubts about the literal nature of creation. His
biographer wrote:
"The Book of Genesis, like the Acts of the Apostles, was a favourite
Book with him. The simple but most stately and majestic record of Creation, to the acceptance
of which in its literal and obvious sense--the sense in which a child would accept it,--he
clung (as we shall see) to the last moment of his life." [Goulburn, Biography,
Vol. II, p. 16].
Dean Burgon had no patience whatever with the "Darwinian Theory"
of evolution. Goulburn wrote:
"Natural Science In Their Relation To The Christian Faith;--in which
a qualified assent was given to the doctrine of evolution. Burgon's reply to him, showing
both his affectionate feeling to his friends of Auld Lang Syne, and his abhorrence of the
Darwinian Theory will be found among the letters appended to this year." [Goulburn, Biography,
Vol. II, p. 2201.
4. Burgon was A BELIEVING Individual By Trusting In The "Blood"
of Christ For Salvation. Goulburn stated:
". . . in looking back upon it, my past life yields nothing that is
satisfactory to me, and that I have no hope but in the blood and grace of our Divine
Lord." [Goulburn, Biography, Vol. II, p. 291].
B. As Dean Burgon, the Dean Burgon Society Is A BELIEVING Society.
1. As Dean Burgon, The DBS Is BELIEVING In The Plenary, Verbal Inspiration
Of The Bible. The Articles of Faith of the DBS state clearly:
"We believe in the plenary, verbal, divine inspiration of the
sixty-six canonical books of the Old and the New Testament (from Genesis to Revelation) in
the original languages, and in their consequent infallibility and inerrancy in all matters of
which they speak (2 Timothy 3:16-17; 2 Peter 1:21; 1 Thessalonians 2:13)." [DBS Articles
of Faith, Section II, paragraph A, p. 2].
2. As Dean Burgon, The DBS Is BELIEVING In The Reading of and The Power Of
The Bible. The Articles of Faith of the DBS mention:
"The translators [of the King James Bible] did such a fine job
in their translation task that we can without apology hold up the Authorized Version of 1611
and say This is the Word of God! while at the same time realizing that, in some verses,
we must go back to the underlying original language texts for complete clarity, and also
compare Scripture with Scripture." [DBS Articles of Faith, Section 11,
paragraph A, p. 3]
3. As Dean Burgon, The DBS Is BELIEVING By Holding To The Creation Of The
World In Six Literal Days. The Articles of Faith of the DBS state:
"L. Creation. We believe in the Biblical account of the creation of
the entire universe, angels, and man; that this account is neither allegory nor myth, but a
historical account of the direct, immediate creative acts of God in six literal solar days
without any evolutionary process, either naturalistic or theistic; . . ." [DBS Articles
of Faith, Section II, paragraph L, p. 6].
4. As Dean Burgon, The DBS Is BELIEVING In The "Blood" Of Christ
To Save. The Articles of Faith of the DBS state:
"E. The Death of Christ. We believe in Christ's substitutionary,
propitiatory, expiatory, vicarious death, and in the atoning power of His redeeming blood.
'Ye were not redeemed with corruptible things . . . but with the precious blood of Christ . .
. (1 Peter 1:18-21)." [DBS Articles of Faith, Section II, paragraph E, p.
5].
AS DEAN BURGON, THE DEAN BURGON SOCIETY IS AN UNDAUNTED SOCIETY
A. Dean Burgon Was An UNDAUNTED Individual.
1. Burgon was UNDAUNTED In His Efforts To Defeat The "English Revised
Version."
As soon as the English Revised Version (ERV) appeared upon the scene in
England in 1881, Dean Burgon wrote three articles on the faults and failures of it. All three
articles later appeared in his book, The Revision Revised, published in 1883 which is
available as #611 for a GIFT of $25.00+S&H. It is 640 pages in length. It is
a masterpiece which defends the King James Bible and demolishes the English Revised Version of
1881.
2. Burgon was UNDAUNTED In His Efforts To Defeat Westcott and Horts Greek
Text. Two of the sections in Burgon's Revision Revised dealt with the Westcott and
Hort Greek text of the New Testament. One took up the deficiencies of the theory behind
the Greek text. The other dismantled the Greek text itself, showing how it was wholly
inadequate. In fact, he said it was the worst Greek text ever to see the light of day!
3. Burgon was UNDAUNTED In His Efforts To Defend The Very Words Of God.
Burgon's defense of the very Words of God is no more evident than in his book, Inspiration
and Interpretation (#1220 for a GIFT of $25.00+S&H). Bear in mind what I
mentioned on page 11:
"Before looking at this section of quotations from Dean Burgon, it
must be made clear that when he uses the word, "Bible," or "Holy
Scripture," he is referring to the Hebrew/Aramaic and Greek books, chapters,
verses, words, letters, syllables, jots, and tittles that God breathed out by inspiration
and the various human writers wrote down as they were led by the Holy Spirit. Unless he
makes it clear by the context, he does not refer to any translation of that "Bible,"
whether English, Spanish, French, German, or any other language. You should not be confused
on this point. Dean Burgon has been misunderstood and misquoted in this very crucial point.
Remember, unless otherwise defined, each time Dean Burgon uses the word, "Bible"
or "Holy Scripture," he is referring to the original languages of
Hebrew/Aramaic and Greek."
Listen to what Dean Burgon wrote:
"But if, instead of the 'theory of verbal inspiration,' I am asked
whether I believe the words of the Bible to be inspired,--I answer, To be sure I do,--every
one of them: and every syllable likewise: Do not you?--Where,--do you, in your wisdom, stop?
The book, you allow is inspired. How about the chapters? How about the verses? Do you stop at
the verses, and not go on to the words?" [Burgon, Inspiration and Interpretation,
p. 751.
Hear him again:
"The Bible (be persuaded) Is the very utterance of the Eternal:--as
much God's Word as if high heaven were open and heard God speaking to us with human voice.
Every book of it, is inspired alike; and is inspired entirely. . . . But the Bible, from the
Alpha to the Omega of it, is filled to overflowing with the Holy Spirit of God: the books of
it, and the sentences of it, and the words of it, and the syllables of it.--aye, and the very
letters of it." [Burgon, Inspiration and Interpretation, p. 6].
These two quotations, together with the many more in his book, show clearly
Burgon's defense of the very Words of God, yea, even to the very syllables and letters of those
words!
4. Burgon was UNDAUNTED In Study And Written Ministry. Burgon's entire
adult life was spent in study and in written ministry. Though he was the author of dozens of
books on other themes, consider the titles he penned on the subject of the Bible:(1) The
Last Twelve Verses of Mark (#1139 for a gift of $15.00+S&H); (2) The
Revision Revised (#611 for a gift of $25.00+S&H); (3) The Traditional
Text (#1159 for a gift of $16.00+S&H); (4) The Causes of Corruption
(#1160 for a gift of $15.00+S&H); and (5) Inspiration and Interpretation
(#1220 for a gift of $25.00+S&H).
5. Burgon was UNDAUNTED In The Face of Criticism And Misunderstanding.
Burgon was criticized and misunderstood on two grounds: (1) He was adamantly opposed to the
theological apostasy and unbelief within the ranks of the Anglican Church of his day; and (2)
He was just as much in opposition to the erroneous Greek text and theory promulgated by Bishop
Brooke Foss Westcott and Professor Fenton John Anthony Hort. Though both of these battlegrounds
called forth much hatred for Dean Burgon, he remained undaunted, choosing rather to give
himself even more unreservedly in his stand for the truth wherever God had given it.
B. As Dean Burgon, the Dean Burgon Society is An UNDAUNTED Society.
1. As Dean Burgon, The DBS Is UNDAUNTED In Its Efforts To Defeat The English
Revised Version And Similar False Versions. The Dean Burgon Society is undaunted in its
exposure of the faults and failings of the English Revised Version of 1881 by its circulation
(as of this date)of over 2,000 copies of Burgon's The Revision Revised (#611 for
a GIFT of $25.00+S&H). In fact, 3,000 additional copies had to be printed to keep up
with the demand. This 640-page book has one third of its content in pointing out the defects
and deficiencies of the ERV of 1881. The DBS has done the same in pointing out the defects and
deficiencies in the New King James Version (cf. #1442 for a gift of $10.00+S&H);
the New American Standard Version (cf. #1494-P for a gift of $15.00+S&H); and
the New International Version (cf. #1749-P, for a gift of $25.00+S&H). These
are lengthy computer print-out studies which point out instances of dynamic equivalence in
these three popular versions. These amount to over 2,000 for the NKJV, over 4,000 for the NASV,
and over 6,653 for the NIV. There are scores of smaller tracts, pamphlets, tapes, and VCR's
which also seek to defeat such perversions of God's original Words.
2. As Dean Burgon, the Dean Burgon Society Is UNDAUNTED In Its Efforts To
Defeat Westcott and Hort's Greek Text. The Dean Burgon Society has exposed the Westcott and
Hort false Greek Text by its circulation of Dean Burgon's The Revision Revised and his
other books as mentioned above. There are also many other books, pamphlets, tracts, tapes, and
VCR's which do the same. We have a Brochure #1 which lists over 1,000 titles which in
one way or another defend the King James Bible and its underlying Hebrew and Greek Texts and
oppose the Westcott and Hort false Greek text.
3. As Dean Burgon, The DBS Is UNDAUNTED In Its Efforts To Defend the very
Words of God. The Dean Burgon Society, in its Articles of Faith, in its publication
the DBS News, and in its circulation of various materials, defends the very Words of God
which we believe are best preserved in the Traditional Masoretic Hebrew Text and the
Traditional Received Greek Text that underlie the King James Bible. We believe these are the
very Words of God that have been providentially preserved for us from which our KJB was
accurately translated by able translators using proper translation techniques.
4. As Dean Burgon, The DBS Is UNDAUNTED In Its Efforts To Study And Maintain
A Written Ministry. The Dean Burgon Society believes in study. They also believe in having
a written ministry through the DBS News and the other pamphlets and studies compiled by
men on its Executive Committee and others. Each year, the VCR's, audio cassettes, and Message
Books are made of the DBS Annual Meeting for use and edification of all who write for them.
5. As Dean Burgon, The DBS Is UNDAUNTED In Its Efforts In The Face Of
Criticism And Misunderstanding. The Dean Burgon Society has had its share (and will
continue to have its share) of both criticism and "misunderstanding." We go on,
despite such things in an undaunted, victorious spirit, believing firmly that our cause is
right, just, necessary, and proper. We will not give ground, nor give up our convictions!
AS DEAN BURGON, THE DEAN BURGON SOCIETY IS A RELEVANT SOCIETY
A. Dean Burgon Was RELEVANT As An Individual.
1. Burgon was RELEVANT In Defending Bible Truth Against Error And Heresy.
Dean Burgon shows his relevance in defending Bible truth against error and heresy in the way he
spoke out and put in writing his own sadness at the apostasy and false teachings of his own
Anglican Church. He was not liked very much for doing it, but again and again he wrote books
and booklets exposing in a relevant manner the very errors his own churchmen were promulgating.
2. Burgon was RELEVANT In Defending The King James Bible Against An Inferior
Version. Dean Burgon defended the King James Bible solidly and at length against the
then-popular English Revised Version of 1881. His Revision Revised is an example of the
skill he demonstrated in this defense.
3. Burgon was RELEVANT In Defending The Masoretic Hebrew Text That Underlies
The King James Bible. Dean Burgon cautioned against the "incredible folly of
tinkering the Hebrew Text." [Goulburn, Biography, Vol. II, p. 241]. He felt
that the Hebrew Text which underlies the King James Bible was all right and should not be
"tinkered" or changed! He hoped that the English Revised Version Old Testament had
not done that. If it had, it would have been "incredible folly"!
4. Burgon was RELEVANT In Defending The Traditional & Received Greek
Text. Dean Burgon's five books (referred to above) are real examples of his relevant
defense of the Traditional and Received Greek Text of the New Testament. Our #804 (Dean
Burgons Warnings on Revision for $7.00+S&H) is a study of Burgon's defense of
this text, telling under what circumstances he would change the Greek and/or the King James
Bible. The study takes quotations from Burgon's Revision Revised that pertain to the
subject. Dean Burgon spent his entire adult life in the defense of what he termed "the
Traditional Text" of the New Testament.
B. As Dean Burgon, the Dean Burgon Society Is A RELEVANT Society.
1. As Dean Burgon, The DBS Is RELEVANT In Defending Bible Truth Against
Error And Heresy. Though the Dean Burgon Society is a one-issue society, which is in defense
of Traditional Bible Texts, we also have a sound and fundamental doctrinal statement which we
will continue to defend. Since our doctrines include such things as the Trinity, the Person of
Christ, the virgin birth of Christ, the bodily resurrection of Christ, salvation by grace
through faith alone, a literal heaven and hell, spiritual unity of those redeemed "by His
precious blood," the purity of the church, separation from unbelievers and disorderly
believers, and a literal six-solar day creation by God of the entire world, the Dean Burgon
Society defends aspects of these truths against any error or heresy.
2. As DEAN BURGON, The DBS Is RELEVANT In Defending The King James Bible
Against Inferior Versions. The 5th purpose of the Dean Burgon Society is:
"5. To defend the Traditional English Translation of the Bible--the
King James Version (or Authorized Version)--as a true, faithful, and accurate translation
from the underlying original texts which have been providentially preserved for us, which
Translation has no equal in our time among all of the other English 'Translations.'"
[DBS Articles of Faith, III, B, 5, p. 71.
The 6th purpose of the Dean Burgon Society is:
"6. To expose and publicize the defects, deficiencies, errors, and
mistakes both in the texts used and in the translation process and results of any and all
modern translations of the Bible, whether in English, or in other languages, which are not
based on the Traditional Masoretic Hebrew Text and Traditional Received Greek Text which
underlie the King James Version." [DBS Articles of Faith, III, B, 6, p. 7]
This object has been fulfilled in the various materials, both written and
spoken, circulated by the DBS.
3. As Dean Burgon, The DBS Is RELEVANT In Defending The Masoretic Hebrew
Text. The 3rd purpose of the Dean Burgon Society is:
"3. To defend the Traditional Masoretic Hebrew Text of the Old
Testament which underlies the King James Version." [DBS Articles of Faith,
III, B, 3, p. 7]
Again, this object has been fulfilled in the various materials, both written
and spoken circulated by the DBS.
4. As Dean Burgon, the DBS Is RELEVANT In Defending the Traditional And
Received Greek Text. The 4th purpose o the Dean Burgon Society is:
"4. To defend the Traditional Received Greek Text of the New
Testament which underlies the King James Version (as found in 'The Greek Text Underlying The
English Authorized Version of 1611 as published by the Trinitarian Bible Society in
1976')." [DBS Articles of Faith, III, B, 4, p. 71
Again, this object has been fulfilled in the various materials, both written
and spoken circulated by the DBS.
AS DEAN BURGON, THE DEAN BURGON SOCIETY IS A GROWING SOCIETY
A. Dean Burgon Was a GROWING Individual.
1. Burgon Was GROWING In the Knowledge Of the Scripture. Dean Burgon's
studies in the New Testament Text showed him to be indeed GROWING in his knowledge of
the Scripture. He wrote a commentary (which we have available) on each of the four Gospels. He
studied the Word of God daily in order to be more knowledgeable in it. He recommended to his
students who were going to be ministers to read through the Bible from Genesis to Revelation,
spending one-half hour daily in this task.
2. Burgon Was GROWING in the Understanding Of the Scripture. Not only
did Dean Burgon GROW in "knowledge," but also in the "understanding"
of the Scripture, depending, not on commentaries, or the words of men, but on the Holy Spirit
to teach him.
3. Burgon Was GROWING in Encouraging Others to Follow Him in His Use of
Scripture. In the very first sermon to the preacher-boys of his day, Dean Burgon delivered
a sermon entitled: "The Study of the Bible Recommended; and a Method of Studying it
Described." From his sermon, as found in Inspiration and Interpretation, (available
for a gift to DBS of $25.00+S&H), here are some quotations:
"4. Then, while you read,--safe from the risk of interruption, (as I
began by supposing,) and with every faculty intent on your task,--try, as much as possible,
to go over the words as if they were new to you; and watch them, one by one, so that nothing
may by any possibility escape your notice. Do not slumber over a single word. Nothing can be
unimportant when it is the Holy Ghost who speaketh. It is an excellent practice to mark the
expressions which strike you; for it is a method of preserving the memory of what is sure
else soon to pass away." [Burgon, Inspiration and Interpretation, p. 10].
"5. And next, be persuaded to read without extraneous helps of any
kind; except, of course, such help as a map, or the margin of your Bible, supplies. Pray
avoid Commentaries and notes. First, you cannot afford time for them: and secondly, if you
could, they would be as likely to mislead you as not. But the real reason why you are so
strenuously advised to avoid them, is, because they will do more to nullify your reading,
than anything which would be imagined. Your object is to obtain an insight into Holy
Scripture, by acquiring the habit of reading it with intelligence and care; not to be saved
trouble, and to be shown what other persons have thought about it." [Burgon, Inspiration
and Interpretation, pp. 10-11].
Many more quotations could be cited in this same sermon to this effect.
B. As Dean Burgon. The Dean Burgon Society Is A GROWING Society.
1. As Dean Burgon, The DBS Is GROWING In The Knowledge Of The Scripture.
The Dean Burgon Society encourages its members and friends to continue in the study of the Word
of God to obtain "knowledge" of what that Word contains.
2. As Dean Burgon, The DBS Is GROWING In The Understanding Of The Scripture.
In addition, the Dean Burgon Society wants its members and friends to have a deeper
"understanding" of the Bible. This is why they continue to publish the various
papers, materials, books, tapes, and VCR's on Bible subjects.
3. As Dean Burgon, The DBS Is GROWING In Their Encouraging Of Others To
Follow Their Position. The Dean Burgon Society has sought to be an encouragement to various
groups to follow their position, such as the Awana International, the Trinitarian Bible
Society, and the Majority Text Society. Comments have been made about these various groups both
in the DBS pamphlets, the DBS annual meeting tapes, VCR's, DBS Message Books, and in the Dean
Burgon News. We have even placed ads in the Sword of the Lord magazine in an effort
to warn people about the Awana's change of their position regarding the exclusive use of the
King James Bible in their programs and writings.
AS DEAN BURGON, THE DEAN BURGON SOCIETY IS AN OBEDIENT SOCIETY
A. Dean Burgon Was an OBEDIENT Individual.
1. Burgon was OBEDIENT In Exposing Error. Here. are a few quotations
about Dean John William Burgon's OBEDIENCE in exposing error of all sorts.
a. Burgon Was Like A "Splendid Watch-dog." Goulburn wrote:
"'What a splendid watch-dog he is! said one in the author's
hearing, after perusing and throwing on the table one of the Burgonian Philippics,--'How loud
and furiously he barks, when the smallest danger threatens the Church, or the Faith which is
entrusted to the Church's keeping!' Yes! It is the business of a watch-dog to bark furiously,
and even to fly at the throat of pilferers and thieves: and of all pilferers and thieves
there are none who more rouse the indignation of honest God-fearing men, than those who would
rob the Church of her Faith, and the Christian of his hope, by the gradual depredations of
rationalism." [Goulburn, Biography, Vol. II, p. 67].
b. Burgon Admitted He Defended Strenuously When The "Words of
Inspiration Are Seriously Imperilled." Burgon wrote:
"If therefore, any do complain that I have sometimes hit my opponents
rather hard, I take leave to point out that 'to everything there is a season, and a time to
every purpose under the sun'; 'a time to embrace, and a time to be far from embracing'; a
time for speaking smoothly, and a time for speaking sharply. And that when the words of
inspiration are imperilled, as now they are, it is scarcely possible for one who is
determined effectually to preserve the Deposit in its integrity, to hit either too straight
or too hard." [Burgon, The Revision Revised, pp. vii-viii].
c. Burgon "Thwarted," by His "Conservatism," the
"Liberal Party" At Oxford More Than Once. Goulburn wrote:
". . . by a few disparaging words in Parliament, inspired no doubt by
the so-called liberal party in the University [that is, Oxford], who had been thwarted
on more than one occasion by Burgons stedfast and unflinching conservatism." [Goulburn,
Biography, Vol. II, p. 136]
d. Burgon Labeled "Disbelief in the Bible as the Word of God" as
the "Fundamental Error." Burgon wrote:
"At the root of the whole mischief of these last days lies disbelief
in the Bible as the Word of God. This is the fundamental error." [Burgon,
Inspiration and Interpretation, p. xvii].
e. Burgon Wanted to "Defend" the Bible "Without
Compromise." He wrote:
". . . we are constrained to give a reason for the hope which is in
us; and to defend without compromise or hesitation that Bible which is the great bulwark of
the Faith." [Burgon, Inspiration and Interpretation, p. 12]
f. Burgon Was "Jealous" for the "Honour of the Lord."
He wrote:
"Be as forgiving as you please of indignities offered to yourselves;
but do not be ashamed to be very jealous for the honour of the Lord of Hosts; and to resent
any dishonour offered to Him, with a fiery indignation utterly unlike anything you could
possibly feel for a personal wrong." [Burgon, Inspiration and Interpretation,
p. 121]
g. Burgon Exposed the Heresies of "Six Ministers of the Church of
England" in Their "Essays and Reviews."
(1) The "Essays and Reviews" Denied The Fundamentals Of The
Faith. Burgon wrote:
"Secondly,--'Essays and Reviews' attracted notice because six of its
authors were ministers of the Church of England. Here were six clergymen openly making light
of their sacred profession. . . . As an infidel, but certainly in this instance most truthful
as well as an able Reviewer, remarked concerning the work in question,--'In their ordinary,
if not plain sense, there has been discarded the Word of God, the creation, the fall, the
redemption, justification, heaven and hell, eternal punishment and a day of judgment, creeds,
liturgies, and articles, the truth of Jewish history and of Gospel narrative, a sense of
doubt thrown over even the incarnation, the resurrection, and ascension, the Divinity of the
Second Person, and the Personality of the Third.'" [Burgon, Inspiration, and
Interpretation, p. xi]
(2) Burgon Treated the "Six Clergymen" as "Immoral
Characters." He wrote:
"When Critics are clamorous for the 'free handling' of Divine Truth,
they must not be surprised to find themselves freely handled too . . . . six clergymen of the
Church of England who enter upon a crusade against the Faith of the Church of England must
not be astonished if they are looked upon in the light of immoral characters, and treated as
such. Accordingly, I have handled them just as freely as they have handled the Prophets,
Apostles, and Evangelists of Christ." [Burgon, Inspiration and Interpretation,
p. xxvi]
(3) Burgon Did Not Expect "Blasphemy from Ministers of the
Gospel." He wrote:
"Some respectable persons, I doubt not, will think my treatment of
them harsh and uncharitable. I invite them to consider that we do not expect blasphemy from
ministers of the Gospel,--irreligion from the teachers of youth,-- infidelity from the
professors chair: nor are we called upon to tolerate it either." [Burgon,
Inspiration and Interpretation, p. xxiv]
(4) Burgon Denounced "Uncompromisingly" this "Volume"
Which Was to "Sap the Foundation of Faith." He wrote:
". . . 'Essays and Reviews' . . . a volume, the confessed tendency of
which is to sap the foundation of faith and to introduce irreligion with a flood-tide. . . .
their Reviewer [Burgon himself] avails himself of that Christian liberty to which they
themselves so systematically lay claim, mercilessly to uncover their baseness and uncompromisingly to denounce it. If I may declare my mind freely, punctilious courtesy in dealing
with such opinions, becomes a species of treason against him after whose Name we are called,
and whom we profess to serve. Seven men may combine to handle the things of God; it seems, in
the most outrageous manner; while themselves are to be the objects of consideration,
tenderness, respect! I cannot see their title to any consideration at all." [Burgon,
Inspiration and Interpretation, p. xxiv]
(5) Burgon Gave an Example of Their Method of Believing Doctrine "Only
Ideologically True Yet Historically False." He wrote:
"We are assured that every one of these things, are only ideologically true that [the doctrines of the Faith, or at least some of them],
historically they are false. . . . I therefore proceed to give you a sample of this kind of
teaching. A living dignitary of our Church writes as follows concerning the transfiguration
of Christ. 'It may be asked, of what kind was the vision which we here call the
Transfiguration? Was it an effect produced within on the minds of the Apostles; or was it
that an actual external change came for the time over the person of our Lord? We cannot say.
I give you this as the mildest form of the poison. Quite evident is it that the same
suggestion is just as applicable to our Lord's Birth, or to His Death; to His Temptation, or
to His Resurrection." [Burgon, Inspiration and Interpretation, pp. 244-45]
(6) Burgon Held up to "Ridicule" and "Unqualified
Reprobation" Those Ministers Who Put Forth Such "Blasphemous Folly." He
wrote:
"Not only will I not treat men with tenderness who put forth such
blasphemous folly, but I will hold them up to the very utmost of my power. Nay, I would make
them objects of unqualified reprobation to all, if I could, as they deserve to be reprobated;
for they are the worst enemies of the Gospel of Christ." [Burgon, Inspiration and
Interpretation, pp. 248-49].
In a footnote after writing this statement, Burgon wrote a comment:
"I have softened the expression originally employed in this place,
out of deference to the opinions of some wise and good men. But I do not think that St. John
(the Evangelist and Apostle of dogma,) would have thought my language too strong: nor St.
Paul either." [Burgon, Inspiration and Interpretation, pp. 248-49]
(7) Burgon Called on the Heretical "Essayists and Reviewers" to
"Resign Their Stations" in the Church. He wrote:
"They [that is, the Essayists and Reviewers] must first
withdraw from the cause which they have betrayed; cease to profess the teaching which they
disbelieve; resign their commission in a Church to whose doctrine and discipline they openly
proclaim themselves to be opposed. I will not argue with them, while they presume to write
B.D. and D.D. after their names,--hold Chaplaincies,--preside over Schools and
Colleges,--profess to lecture in Divinity,--officiate at the altars of the Church of
England,--by virtue of their sacred office, and by virtue of that only, are instructors of
youth. They cannot, (if they are in the full enjoyment of their faculties,) cannot imagine,
for a moment, that, as honest men, they can remain where they are! They must either recall
their words or resign their stations! [Burgon, Inspiration and Interpretation, p,
xxviii].
From the above quotations, there certainly can be no doubt whatever about
Dean John William Burgon's absolute obedience in exposing error even right within his own
Church of England! He was a man of courage, unwilling to keep quiet for the sake of personal
advantage, but exposing heresy wherever he found it--even when it was in his own Church family!
I wish more men would follow his courage today within their own churches where compromise and
apostasy's influence abounds!
2. Burgon was OBEDIENT In Defending The Bible. The following are some of
the many quotations that could be brought forward showing Dean Burgon's OBEDIENCE in
defending the Bible.
a. Burgon Thought You Should Believe "The Whole of Holy Scripture"
or "Disbelieve the Whole." He wrote:
"Either, with the best and wisest of all ages, you must believe the
whole of Holy Scripture; or, with the narrow-minded infidel, you must disbelieve the whole.
There is no middle course open to you." [Burgon, Inspiration and Interpretation,
p. 46].
b. Burgon Had Some Suggestions For Bible Reading And Bible Study For His
Students Entering The Ministry.
(1) The Bible Should Be His Students' Only Textbook For Three Years. He
wrote:
"Be content, for the next three years to study no book of Divinity
but the Bible." [Burgon, Inspiration and Interpretation, p. 29].
(2) His Students Should Read the "Whole Bible Consecutively
Through." He wrote:
"The thing I would so strenuously urge upon you, is--that, during
your undergraduate period, you should read the whole Bible consecutively through. from one
end to the other, by yourself and for yourself, with consummate method, care, and
attention." [Burgon, Inspiration and Interpretation, p. 9].
(3) His Students Should Spend the "Quietest Half-hour in the Whole
Day" for Bible Reading. He wrote
"1. First, that you should deliberately apportion to this solemn duty
the best and freshest and quietest half-hour in the whole day; and then, that you should
determine, let what will go undone, never to abridge that half-hour." [Burgon, Inspiration
and Interpretation, p. 9].
(4) Bible Reading Should Be "Strictly Consecutive." He wrote:
"6. Above all, is it indispensable that your reading of the Bible
should be strictly consecutive; and on no account may any one pretend to begin such a study
of that book as I am here recommending, except at the first chapter of Genesis."
[Burgon, Inspiration and Interpretation, p. 11].
(5) No Book Or Chapter Should Be "Skipped." He wrote:
"7. It will follow from what has been offered, that you are invited
to read every book in the Bible in the order in which it actually stands--never of course
skipping a chapter much less a book: in every mere catalogue of names, be resolved to find
edification. Feel persuaded that details, seemingly the driest, are full of God."
[Burgon, Inspiration and Interpretation, p. 12].
c. Burgon Gave Repeated Testimony To His Belief In And Defense Of The
Bible's Inspiration, Inerrancy," And Perfection. Here again, bear in mind what I wrote
on pages 11 and 31:
"Before looking at this section of quotations from Dean Burgon, it
must be made clear that when he uses the word, "Bible," or "Holy
Scripture," he is referring to the Hebrew/Aramaic and Greek books, chapters,
verses, words, letters, syllables, jots, and tittles that God breathed out by inspiration
and the various human writers wrote down as they were led by the Holy Spirit. Unless he
makes it clear by the context, he does not refer to any translation of that "Bible,"
whether English, Spanish, French, German, or any other language. You should not be confused
on this point. Dean Burgon has been misunderstood and misquoted in this very crucial point.
Remember, unless otherwise defined, each time Dean Burgon uses the word, "Bible"
or "Holy Scripture," he is referring to the original languages of
Hebrew/Aramaic and Greek."
(1) Burgon Believed the Bible Is a "Direct Message from the
Presence-Chamber of the Lord of Heaven and Earth." He wrote::
"Theological Science not so! Her evidence is sure, for her Rule is
God's Word. No laborious induction here,--fallacious because imperfect; imperfect because
human: but a direct message from the Presence-Chamber of the Lord of heaven and
earth,--decisive because inspired; infallible because Divine. The express Revelation of the
Eternal is that whereon theological Science builds her fabric of imperishable Truth; that
fabric which, while other modes change, shift, and at last become superseded, shines
out,--yea, and to the very end of time will shine out,--unconscious of decay, incapable of
improvement, far, far beyond fashion: a thing unchanged, because in its very nature
unchangeable." [Burgon, Inspiration and Inter- pretation, p. 50].
(2) Burgon Held "Verbal Inspiration" to Be a Fact, Not Merely a
"Theory." He wrote:
"Do you mean to say then, (I shall be asked,) that you maintain the
theory of verbal inspiration?--I answer, I refuse to accept any theory whatsoever. But I
believe that the Bible is the Word of God--and I believe that God's Word must be absolutely
infallible. I shall therefore believe the Bible to be absolutely infallible,--until I am
convinced of the contrary." [Burgon, Inspiration and Interpretation, p. 74]
Burgon added:
"But if, instead of the 'theory of verbal inspiration' I am asked
whether I believe the Words of the Bible to be inspired,--I answer, to be sure I do--every
one of them: and every syllable. Do not you?--where,--(if it be a fair question,)--where do
you, in your wisdom, stop? The book, you allow, is inspired. How about the chapters? How
about the verses? Do you stop at the verses, and not go on to the words?" [Burgon, Inspiration
and Interpretation, p. 75] .
(3) Burgon Believed Even the Very "Letters" of the Bible Were
"Inspired." He wrote:
"The Bible (be persuaded) is the very utterance of the Eternal:--as
much God's Word as if high heaven were open, and we heard God speaking to us with human
voice. Every book of it is inspired alike: and is inspired entirely . . . . but the Bible,
from the Alpha to the Omega of it, is filled to overflowing with the Holy Spirit of God: the
books of it, and the sentences of it, and the words of it, and the syllables of it,--aye, and
the very letters of it." [Burgon, Inspiration and Interpretation, p. 76].
(4) Burgon Believed The Entire Bible To Be From God Himself And Vitally
Important.
(a) Burgon Believed That Every "WORD" Is Important. He wrote:
"Do not slumber over a single word. Nothing can be unimportant when
it is the Holy Ghost who speaketh." Burgon, Inspiration and Interpretation,
p. 19].
(b) Burgon Believed Literally The Genesis Creation. He wrote:
"He who surrenders the first page of his Bible surrenders all. He
knows not where to stop." [Burgon, Inspiration and Interpretation, p. 50 ].
(c) Burgon Believed Every Single "Letter" of the Bible Is the
"Voice of Him That Sitteth upon the Throne." He wrote:
". . .The Bible is none other than the voice of Him that sitteth upon
the throne! Every book of it,--every chapter of it,--every verse of it,--every word of
it,--every syllable of it,--(where do we stop?) every letter of it--is the direct utterance
of the Most High!--pasa graphE theopneustos. Well spake the Holy Ghost, by the mouth
of' the many blessed men who wrote it.--The Bible is none other than the Word of God: not
some part of it, more, some part of it, less; but all alike, the utterance of Him who sitteth
upon the throne:--absolute,--faultless,--unerring,--supreme!" [Burgon,
Inspiration and Interpretation, p. 89].
(d) Burgon Repeated Again His Confidence in the Very "Words" of
God as If "God Spoke to Us Therein with Human Lips." He wrote:
"Some here present may remember my repeated and unequivocal assertion
that Holy Scripture is inspired from the Alpha to the Omega of it:--not some parts of it
more, some parts less. But all equally, and all to overflowing:--that we hold it to be, not
generally inspired, but particularly; that we see not how with logical consistency we can
avoid believing the words as well as the sentences of it; the syllables as well as words; the
letters as well as the syllables; every 'jot' and every 'tittle' of it, (to use our Lord's
expression,) to be Divinely inspired:--and further, that until the contrary has been proven,
we shall maintain that no misapprehension or misstatement, no error or blot of any kind,
can possibly exist within its pages:--that we hold the Bible to be as much the Word of God,
as if God spoke to us therein with human lips:--and that, as the very utterance of the Holy
Ghost, we cannot but think that it must be absolute, faultless, unerring, supreme."
[Burgon, Inspiration and Interpretation, p. 94].
(e) Burgon Held The Bible To Be "THE VERY UTTERANCE OF THE HOLY
SPIRIT." He wrote:
". . . when we call the Bible an inspired book, we mean nothing more
than that the words of it are the very utterance of the Holy Spirit:--that the book is as
much the Word of God as if high heaven were open, and we heard God speaking to us with human
voice." [Burgon, Inspiration and Interpretation, p. 102]
(f) Burgon Believed a Person Should "Read" the Bible, Believing it
Is an "Inspired Book." He wrote:
". . . I say, that they [that is, the "younger men
present"] would now be assiduous, and earnest, and regular, and punctual, and devout,
in their daily study of one chapter of the Bible.--And while you read the Bible, read it
believing that you are reading an inspired Book:--not a Book inspired in parts only, but a
Book inspired in every part:--not a Book unequally inspired, but all inspired equally:--not a
Book generally inspired,--the substance indeed given by the Spirit, but the words left to the
option of the writers; but the words of it as well as the matter of it, all--all given by
God. As it is written--'Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth
out of the mouth of God.'" [Burgon, Inspiration and Interpretation, p. 114].
(g) Burgon Didn't Believe You Could "Expound a Text" Unless You
Believe its "Words Are Inspired." He wrote:
"How can you pretend to expound a text, unless you hold the words of
that text to be inspired? What inferences can you venture to draw from words, the Divinity of
which you dare not affirm?" [Burgon, Inspiration and Interpretation, p. 117]
(h) Burgon Had a Burden and Passed it on to His Ministerial Students to
"Preserve the Whole Deposit of Heaven-Descended Teaching." He wrote:
"O let it be our great concern,--yours and mine,--to preserve with
undiminished lustre the whole Deposit of heaven-descended teaching which is the Church's
treasure. Like runners in a certain ancient race of which we all have read, let it be our
pride and joy,--yours and mine,--to grasp the torch of Truth with a strong unwavering hand;
to run joyously with it so long as the days of this earthly race shall last; and dying, to
hand it to another, who, with strength renewed like the eagle's, may again,--swiftly,
steadily, exultingly,--run with it, till he fails! . . . so, when the Judge of quick and dead
appeareth,--so let Him find you occupied, . . ." [Burgon, Inspiration and
Interpretation, p. 1801
(i) Burgon Believed the Bible to Be a "Celestial Armoury" Which
Contains a "Weapon Against Every Foe." He wrote:
"Begin betimes to acquaint yourselves with the wealth of that
celestial armoury which contains a weapon which must prove fatal to every foe; but which it
depends on yourselves whether you shall have the skill to wield or not. Suffer not yourselves
to be cheated of your birthright, the Bible, either by the novel fictions of unstable men, or
by the exploded heresies of a bygone age, revived and recommended by living unbelievers. You,
especially, who aspire to the Ministerial office, and are destined hereafter to undertake the
cure of souls, o do you be doubly watchful! Give to the Bible the undivided homage of a
childlike heart; and bow down before its revelations with a suppliant understanding also; and
let no characteristic of its method by any means escape you." [Burgon, Inspiration
and Interpretation, p. 253].
From these quotations, you can see clearly just how Dean John William Burgon
was obedient in DEFENDING the Bible! I wish that every born again Christian living today
would have as high a view of the Bible as did Dean Burgon!
3. Burgon was OBEDIENT In "Declaring Bible Truths." Dean
Burgon preached each week, proclaiming and declaring Bible truths. He had a special Bible study
class for some of his students which also occupied him in the ministry. In his various books,
especially in his exposition of the Four Gospels, Burgon was OBEDIENT in declaring the
various Bible truths found therein.
B. As Dean Burgon, the Dean Burgon Society Is an OBEDIENT Society.
1. As Dean Burgon, The DBS Is OBEDIENT In Exposing Error And Heresy. The
Dean Burgon Society exposes error and heresy, especially as it concerns the Bible. Its
doctrinal statement covers many areas of Bible truth. Where these Bible truths are
transgressed, the DBS exposes such error.
2. As Dean Burgon, The DBS Is OBEDIENT In Defending The Bible. We
recognize that in these days, the Bible is under severe and determined attack. Throughout its Articles
of Faith, the Dean Burgon Society has taken bold positions in its defense of the Bible. Its
motto is "In Defense of Traditional Bible Texts." It will continue to defend the King
James Bible as the "Word of God in English," and the original-language texts of
Hebrew and Greek on which it is based. In addition, it will defend all of the Bible doctrines
contained therein, seeking to repel any and all attacks thereto.
3. As DEAN BURGON, The DBS Is OBEDIENT In Declaring Bible Truths. Again,
the Dean Burgon Society declares Bible truths to the extent of its own doctrinal statement and
beliefs, though its primary purpose is the declaration of truths relating to the Bible itself,
"In Defense of Traditional Bible Texts."
AS DEAN BURGON, THE DEAN BURGON SOCIETY IS A NEEDED SOCIETY
A. Dean Burgon Was a NEEDED Individual.
1. Burgon was NEEDED To Write Books And Materials.
Dean Burgon, as
mentioned above, was a prolific writer! His books dealing with the Scripture text alone are
five in number, with a total of almost 2,000 pages "In Defense of Traditional Bible
Texts." Though he had enemies, yet his books and materials were definitely needed. They
are still needed today as well.
2. Burgon was NEEDED To Combat False Teaching. With his Anglican
Church moving rapidly into Catholicism and Apostasy, Dean Burgon's voice was needed to combat
this false teaching. Again, though his Church did not appreciate his voice, like that of a
"watch dog," he was nonetheless NEEDED in that arena.
3. Burgon was NEEDED To Combat A False Basis Of Determining The Greek Text.
Dean Burgon was a trained Greek scholar. He was familiar with the sources of the Greek New
Testament. When the Traditional Greek Text was under assault by Westcott and Hort and their
followers, Burgon raised his voice and his pen to combat this false basis of determining the
Greek text which was used by this team of textual traitors!
4. Burgon was NEEDED To Get Out His Distinctive Message. Amidst the
loud and lofty voices clamoring for a hearing in the area of the Greek New Testament, Dean
Burgon was needed to get out his distinctive message in support of the "Traditional
Text" of the New Testament. He knew that there must be a consideration of all of the
evidence, and not merely a brief look at the Vatican ("B") and/or the Sinai
("Aleph") manuscripts. He held that these manuscripts are the most foul sources that
ever saw the 1ight of day. Burgon proved this to the satisfaction of any objective reader in
his five books referred to above. It was of the utmost importance that the false teaching of
Westcott and Hort with their new and perverted Greek Text of the New Testament should be
answered right from their own Church and in their own time. This is what makes it so important
for us today to read Dean Burgon's materials carefully. It helps us in the battle today because
the same false theories are still with us.
B. As DEAN BURGON, The DEAN BURGON SOCIETY Is A NEEDED Society.
1. As Dean Burgon, The DBS Is NEEDED To Write Books And Materials. The
printed page is very powerful since it has a lasting effect on its readers. Tapes and VCR's are
good, and the Dean Burgon Society uses them, but our pamphlets, papers, the Dean Burgon News,
and books which we circulate are very much NEEDED in this lopsided pre-sentation of
the entire truth concerning the New Testament text. Almost all of the major publishers publish
books that favor the Westcott & Hort side of this battle. DBS joins with the few other
organizations that contribute needed books and other materials for the cause.
2. As DEAN BURGON, The DBS Is NEEDED To Combat False Teaching. The Dean
Burgon Society fills a need in its combat with false teaching that is contrary to its Articles
of Faith, and especially in the area of Bible texts and translations. We do not believe,
for example, that the King James Bible is "God-breathed," "inspired by God"
and a "Revelation from God" as were the original Hebrew/Aramaic and Greek texts. It
is rather an accurate "translation." There is considerable error on this point which
is being disseminated by Dr. Peter Ruckman and his followers. The DBS combats this "double
inspiration" theory as it has been called.
3. As DEAN BURGON, The DBS Is NEEDED To Combat A False Basis Of Determining
The Greek Text. The Dean Burgon Society circulates over 1,000 titles which combat the false
basis of determining the Greek text such as taught by Westcott and Hort and their modern day
followers. Through the printed page, audio and video cassettes, annual meetings, Bible
seminars, and through their radio programs, they seek to combat and expose Westcott and Hortism
in all of its modern garb. We feel that the so-called "Majority Text" of Hodges and
Farstad is not the proper, Burgonian way of determining the Greek text of the New Testament,
and we have several written materials as well as audio and video cassettes giving our reasons
for this.
4. As Dean Burgon, The DBS Is NEEDED To Get Out Our Distinctive Message.
There can be no question but that the Dcan Burgon Society is NEEDED in our days in order
to get out our distinctive message favoring the Traditional Masoretic Hebrew Text and the
Traditional Received Greek Text that underlie the King James Bible, as well as defending the
King James Bible as being the only accurate and faithful English translation in existence
today! We trust that the Lord will keep us in our firm and vigilant stance until He comes, and
that our DBS Executive Committee and Advisory Council will continue to function and to be
active in fulfillment of our objectives and purposes!
In view of the foregoing pages, I want to leave you with these summary
thoughts: (1) Keep being faithful to our cause! (2) Keep praying for our cause! (3) Keep giving
to our cause!
And remember, the Dean Burgon Society is well deserving of its name,
because:
1. "D"--As DEAN BURGON, The DBS is a Defending Society.
2. "E"--As DEAN BURGON, The DBS is an Educational Society.
3. "A"--As DEAN BURGON, The DBS is an Adamant Society.
4. "N"--As DEAN BURGON, The DBS is a Neglected Society.
5. "B"--As DEAN BURGON, The DBS is a Believing Society.
6. "U"--As DEAN BURGON, The DBS is an Undaunted Society.
7. "R"--As DEAN BURGON, The DBS is a Relevant Society.
8. "G"--As DEAN BURGON, The DBS is a Growing Society.
9. "O"--As DEAN BURGON, The DBS is an Obedient Society.
10."N"--As DEAN BURGON, The DBS is a Needed Society.
Won't YOU pray about it, read our Articles of Faith, and, if you
agree with our stand, JOIN US IN OUR BATTLE FOR GODS TRUTH!
Index of Words and Phrases
0% of the non-MSS evidence 9
1,000 titles xiv, 24, 37, 55
10% of the manuscript evidence 8
10% of the MSS evidence 8
100 x, 7-10
100 of the ancient Lectionaries 7
100% 8-10
100% of the evidence 8-10
11 words 4
11% of all evidence 8
140,521 4
140,521 Greek words 4
1550 years old 5
1611 x, 10, 11, 21, 23, 33, 41
169 words 4
1850/5 vii
1850/VC2 vii
1873 xii, 18
1881 xiii, xv, 19, 20, 22
30, 35, 37, 39
1967 8, 9
1967 totals 8, 9
1978 v, vii, 1, 23, 31
2,000 pages 54
20 xiii, 8, 9, 28
26th or 27th edition x, 5, 7, 8
300 8, 9
39 changes 4
39 words 4
500 more copies x, 6
7% of all evidence 9
8,765 4
8,765 Greek words 4
8% of the MSS evidence 9
801 pages 3
90% 4
99.6% accurate 4
99.9% accurate 4
abhor 17
absolute 13, 47, 50, 51
absolutely infallible 49
accurate translation 20, 22, 27, 28, 40
acrostic vii, ix, 2
Adamant vii, xiv, xv, 2, 25-27, 56
Aland x, 5-8
Aleph 54
all the verses 21, 27
all the verses in the King James Version 21
Alpha to the Omega 12, 36, 50, 51
ancient Greek Fathers x, 7
ancient Lectionaries 7
ancient versions x, 7-10
Andrew Brown 10
Anglican bishop xv, 30
Anglican Church xi, 13, 17, 30 36, 39, 54
Anglicanism 1
Anglo-Saxon language xi, 10, 11
Apocryphal Books xi, 12
apostasy 13, 15, 27, 30, 36, 39, 54
apostles 3, 10, 16, 26, 32, 46
Articles of Faith xii, xiv, 1, 14, 20-24, 28, 29, 33, 34, 37, 40 41, 53, 55, 56
ascension 15, 45
astray ix, 4, 5
atoning power 34
atoning power of His redeeming blood 34
audio vii, xiv, 24, 37, 55
auricular confession 19
authenticity 3
authoritative ix-xi, 6, 8, 11
authoritative revision ix-xi, 6, 8, 11
authoritative revisions x
Authorized Version 8, 9, 11, 20-22, 28, 33, 40, 41
autographs 20, 27
Awana 24, 43
Awana Churches 24
Awanas errors 24
B iv, ix-xx, 1-6, 10, 12, 14, 17, 18, 20, 23-30, 33, 36, 39-41 43, 44, 47, 48, 50, 52,
54-56
B.D. 18, 47
bark furiously 14, 44
barked furiously xi, 13
baseness 16, 46
believe the whole 48
Believing vii, xv, xvi, xviii, xix, 2, 12, 13, 32-34, 38, 46, 51, 56best learning 6
betrayal 15
Betrayal of a Sacred Trust 15
betrayed 17, 26, 47
#1448 10
#1619 3
#1727 10
#611 5
#804 39
Bible v, x, xi, xiii-xx, 1, 5, 8, 10-13, 16, 19-24, 27, 28, 31-33, 35-37, 39-43, 45, 47-55
Bible an inspired book 51
Bible For Today 24
Bible Preservation 23
Biblical learning 6
Biblical separation 27
Biography 3, 5, 14, 15, 17-20, 25, 26, 30, 32, 33, 39, 44, 45
birettas 19
blasphemous folly xviii, 17, 47
blasphemy xii, xviii, 16, 46
blood xvi, 27, 33, 34, 40
blood and grace of our
Divine Lord 33
blot xi, 13, 51
book vii, xi, xix, 5, 6, 9, 11-13, 15, 18, 19, 23, 24, 32, 35-37, 48-51,
Book of Common Prayer 18, 19
book of reference 11
books of it 12, 36, 50
brochure #1 37
Brooke Foss Westcott 36
Brown 10
Burgon 1, 3-v, vii, ix-xx, 1-28, 30-56
burning zeal xiv, 26
burning zeal for Gods truth 26
Calvary Baptist Church vii
candles 19
Causes of Corruption 23, 36
celestial armoury xx, 52
champion xv, 26
champion in a cause xv, 26
chapters 11, 12, 35, 36, 49
chasuble 19
Chichester 1, 3
childlike heart 52
Church Fathers 8-10
Church of England xiii, xviii, 15, 16, 18, 19, 45-47
Closer Look, A 8, 9
collated x, 6, 7
commentaries 42
commentaries and notes 42
commonly received text is the true one 5
communion xii, 18, 19
companion xi, 11
companion in the study xi, 11
compare Scripture with Scripture 21, 33
compromise xiv, xv, xviii, 25, 26, 45, 47
compromise was a word unknown to him 25
condemn it 17
confession 19
conservatism xii, xviii, 14, 45
consummate ability and learning 11
controversial efforts 26
controverted passages 11
convinced himself 25
courage xiv, 25, 47
courtesy xii, 16, 46
creation xv, xvi, xix, 15, 24, 27, 32, 33, 40, 45, 50
creeds 15, 45
critical edition of the N.T. 5
critical purposes 11
crusade against the faith 16, 46
cursives 8, 9
D.D. 47
danger xi, 13, 14, 28, 44
Darwinian theory 33
DBS v, xiii-xviii, xx, 1, 2, 20-24, 26, 27, 30, 31, 33, 34, 37 38, 40-43, 53, 55, 56
DBS annual meeting 38, 43
DBS News 23, 37
Dean 1, 3-v, vii, ix, xiii-xviii, xx, 1-5, 8-14, 20-28, 30-44, 47, 49, 52-56
Dean Burgon 1, 3-v, vii, ix, xiii-xviii, xx, 1-5, 9-12, 20-27, 30 44, 49, 52-56
Dean Burgon News 1, 23, 31, 43, 55
Dean Burgon Society 1, 3-v, vii, ix, xiii-xviii, xx, 1-3, 5, 20, 23-27, 30, 32, 33, 35-44,
52-56
Dean Burgons Warnings on Revision 39
Dean John William
Burgon 1, 3, vii, 10, 28, 52
Dean of Chichester 1, 3
Defects in the New American
Standard Version 24
Defects in the New International Version 24
Defects in the New King James Version 23
defend without compromise 45
Defending vii, ix, xiii, xvii, xviii, xx, 2, 3, 20, 24, 39, 40, 47, 52, 53, 55, 56
defending society ix, xiii, 2, 3, 20, 56
deficiencies 21, 22, 28, 35, 37, 40
delivered himself with courage 25
deposit xix, 14, 44, 52
de-Christianizing 15
difficult 11, 27
difficult and controverted
passages 11
diligently collated x, 6
diligently inspecting x, 7
direct utterance of the Most High 50
disbelief in the Bible xviii, 45
disbelieve the whole xviii, 48
discarded the Word of God 15, 45
Disestablishment of Religion xii, 15
Divine Master ix, 3
Divine truth xii, 15, 45
Divinely inspired 13, 51
Divines 6
Divinity 13, 15, 18, 19, 45, 47, 48, 51
doctrinal basis ix, 1
double inspiration 55
doubly watchful 52
Dr. Jack Moorman 8, 9
dying rather than recalling 25
Dynamic equivalence 37
E.R.V. 3,
Early Manuscripts and the Authorized Version 8, 9
eastward position 19
edited afresh x, 7
Educational vii, xiii, xiv, 2, 23, 24, 56
educational tools 23
Edward Meyrick Goulburn 3
Edward Miller 4
eight 6
enemies of the gospel 17, 47
English divines 6
English New Testament xi, 11
English Revised Version xiii, xv, xvi, 19, 22, 30,35, 37, 39
English Revised Version of 1881 xiii, 19, 22, 35, 37, 39
Englishmen x, 6, 7
erred 6
error xi, xii, xvii, xviii, xx, 13, 17, 19, 39, 40, 44, 45, 47, 51, 53, 55
ERV xv, 22, 30, 35, 37
Essays and Reviews xii, xviii, 15, 16, 45
essentially the same 5
essentially the same in all 5
eternal punishment 15, 45
eternal Sonship 26
Eucharist 19
evangelists 10, 16, 26, 46
every book of it inspired alike 12
every syllable xi, 12, 36, 49, 50
every word 13, 30, 50, 51
every jot and every tittle of it 13
evidence 7-10, 49, 54
evidence they afford 7
evolution 33
exactly collated x, 7
exactly eight 6
excellent text as it stands ix, 4, 5
expose 13, 21, 22, 28, 40, 55
extant 8, 9
facile princeps 6
faithful 19, 20, 22, 28, 40, 55, 56
fall 15, 45
false principles 8, 9
false principles of Westcott and Hort 8, 9
false versions xvi, 37
Farstad x, 5, 6, 8, 9, 55
fasting 19
fatal to every foe 52
Fathers x, 7-10
faultless 13, 50, 51
feel sure of 25
Fellow of Oriel College 18
Fenton John Anthony Hort 36
fiery indignation 45
filled to overflowing 12, 36, 50
filled to overflowing with the Holy Spirit of God 12, 36, 50
florid ritual xii, 18
folly ix, xviii, 3, 17, 39, 47
force of will xiv, 25
foundation of faith xii, xviii, 16, 46
founding 1, 23
fourteen requirements ix, 5
freely handled 16, 45
from the Alpha to the Omega of it 12, 36, 50, 51
fundamentalist 27
fundamentalist society 27
future revision of the English 6, 11
generally inspired 12, 13, 51
Genesis to Revelation xv, 21, 32, 33, 42
genius x, 10, 26
giants 10
giants in those days 10
given by God 13, 51
good enough ix, 4, 5
good enough for all ordinary purposes ix, 4, 5
gospel narrative 15, 45
Goulburn 3, 14, 17-19, 25, 26, 32, 33, 44
grace of our Divine Lord 33
grasp the torch of truth 52
Greek scholar 54
Griesbach 5
Growing vii, xvii, xviii, 2, 42, 43, 56
guardians 26
half-hour xix, 48
handmaid 11
hard-hitting terms 30
he stood and acted alone 25
he who surrenders the first page 50
heaven xix, 12, 15, 24, 36, 40, 45, 49-52
heaven-descended teaching xix, 52
Hebrew ix, xiii, xvii, 3, 11, 12, 20-22, 24, 27, 28, 31, 35-37, 39, 40, 49, 53, 55
Hebrew Text ix, xiii, xvii, 3, 20-22, 27, 28, 31, 37, 39, 40, 55
hell 15, 24, 40, 45
Hellenistic scholarship 6
heresy xi-xiii, xvii, xx, 13, 17, 21, 39, 40, 47, 53
heretics xii, 13, 17
high heaven were open 12, 36, 50, 51
high mass 19
his very looks 25
historically false xviii, 46
hit my opponents rather hard 14, 44
Hodges x, 5, 6, 8, 9, 28, 55
Hodges & Farstad x, 9
Hodges and Farstad 6, 9, 55
Hodges-Farstad 5, 8
holy communion 18, 19
Holy Eucharist 19
Holy Ghost 13, 42, 50, 51
Holy Scripture xviii, 12, 43, 48, 51
Holy Scripture is inspired 12, 51
Holy Spirit of God 12, 36, 50
hope 14, 33, 44, 45
Hort 1, 5, 8, 9, 30-32, 35-37, 54, 55
How We Got Our Bible 24
ideologically true xviii, 46
if executed with consummate ability 11
immoral characters xviii, 16, 46
imperilled words 30
In Defense of Traditional Bible Texts 40, 53, 54
incarnation 15, 45
incense 19
incredible folly ix, 3
indexed 7
indexing x, 7
indomitable force of will xiv, 25
inerrancy xi, xiii, xix, 1, 11, 13, 21, 27, 30, 33, 48
inerrant 27
inestimable value 11
infallible 27, 49
inferior version xvii, 39
infidel 15, 45, 48
infidelity xii, 16, 46
infinitely precious xv, 26
inspecting x, 7
inspiration xi, xiii, xv, xvi, xviii, xix, 1, 11-17, 21, 23, 26, 28, 32, 33, 35, 36, 42-52, 55
Inspiration and Interpretation 12, 13, 15-17, 23, 32, 35, 36, 42,43, 45-52
inspired xi, xix, 12-14, 21, 32, 36, 44, 49-51, 55
inspired book xi, xix, 13, 51
inspired entirely 12, 36, 50
inspired in every part xi, 13, 51
intrepidity 19, 26
intrinsic 9
intrinsic and transcriptional probabilities 9
Introductory Remarks ix, 1
irreligion xii, 16, 46
Jack Moorman 4, 8, 9
Jewish history 15, 45
John William Burgon 1, 3, vii, 1, 10, 28, 52
join us 56
jot 26
judgment 15, 45
justification 15, 45
K.J.V. 1611 Compared to the Present 23
King James Bible x, xi, xiv, xvii, 5, 8, 10, 11, 20, 22, 24, 27, 28, 31, 35, 37, 39, 40, 43,
53, 55
languages x, 7, 12, 21, 22, 28, 33, 36, 40, 49
Last Twelve Verses of Mark 23, 36
laughed at xv, 30, 31
Lectionaries x, 7-9
lectures 23
lesser details 4, 5
Letis, Theodore 10
letters vii, xi, xix, 2, 11, 12, 30, 33, 35, 36, 49-51
letters of it 12, 36, 50
liberal xi, xviii, 14, 31, 44, 45
liberal party xi, xviii, 14, 44, 45
lifelong familiarity 6
literal xv, xvi, 27, 32-34, 40
literal and obvious sense 32
literary work xi, 10, 11
liturgies 15, 45
living Englishmen 6
looks 25
low mass 19
Majority Greek Text x, 5, 9, 10, 28
Majority Text 10, 43, 55
Majority Text Society 10, 43
marginal notes xi, 11
Mariolatry 19
Masoretic ix, xiii, xvii, 20-22, 27, 28, 31, 37, 39, 40, 55
Masoretic Hebrew Text ix, xiii, xvii, 20-22, 27, 28, 31, 37, 39, 40, 55
mass xii, 18, 19
Master ix, 3
mastered by Englishmen x, 7
materially erred 6
mature ix, 6
May 31, 1990 vii
men of 1611 x, 10
message book 24
Miller 4
miracles 15
misapprehension 13
Missing in Modern Bibles 4
misstatement 13, 51
misunderstanding xvi, 36, 38
Moorman, Dr. Jack 4, 8, 9
motto xiii, 20, 53
NASV 37
Needed vii, xx, 2, 14, 54-56
Neglected vii, xv, 2, 30, 31, 56
Nelson 6
neo-evangelical 27, 31
neo-evangelical compromises 27
Nestle-Aland x, 5, 7, 8
Nestle-Aland 26th or 27th edition 5
Nestle-Aland Greek text x, 7, 8
never lead critical students ix, 4, 5
New American Standard 24, 37
New International Version 24, 37
New King James 23, 37
New Testament ix-xi, 1, 3, 4, 6, 11, 20, 27, 30, 33, 35, 39, 41, 42, 54, 55
New Testament Textus Receptus ix, 3
Newman 17
Newsletter 28
nine cases out of ten ix, 4, 5
NIV 37
NKJV 37
no equal 21, 22, 27, 28, 40
no error or blot xi, 13, 51
no misapprehension or misstatement 13
no one will venture to predicate 5
no revision 10
no revision of our Authorized Version 11
noblest literary work xi, 10, 11
not yet mature ix, 6
November 3-4, 1978 1
Obedient vii, xviii, xx, 2, 44, 47, 52, 53, 56
obvious sense 32
Old Testament ix, 3, 20, 27, 39, 40
once advanced 25
one issue 27, 40
one issue society 27, 40
opponents xi, 14, 44
Oriel College 18
original texts 21, 22, 27, 28, 40
orthodoxy 6
outrageous manner xii, 16, 46
outspokenness 26
Oxford xi-xiii, xviii, 13-15, 17, 18, 23, 44
Oxford Diocesan Conference xiii, 18
Oxford Movement 17
pamphlets xiv, 10, 23, 24, 37, 43, 55
papyrus 8, 9
papyrus fragments 8, 9
perfection of Gods Holy Word 18
Philadelphia 1
Philistines 10
Pickering 10
plenary xi, xiii, xv, xvi, 11, 12, 21, 32, 33
poison 46
prayer for the dead xii, 17
Prebendary Scrivener 6
precious viii, x, xv, 7, 26, 34, 40
precious blood of Christ 34
precious secrets x, 7
prerequisite #1 x, 6, 8, 9
prerequisite #2 x, 6, 8, 9
prerequisite #3 x, 7-9
prerequisite #4 x, 7-9
prerequisite #5 x, 7-9
prerequisite #6 x, 7-9
prerequisites ix, x, 5, 6, 8-10
preserve the deposit 14, 44
preserved 21, 22, 27, 28, 37, 40
preserved texts 21, 27
President, The Dean Burgon Society 1, 3, vii, 1
private edification xi, 11
probabilities 9
proficiency 6
proficiency in the best learning 6
profound theological learning 26
prophecy 15
prophets 16, 26, 46
Providentially preserved
texts 21, 27
punctilious courtesy xii, 16, 46
Pusey 17
quietest half-hour xix, 48
quite good enough ix, 4, 5
radio stations 31
ransacked 7
ransacking x, 7
rationalism xii, 14, 18, 26, 44
read every book 48
read the whole Bible consecutively 48
reading an inspired book xi, 13, 51
recall their words xii, 17, 47
Received Greek Text xvii, 21, 22, 27, 28, 31, 37, 39-41, 55
Received Text ix, 5, 22
received text is the true one 5
redeeming blood 27, 34
redemption 15, 45
reference 11
regeneration 15
Relevant vii, xvii, 2, 39, 40, 56
reprobation xviii, 17, 47
requires revision 5
resign xii, xviii, 17, 47
resign their stations xii, xviii, 17, 47
resurrection xii, 15, 16, 24, 40, 45, 47
Revelation xv, 9, 21, 32, 33, 42, 49, 55
revelation from God 55
reverence for the Word of God 26
Reviewer 15, 45, 46
revised edition 11
Revised Version xiii, xv, xvi, 19, 20, 22, 30, 35, 37, 39
revising 6
revising the sacred text 6
revision ix-xi, xiii, 4-8, 10, 11, 14, 19, 20, 23, 30, 35-37, 39
revision of the Textus Receptus ix, x, 5, 6, 8, 10
Revision Revised 5-7, 10, 11, 14, 19, 20, 23, 35-37, 39, 44
revolutionising 14
revolutionising Oxford 14
ridicule xviii, 17, 47
ritual xii, 18
ritualists xiii, 19
rival translation xi, 11
Roman mass xii, 18
Romanism xii, xiii, 17, 21
Romanism I abhor 17
romanizing xii, 17, 18
romanizing tendencies 17
Romish doctrines xiii, 19
Ruckman, Dr. Peter 55
run with it 52
sacred text xiii, 6, 20
Sacred Trust 15
Saint worship 19
salvation xvi, 2, 15, 24, 33, 40
scholarlike x, 7
scholarlike manner x, 7
scholarship 1, 6
science of textual criticism x, 6, 7
Scrivener, Dr. Frederick 6, 30
season 14, 44
Second Person 15, 45
secrets x, 7
sentences of it 12, 36, 50, 51
separation 14, 24, 27, 40
seriously astray ix, 4, 5
seriously imperilled xi, xviii, 14, 44
sermons xii, 18
Seven Defects 10
Sinai 54
sincerity xiv, 25
six ix-xiii, xv, xvi, xviii, 5, 6, 8-11, 15, 16, 21, 27, 32-34, 40, 45, 46,six clergymen xviii,
15, 16, 45, 46
six literal solar days 27, 34
six of its authors 15, 45
six ordinary days 32
six prerequisites ix, x, 6, 8-10
sixty-six canonical books 21, 33
smallest danger xi, 13, 14, 44
softened 17, 47
solar days 27, 34
speaking sharply 14, 44
species of treason 16, 46
Spirit of their God x, 10
splendid scholarship 6
spurious Greek text 30
stick to our colours 25
stood and acted alone 25
strong hearts 25
strong unwavering hand 52
study xi, xvi, xix, 3, 10, 11, 19, 21, 27, 28, 36, 37, 39, 42, 43, 48, 51, 52
substance 13, 19, 51
supreme 13, 50, 51
surrenders the first page 50
sweet tempers 25
Sword of the Lord 31, 43
syllable xi, 12, 36, 49, 50
syllables 11, 12, 35, 36, 49-51
syllables of it 12, 36, 50
Table of Contents ix
TBS 10
TBS in London 10
ten or twenty years 6
Ten Reasons vii, 2
Ten Reasons Why the DBS Deserves its Name 2
tenacity of purpose 25
Terence Brown 10
Textual Commentary on Matthew 4
textual criticism x, 1, 6-9, 30
Textus Receptus ix, x, xiii, 3-6, 8-10, 20, 31
Textus Receptus Greek Text ix, 3
Textus Receptus revision 4, 5
The Traditional Text xiii, 23, 30, 36, 39
theistic 34
Theodore Letis 10
time for speaking sharply 14, 44
tinkering ix, 3, 39
tinkering the Hebrew text ix, 3, 39
tittle 26
too hard 14, 44
too straight 14, 44
torch of truth 52
tracts 24, 37
Traditional Greek Text 20, 23, 27, 54
Traditional Text xiii, 23, 30, 36, 39, 54
trained Greek scholar 54
transcriptional 9
transfiguration 46
translation xi, 11, 20-22, 27, 28, 33, 35, 37, 40, 49, 55
transubstantiation 19
treason 16, 46
treasured 26
Trinitarian Bible Society 10, 20, 21, 41, 43
true one 5
trumpet 25
trumpet gave no uncertain sound 25
Tyndale 10
unanimous 6
uncertain sound 25
uncials 8, 9
uncompromising 26
Undaunted vii, xvi, 2, 35-38, 56
underlying original texts 22, 28, 40
undermining the faith xii, 18
undivided attention 6
unequally inspired 13, 51
unerring 13, 50, 51
unflinching conservatism xii, 14, 45
university xi, 13-15, 19, 23, 45
University of Oxford 15
unlimited inerrancy 27
unpublished works x, 7
unqualified reprobation xviii, 17, 47
untrustworthy xiii, 20
unwavering hand 52
unyieldedness 25
utterance of the Eternal 12, 36, 50
value 11
variety of sources 5
Vatican 54
verbal xi, xiii, xv, xvi, xix, 1, 11, 12, 21, 32, 33, 36, 49
verbal inspiration xi, xiii, xv, xvi, xix, 1, 11, 12, 21, 32, 33, 36, 49
verses 11, 12, 21, 23, 27, 33, 35, 36, 49
versions x, xvi, xvii, 7-10, 37, 40
very letters xi, 12, 36, 50
very utterance of the Holy Ghost 13, 51
vestments 19
Vicar of St. Mary the Virgins 18
vicarious death 34
video vii, xiv, 24, 55
video cassettes xiv, 24, 55
Waite 1, 3, vi, vii, 1
Warren, Maine vii
watchful 52
watch-dog xi, 13, 14, 44
weapon xx, 52
Westcott xiii, xvi, 1, 5, 8, 9, 21, 22, 30-32, 35-37, 54, 55
Westcott and Hort 1, 8, 9, 30-32, 35, 37, 54, 55
Westcott-Hort 5
Westcott-Hort Greek text 5
when unanimous 6
Wilbur Pickering 10
William Tyndale 10
Word of God xiv, xv, xviii, 13, 15, 21, 23, 26, 27, 30, 32, 33, 42, 43, 45, 49-51, 53
words xi, xii, xvi, xviii, xix, 2, 4, 11-14, 17, 21, 25, 27, 30, 35- 37, 42, 44, 47, 49-51, 57
words of inspiration xi, xviii, 14, 44
words of it 12, 13, 36, 50, 51
words of that text to be inspired 13, 51
words of the Bible to be
inspired 12, 36, 49
work of real genius x, 10
written in his very looks 25
written ministry xvi, 36, 37
Zane Hodges 28
About the Author
The author of this book, Dr. D. A. Waite, received a B.A. (Bachelor of Arts)
in classical Greek and Latin from the University of Michigan in 1948, a Th.M. (Master of
Theology), with high honors, in New Testament Greek Literature and Exegesis from Dallas
Theological Seminary in 1952, an M.A. (Master of Arts) in Speech from Southern Methodist
University in 1953, a Th.D. (Doctor of Theology), with honors, in Bible Exposition from Dallas
Theological Seminary in 1955, and a Ph.D. in Speech from Purdue University in 1961. He holds
both New Jersey and Penn- sylvania teacher certificates in Greek and Language Arts.
He has been a teacher in the areas of Greek, Hebrew, Bible, Speech, and
English for over thirty-five years in nine schools, including one junior high, one senior high,
three Bible institutes, two colleges, two universities, and one seminary. He served his country
as a Navy Chaplain for five years on active duty; pastored two churches; was Chairman and
Director of the Radio and Audio-Film Commission of the American Council of Christian Churches;
since 1971, has been Founder, President, and Director of THE BIBLE FOR TODAY; since 1978, has
been President of the DEAN BURGON SOCIETY; has produced over 700 other studies, books,
cassettes, or VCRs on various topics; and is heard on both a five-minute daily and
thirty-minute weekly radio program IN DEFENSE OF TRADITIONAL BIBLE TEXTS, presently on 25
stations. Dr. and Mrs. Waite have been married since 1948; they have four sons, one daughter,
and, at present, eight grandchildren.
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Our DBS History.
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Our Contorversial DBS Name. Ever since the DBS was founded, there have
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names. It rejected the Textus Receptus that underlies the King James Bible in over 1,800
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Society.
Ten Reasons Why the DBS Deserves Its Name. This book outlines ten
reasons why the Dean Burgon Society de- serves its name. It was taken from a message first
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March, 2001
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Copyright, 2001
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ISBN #1-888328-08-8
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