Six Lectures on the Text of the New Testament and Ancient Manuscripts: Chiefly Addressed to Those Who Do Not Read Greek

"SIX LECTURES ON THE TEXT OF THE NEW TESTAMENT AND THE ANCIENT MANUSCRIPTS WHICH CONTAIN IT, CHIEFLY ADDRESSED TO THOSE WHO DO NOT READ GREEK. BY F. H. SCRIVENER, MA., LL.D., RECTOR OF ST. GERRANS. ABRIDGED BY THE OLD PATHS PUBLICATIONS" Personally, I do not agree with many of Dr. Scrivener's conclusions, but because he was such an influence on bibliology, languages (especially Greek), textual criticism, and translation, we decided to make this treatise available. His comments concerning Constantine Simonides and Codex Sinaiticus and are humorous and cogent for the serious student of Bible history.This is an abridged copy of Dr. F. H. Scrivener's book on 6 lectures delivered at Cambridge in 1875. Excess pages related to books printed in the late 1800's were removed as well as the 'Index' ignored since the size of the book was changed to a larger size book to reduce the print costs. Footnotes were brought into the text. Dr. Scrivener's comments about Biblical manuscripts were kept intact. Page references within his text to pages in the work are no longer correct. "Dr. Scrivener was a brilliant scholar; his Greek text of the Received Text is still used by many schools, professors of Greek, and others. Scrivener was the undisputed expert in the 19th century of the existing Greek New Testament manuscripts, and on the KJV in its various editions. He did a thorough study of these ancient texts and published many of his findings. For example, it was his opinion that some parts of the KJV follow only loosely the Greek text but very closely the Latin Vulgate." (From Truth.org). His picture is on the back cover of the book.The Old Paths Publications presents this volume which was composed by an accomplished scholar and author, whose Greek TR is widely used by universities and authorities as a gold standard. He is an example of great learning, but seemingly lacking the acceptance of Scripture's proclaimation, which declares the plenary preservation of God's Words. He disdains that the vast majority of manuscripts are virtually identical as reported by Dean John Burgon and lately by Dr. D. A. Waite. He spends an inordinate time on fraudulent MSS. Dean John William Burgon said: "IT MATTERS NOTHING THAT ALL (A, B, א, C, D, ...ESPECIALLY B AND א) ARE DISCOVERED ON CAREFUL SCRUTINY TO DIFFER ESSENTIALLY, NOT ONLY FROM NINETY-NINE OUT OF A HUNDRED OF THE WHOLE BODY OF EXTANT MSS BESIDES, BUT EVEN FROM ONE ANOTHER. "THIS LAST CIRCUMSTANCE, OBVIOUSLY FATAL TO THEIR CORPORATE PRETENSIONS, IS UNACCOUNTABLY OVERLOOKED. AND YET IT ADMITS OF ONLY ONE SATISFACTORY EXPLANATION: VIZ. THAT IN DIFFERENT DEGREES THEY ALL FIVE EXHIBIT A FABRICATED TEXT." (Burgon, Revision Revised, pp. 11-12). So, enjoy this abridged treatise (advertisements in the back of the book as well as an Index that is no longer valid.), but never doubt God's proclamations about His inspired Words and exhortation to preserve them throughout the generations. H. D. Williams, M. D., Ph. D., CEO The Old Paths Publications, Inc TOP@theoldpathspublications.com www.theoldpathspublications.com February 2025