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The basis text for most modern translations is the Westcott and Hort New Testament in Greek based off a revised Greek Text and a Latin text, both of which are accepted Catholic texts. These text where hidden in the Vatican library. There are some things you need to know about the text they use and their personal beliefs that do affect their views. The two worked together for around 28 years and the disagreed about the translation of the text they used. They were open to Latin and Catholic ideas and seemed to prefer them. Westcott even called his wife “Mary” even though that wasn’t her name. They were Cambridge scholars who applied Philosophy to their understanding of Scripture and their translations of the bible. They where Vatican empathizers who took two  Catholic Sources (the Sinaiticus and the Vaticanus) to produce their version of the greek Bible which has influenced the Nestle greek text and the New World Translation of the Jehovah’s Witnesses. Westcott’s son said his father was a “Spiritualist” that’s an odd description for a man who translated the bible. Why would the son of a bible translator call his father a “Spiritualist” not a “Christian?” Seems odd to me. There is a lot more here than just that.

Their Manuscript Sources

The two manuscripts that Westcott and Hort used were the Vaticanus and Sinaiticus. They believed that Codex Bezae, Old Latin and the Old Syriac were the original foundation of the New Testament text. It has been found that Matthew was written first in Hebrew then translated into Greek later. Actually it is stated that they gospels were first written in Hebrew then later translated into Greek. There are translations of the scriptures into Aramaic that can be found to date to around the same time frame. Why would Latin and not Koine Greek be the foundation? Isn’t the Vulgate in Latin not Greek? These ideas are common in the Orthodox and Catholic realms of Coptic, Greek Orthodox and Catholic. Syriac is an emphasis of the Coptic or Ethiopian Orthodox communities. Paul spoke and was able to write in Greek. The Gospel where however first written in Hebrew then later translated into Greek then Latin and so on and on.

Fourth Century Latin Sources?

Why would they choose later latin based text that was hid away in the Vatican library of all places? As Westcott and Hort use text accepted by the Byzantine council of Nicene headed by Constantine in Constantinople. There is a solid tradition of scholarship in the Aramaic translations of the Eastern Orthodox communities that should not be overlooked by “Greek” or “Latin” only proponents.  When Matthew was translated back into Hebrew it was found to be written in perfect rhyme form in Hebrew. How is this possible if Greek is the primary language? Its not. So Westcott and Hort had decided to use fallible Vatican text for their translation. Why? And why should we trust them. I submit we should not because revised latin accepted Catholic text doesn’t equal a recipe for success but failure.

The Codex Vaticanus

Why would Codex Vaticanus be a primary text for these Cambridge learned, scholars who were members of the Church of England? The text had been held in the Vatican library since the 14th century by Pope Nicholas the fifth. The Textus Receptus differed from the Vulgate and the Codex Vaticanus supports the Vulgate revisionism. I don’t understand why “biblical scholars” would accept a less accurate and revised Latin text as their base text. Something interesting to note is that both Westcott and Hort where Alexandrian occultist who believed in the cult of Hermes, were members of the Ghost Society and believed in Esoteric interpretation of Scripture. For those who believe in a literal translation of the original text this is not looking to be a solid foundation for biblical thinking. They strongly believed in the principled of Greek philosophy and were socialist leaning theosophists. Codex Vaticanus gained a reputation for agreeing with the Vulgate instead of the Textus Receptus. Before the 19th century no scholar was allowed to study the Codex Vaticanus, why did Westcott and Hort change this? Doesn’t sound like sound logic. All critical editions of the New Testament after Westcott and Hort are closer to the Vaticanus Codex rather than the Sinaiticus text. The Nestle-Aland follows the Westcott-Hort Text which used the Vaticanus as its basis text.

Codex Sinaiticus

The Sinaiticus text came to the attention of 19th century scholars in a Greek Orthodox Monastery at Mount Sinai. The text included the apocryphal books, Epistle of Barnabas and the Shepherd of Hermas. There is debate over where it was written and when. Hort believes it was written in the West in Rome. The chapter divisions in Acts are common in the Sinaiticus, Vaticanus and the Latin Vulgate, however they are not found in any other place in that same manner. Codex Sinaiticus was one of the fifty copies of the bible that Constantine commissioned Eusebius to make. They were based off a revised Greek translation by a bishop in the Orthodox community of the third century. The Sinaiticus was connected to the manuscript of Pamphilus in the 6th century.

The Codex Bezae

The Codex Bezae was written in the 5th century in both Greek and Latin. This is an odd and late addition to the mess of Latin Vulgate influenced text used. Why would they choose a latin and Catholic influenced text. This seems like a central theme. When people look to good “Catholic” “Church Fathers” then there is bound to be error when we don’t look to the historic Nazerene’s or early believers in Yeshua. Protestants must not forget that Catholic Church “Fathers” are not biblical New Testament scholars but Catholic priest bent toward the ideas of Universalism which is influenced by Mithraism, Platonist and some New Testament reference verses and code words thrown in to sound an appear “Christian” when they are in fact not.

Who is Westcott?

Westcott was an Cambridge trained philosopher and professor, who studied the Alexandrian cults, co-founded the “Ghost Society” at Cambridge and believed in Esoteric interpretations of Scripture. Science and philosophy were central to Westcott’s belief. He wrote articles for Smith’s bible dictionary on the topics of biblical canon, Maccabees and the Vulgate, of all things. He was a philospher at heart and a spiritiualist by practice.

Esoteric theology

“One of his most valuable works, The Gospel of Life (1892), a study of Christian doctrine, incorporated the materials upon which he was delivered a series of more private and esoteric lectures on week-day evenings.” – Wikipedia

Why is a bible teacher giving esoteric lectures and starting a Ghost Society in which they held séances and believed to speak to the dead? This is odd to me and very contradictory. The bible and esoteric teaching, ghosts, séances and the bible don’t have the same place together.

Socialist Leanings

Westcott had very strong socialist ideals. He spoke on the Social Aspects of Christianity and was a staunch supporter of the cooperative movement. The Christian Social Union was founded upon his ideals.

The Universalist / Platonist

“He studied assiduously The Sacred Books of the East, and earnestly contended that no systematic view of Christianity could afford to ignore the philosophy of other religions. The outside world was wont to regard him as a mystic; and the mystical, or sacramental, view of life enters, it is true, very largely into his teaching. He had in this respect many points of similarity with the Cambridge Platonists of the 17th century, and with F.D. Maurice, for whom he had profound regard.” – Wikipedia

Here is another odd connection to Platonists and Universalism. If you look at many of the modern bible translations you can find the Universal approach to text interpretation and the Platonists philosophical approach is heavy. Universalism and Platonist are pagan ideals that shouldn’t be mentioned in the same sentence as bible translations. Yet, these two men didn’t find the ideas of the  Alexandrian cult and other sacred books to be opposed to right understanding of the bible. Actually, Westcott believed that to rightly interpret scripture you had to understand the other philosophies and ideas outside of the Christian or Hebraic circles. He advocated that having a bible only philosophy or a literal approach without a broader universal ideas was heresy which itself sounds like heresy.

The Reformer?

“He was a strong supporter of Church reform.” – Wikipedia

Westcott advocated a broader approached to theology, biblical reinterpretation in light of world philosophy, esoteric Christian teachings and speaking with ghosts. What exactly would we be reforming? This is another reason I am not an advocate of “re-imaging” the church or reinterpreting how we do Church. We should go back to right practice (ortho-praxy) and doing based on historical foundations of the Hebraic-Jewish Roots of Christianity (ortho-doxy), not on a new neo-pagan universalist approach.

The Recluse & Mysthic?

“He surprised the world, which had supposed him to be a recluse and a mystic, by the practical interest he took in the mining population of Durham and in the great shipping and artisan industries of Sunderland and Gateshead.” – Wikipedia

So he was thought to be a recluse and mystic and they found it odd that he was interested in socialist ideals and principles. The fact that he found time to be involved in the mining, shipping and artisan communities was found to strike the people as odd. Being a mystic and a bible scholar and socialist weren’t considered to be the norm at the time. He did stick out from the crowd and had some rather odd ideas for his time.

Absolutes Equal Heresy? Absolutes Equal Controversy?

“The student of Christian doctrine, because he strives after exactness of phrase, because he is conscious of the inadequacy of any one human formula to exhaust the truth, will be filled with sympathy for every genuine endeavour towards the embodiment of right opinion. Partial views attract and exist in virtue of the fragment of truth–be it great or small–which they include; and it is the work of the theologian to seize this no less than to detect the first spring of error. It is easier and, in one sense, it is more impressive to make a peremptory and exclusive statement, and to refuse to allow any place beside it to divergent expositions; but this show of clearness and power is dearly purchased at the cost of the ennobling conviction that the whole truth is far greater than our individual minds. He who believes that every judgment on the highest matters different from his own is simply a heresy must have a mean idea of the faith; and while the qualifications, the reserve, the lingering sympathies of the real student make him in many cases a poor controversialist,” (Lessons from Work, pp. 84-85).” – Westcott

So we shouldn’t endeavor to have a right opinion? That’s a bad idea. I thought right interpretation was the right endeavor. The notion of a Universal approach to philosophy and biblical reinterpretation where needed? I’m sorry I have to completely disagree with that. Exclusive statements that showed clearness of mind where supposed to bow to the far greater divergent expositions? This is odd for someone who would translate the bible of a the literal God of all to not speak emphatically. So God isn’t absolute and His words aren’t final? This can’t be true. And we need to study the books of Eastern religions to better understand the “God” of the bible? See I have a problem with these ideas. God is literal and His original words to us are inspire, infallible, immutable and unchangeable.

Heaven A State Of Mind? Not A Place?

“No doubt the language of the rubric is unguarded, but it saves us from the error of connecting the presence of Christ’s glorified humanity with place: heaven is a state and not a place.”  – Westcott to the Archbishop of Canterbury

So, “heaven” and “hell” aren’t actual places their just a state of existence? So we shouldn’t connect Christ to such a place as heaven? Okay, I’m a little lost. We should trust this guy why? Nirvana in Buddaism is a state of transcendental meditation in which one empties the mind through physical deprivation and chanting that leads to an empty vessel with a blank slate of physiological disconnectedness. This is called cognitive dissonance which is a space of non-use of your brain, appetite of faculties. This is what Hort is calling “Heaven!?”

And his Co-Hort’s Connection To Secret Societies and enlightened Free Masons?

Westcott and Hort where founders of the Ghost Society, and the Philosophy Club which changed its name to the Hermes Club? Why does it seem they had connections to enlightened and excepted Free Masons, esoteric teaching, ghosts, socialism and other ideas we find contrary to right understanding of the bible. Many Anglicans were Freemasons. They were Cambridge influenced Platonist and Universalist. Why where they members of the Ghost Society and the Hermes Club? Why did Westcott call himself a “Soldier of Christ” in the vein of Knights Templar, Knights of Malta and Knights of Christ? The were also a part of the Claphm sect which was missionary organization which also included William Wilberforce as members.

The Ghost Society

The Cambridge Ghost Society claims B.F. Westcott and F.J.A. Hort as members. Two years after founding the Ghost Society, Hort-Westcott, started their revision of New Testament scripture interpretation. During their time revising the bible they where involved in secret societies at Cambridge and political organizations from the Hermes Club, to the Ghost Society, to the Cambridge Company of Apostles, and to the Socialistic ideals they upheld. The same year that Westcott formed the Ghost Society he wrote his Norrisian prize essay the “Elements of Gospel Harmony.” Those two ideas are not harmonious at all. The Ghost Society was a group of Cambridge academics and clergy who believed in contacting the dead. The club was revived on All Saints Day, November 2nd 1882 by a medium, a reverend and a son of a writer. Sir Arthur Conan Doyle was a member of this group and a known occultist. Psychic phenomenon was believed to be an established fact and something that was studied and explored. The archives of the club reveals the names of members both alive and dead where recognized by the club. Many of the dead members where believed to be felt to be present in their meetings. They discussed topics from Egyptian magic and to second sight or remote viewing. Second sight or remote viewing is said to be an extrasensory perception where you can perceive things that are not present to the senses. The Ghost Club was a Victornia Cult or Spiritualist Society that celebrated the Feast of All Souls. Westcott’s son states that his father was indeed a “Spiritualist.” In the 20th century the group moved away from séance room investigation into psychic research into parapsychology. Like the Mormons they claim to be able to speak with the dead.

The Hermes Club

Westcott and Hort founded several occult societies, two of which were the Hermes Club and the aforementioned Ghostly Guild. The Hermes club was a Platonist philosophy club that believed in Alexandrian principles. The original name was the Philological Society. This is a group in which they read each others papers and discussions. This bear resemblance to the “Inklings” and other groups of writers and philosophers who sought to meet together and engage in discussion. Westcott’s son stated the following topics where covered by his father;

“The Lydian Origin of the Etruscans; The Nominative Absolute; The Roman Games of (or at) Ball; The so-called Aoristic Use of the Perfect in Latin; The Funeral Ceremonies of the Romans; The Eleatic School of Philosophy; The Mythology of the Homeric Poems; The Theology of Aristotle; Theramenes.” – Wikipedia

There were only a few occasions where meetings were suspended one was when Westcott was elected the “Battie” Scholarship, as Westcott was a central member of this group. The last recorded of the meeting took place in Westcott’s room in which they discussed the character Theramenes and had chose Philopoemen as the next topic of discussion before leaving.

Who was Hermes?

In the Odyssey Hermes is the conductor of the dead to Hades. Which is a central theme of the Ghost Society, namely contact with the dead. So the connection is apparent to mythology. Hermes was also believed to be the “god” of divination another practice used in divining or speaking with the dead through the Ghost Society. Hermes was believed to be the “god” of magic and occult wisdom, cunning and trickery. So why was their group named after the lord of death? This is very odd for one who would seek to interpret scripture rightly.

The Apostles Club

Hort and Westcott were listed to be a member of the Cambridge group, the Apostles Club. They agreed to a conspiracy of silence. The Cambridge Apostles are an intellectual secretive society of the University of Cambridge. Members of the group were called “Apostles” and former members are called “Angels.” What is this fixation, with Ghosts, the dead and other unbiblical ideas. King Saul lost the anointing of God for trying to having a practitioner of divination contact the dead spirit of Elijah. The “Apostles” were exposed in the Cambridge spy ring of the 1950’s for accessing high level of the British government and passing information to the KGB, one of who was a former Apostle and had connections to the Rothschild family. Secret societies and institutions of higher learning lead to bad things. We should not trust educated learned men who are part of fraternal organizations because in principle they hide the truth of what they believed and practice.

The Jehovah’s Witness-New World Translation Connection

“The Greek text that we have used as a basis of our NW translation is the widely accepted Westcott and Hort text (1881) by reason of its admitted excellence. But we have also taken in to consideration other texts including that prepared by D. Eberhard Nestle and that compiled by the Spanish Jesuit scholar Jose Maria Bover and that by the other Jesuit scholar A. Merk.” – NWT Forward

Can a translation trusted by a cult group be trusted for groups who seek the truth? If Jehovah’s Witnesses don’t like the way the Textus Receptus points towards ideas that are opposed to the Catholic Vulgate influenced revision, why should we trust it? Jehovah’s Witnesses, like Westcott deny hell as a real place. They also deny the deity-divinity of Christ as Lord G-D, in unison with the Father who is LORD G-d. There are many things wrong with the Latin Vulgate influenced text. Westcott and Hort couldn’t agree on their interpretations of the text. There shared in common the Vulgate influenced text, yet didn’t agree on the translation of that text. Why should we accept a questionable source? I submit we should not.

“This may sound cowardice I have a craving that our text should be cast upon the world before we deal with matters likely to brand us with suspicion. I mean a text issued by men who are already known for what will undoubtedly be treated as dangerous heresy will have great difficulty in finding its way to regions which it might otherwise hope to reach.” – Hort

Study all things and hold fast to what’s true. I wrote this article only to inform and educate. Please feel free to provide feedback. I only want to share information I find helpful. You should search these things out for yourself. I believe in the inspiration of the original text, translation does loose some of the original text, we should all seek to learn the biblical languages and be bible scholars, in our own right. And you will know the truth and it will make you free. For more information on bible translations check out the post Bible Versions Mini-Yeshiva (Study).

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