WESTCOTT AND HORT
Brooke Foss Westcott (1825-1901) and Fenton John Anthony Hort (1828-1892) produced a Greek New Testament in 1881 based on the findings of Tischendorf.
This Greek NT was the basis for the Revised Version of that same year.
They also developed a theory of textual criticism which underlay their Greek NT and several other Greek NT since (such as the Nestle’s text and the United Bible Society’s text).
Greek New Testaments such as these produced the modern English translations of the Bible we have today.
So it is important for us to know the theory of Westcott and Hort as well as something of the two men who have so greatly influenced modern textual criticism.
• In short, the Westcott and Hort theory states that the Bible is to be treated as any other book would be.
• Westcott and Hort believed the Greek text which underlies the KJV was perverse and corrupt.
• Hort called the Textus Receptus “vile and villainous”
If Westcott and Hort are the fathers of modern textual criticism and the ‘restorers of the true text’, should we not know something of their beliefs to see if they are consistent with Scripture?
This would be harmonious with the teaching found in Matthew 7:17.
It is one thing to have doctrinal differences on baby-sprinkling and perhaps a few other interpretations. It is another to be a Darwin-believing theologian who rejects the authority of scriptures, Biblical salvation, the reality of hell, and makes Christ a created being to be worshipped with Mary his mother. Yet, these were the views of both Westcott and Hort. No less significant is the fact that both men were members of spiritist societies (the Hermes Club and the Ghostly Guild).
source: http://www.alcorne.free-online.co.uk/w_and_hQ.htm
