A Translation of the New Testament from the original Greek: Humbly Attempted with a View to Assist the Unlearned with Clearer and More Explicit Views of the Mind of the Spirit in the Scriptures of Truth

In Short

This volume presents a complete translation of the New Testament directly from the original Greek text, executed with rigorous literal exactness. The narrative follows the life and ministry of Jesus Christ, his earthly teachings, trial, and crucifixion, followed by the birth and expansion of the early Christian church. Through the gospels, the historical accounts of the apostles, pastoral epistles, and apocalyptic visions, the text articulates a cohesive framework of redemption, communal morality, and spiritual endurance. Driven by a desire to make the scriptures accessible to common readers lacking Greek scholarship, the author prioritizes precise word placement and energetic prose over traditional, worn-out phrasing. The work endures as a fascinating artifact of eighteenth-century biblical scholarship, capturing the urgent, unadorned voice of early Christian doctrine.

The Story

The narrative arc opens with the public ministry of Jesus Christ, who initiates his mission by gathering twelve disciples and bestowing upon them authority to heal diseases and cast out unclean spirits. He sends them out with strict instructions to preach the approaching kingdom of heaven without acquiring personal wealth, preparing them for severe persecution, family divisions, and institutional hostility. Jesus moves through towns like Bethany and Capernaum, performing miracles such as raising a young girl from the dead, while delivering radical moral teachings on non-violence, radical forgiveness, and the spiritual dangers of wealth.

Opposition mounts as religious leaders and political authorities take offense at his growing influence and critique of their hypocrisy. In Bethany, a woman performs a prophetic act by anointing Jesus with costly ointment, anticipating his death. Shortly after, Judas Iscariot conspires with the chief priests to betray him for thirty pieces of silver. During a final Passover supper, Jesus establishes a new covenant through bread and wine, predicting both his betrayal and Peter’s eventual denial. Jesus is seized, put on trial, mocked by Roman soldiers, and crucified between two criminals on a hill where he commits his spirit to God. Joseph of Arimathea secures his body and lays it in a newly hewn rock tomb, where devoted women make preparations for burial before observing the sabbath.

Following the resurrection and ascension of Christ, the central action pivots to the formation of the early church in Jerusalem. During Pentecost, believers gather and are filled with the Holy Spirit, enabling them to speak in diverse foreign dialects to the astonishment of visitors from across the ancient world. Peter emerges as an early leader, delivering bold public speeches, healing a paralyzed man named Aeneas, and raising a benevolent woman named Tabitha from death in Joppa. The message expands beyond Jewish circles when Peter receives a vision directing him to visit Cornelius, a Roman centurion, signaling the inclusion of Gentiles in the faith community.

As the movement spreads through Judea, Samaria, and into the broader Greco-Roman world, the apostle Paul assumes a central role. He travels extensively, preaching in synagogues and public forums, such as the Areopagus in Athens, where he debates Epicurean and Stoic philosophers regarding the nature of the unknown God. His ministry sparks severe opposition, leading to his arrest in Jerusalem and subsequent imprisonment in Caesarea. Appearing before Roman rulers Felix, Festus, and King Agrippa, Paul defends his teachings and exercises his rights as a Roman citizen by appealing to Caesar, setting the stage for his journey to Rome.

Interwoven with this historical expansion are extensive pastoral letters addressed to infant churches in places like Galatia, Corinth, and Philippi. These writings systematically address internal conflicts, ethical standards, church administration, and theological challenges, such as the nature of the resurrection body and the supremacy of love. The overall arc culminates in the apocalyptic visions of John, where symbolic events, measuring of the temple, and heavenly proclamations emphasize the ultimate triumph of divine justice over earthly powers.

How It Unfolds

The mission is commissioned Jesus summons twelve disciples, grants them power over unclean spirits, and dispatches them to preach the approaching kingdom of heaven without gold or extra garments. He warns them that their message will provoke deep family divisions and state persecution.

Tensions and teachings escalate Through parables of lost sheep and public rebukes of hypocritical religious leaders, Jesus calls for radical forgiveness and absolute commitment. He commends a poor widow for offering her entire livelihood while warning against public displays of piety.

Betrayal and the final supper A woman anoints Jesus with precious ointment in preparation for his burial, prompting Judas Iscariot to sell his loyalty for thirty pieces of silver. At the Passover meal, Jesus institutes the new covenant and foretells his upcoming death and betrayal.

Crucifixion and burial After undergoing mockery and condemnation, Jesus is executed on a cross, declaring his work finished before expiring amidst extraordinary supernatural signs. Joseph of Arimathea buries the corpse in a new stone tomb as faithful women watch.

Spirit descends at Pentecost Believers gathered in Jerusalem are empowered by the Holy Spirit to speak in the native dialects of visitors from across Asia, Egypt, and Rome. Peter addresses the astonished crowd, declaring the fulfillment of ancient prophecy and the resurrection of Jesus.

Signs and gentile inclusion Peter performs miraculous healings in Lydda and Joppa, restoring a paralytic and raising Dorcas to life. Guided by a heavenly vision, he travels to Caesarea to preach to the Roman centurion Cornelius, opening the church to non-Jewish converts.

Philosophical conflict in Athens Paul travels through Greek cities, eventually facing Epicurean and Stoic philosophers at the Areopagus in Athens. He uses an altar dedicated to an unknown God to explain the nature of a single Creator who raised Christ from the dead.

Legal battles and appeals Brought before Roman governors Festus and King Agrippa on charges brought by religious authorities, Paul defends his record and faith. Exercising his imperial privilege, he appeals his case directly to Caesar, securing passage to Rome under guard.

Epistolic counsel to churches Letters written to scattered Christian congregations establish rules for leadership, urge unity, and tackle moral laxity. Paul instructs leaders like Timothy on church administration while encouraging believers to endure suffering for their faith.

Apocalyptic measuring of the temple John receives a command to measure the inner temple while leaving the outer court to be trampled by Gentiles for forty-two months. Two fiery witnesses preach under sackcloth, are temporarily slain by a hellish beast, and are resurrected into heaven.

The People

• Jesus Christ — The central figure whose life, death, and resurrection form the core foundation of the text. He seeks to reveal the precise mind of God, establish a new covenant, and offer salvation to the lost, confronting religious hypocrisy and accepting a cruel execution to fulfill his mission.
• Simon Peter — A prominent apostle who transitions from an impulsive disciple into a courageous leader of the early church. He wants to serve Christ faithfully, yet initially struggles with fear, denying Jesus before the crucifixion; later, he preaches boldly, heals the sick, and embraces Gentile converts.
• Paul (formerly Saul) — A tireless apostle and writer who wants to establish churches across the Roman world and defend the integrity of the gospel message. Faced with physical danger, legal imprisonment, and false teachers, he continuously writes letters, debates philosophers, and appeals to Caesar to advance his cause.
• Judas Iscariot — One of the original twelve disciples who seeks personal financial gain or alternative motives. He conspires with the chief priests to deliver Jesus into their hands for thirty pieces of silver, ending his trajectory in tragic condemnation and betrayal.
• John the Baptist — An austere prophet who seeks to prepare the people for the Messiah through baptism and calls for ethical reform among tax collectors and soldiers. He incurs the wrath of Herod by rebuking his wicked actions, resulting in his imprisonment.
• Cornelius — A devout Roman centurion in Caesarea who fears God, gives alms, and continuously prays. He seeks explicit spiritual instruction, prompting a divine vision that brings Peter to his household to preach to Gentiles.
• Porcius Festus — A practical Roman governor trying to maintain order while balancing political alliances with Jewish authorities. He seeks to understand the legal charges against Paul, admitting that the dispute centers entirely on religious matters regarding Jesus's resurrection.

In Its Own Voice

To make therefore the Scriptures as intelligible as I can to men of common capacity, who are destitute of the knowledge of the Original, and sometimes perhaps to suggest a sense not unworthy the adoption of the judicious scholar, I have endeavoured to render every passage with the most literal exactness--to use the most forcible and clear expressions corresponding with the Original--not to omit a particle--preserving the participles--and following, as much as the genius of our tongue will permit, the exact order of the Greek words, persuaded that, thus placed, the sense often receives clearness and energy.

— The translator outlines his rigorous, word-for-word methodology designed to bring clarity directly to unlearned readers.

Then Paul standing in the midst of the Areopagus said, Ye men of Athens, I observe that in all things ye are too much devoted to the worship of daemons.

— Paul begins his famous address to Greek philosophers by directly referencing their intense religious devotion.

For that which I am doing I approve not: for not the thing which I wish, that do I practise; but the very thing I hate, that I do.

— The text captures the psychological and moral struggle of human nature contending with internal sin.

What It's Really About

At its core, the text investigates the mechanics of divine revelation and the challenge of living out an absolute moral law in a fallen world. It argues that spiritual truth is singular and precise, requiring a translation method that preserves exact syntax rather than offering vague paraphrases. The text presents humanity as trapped in an intense inner conflict where intellectual desire for good is constantly thwarted by physical frailties and sinful habits. Redemption is offered not through human wisdom or institutional hierarchy, but through a direct spiritual transformation initiated by Christ's sacrifice.

The work also examines the radical restructuring of human society around radical humility, universal love, and selfless service. It repeatedly contrasts the proud, ostentatious wisdom of worldly institutions with the quiet, sacrificial acts of the poor, such as the widow giving her final farthing. Furthermore, it addresses the historical tension of breaking down national boundaries, asserting that divine grace extends equally to all nations, breaking previous ethnic divisions between Jews and Gentiles.

Why Read It Today

Readers drawn to the history of biblical translation or eighteenth-century theology will find this volume deeply engaging. Unlike modern smooth-paraphrase editions, this text offers a distinctive, hyper-literal translation that attempts to preserve the exact order, energetic rhythm, and grammatical structure of the original Greek sentences. This directness gives familiar passages a jarring, fresh clarity that forces the reader to slow down and consider the precise meaning of every clause and particle.

Reading this edition does present specific historical challenges. The language retains eighteenth-century spelling variants, archaic vocabulary, and formal phrasing that reflect its era. Additionally, the translator's commitment to mimicking original Greek word order occasionally produces convoluted English syntax that demands patience. The text also includes explicit period attitudes regarding gender roles, ecclesiastical hierarchy, and stern condemnations of ancient pagan practices that reflect its historical context.

What remains with the reader is the sheer vigor of the prose. The text moves rapidly from intimate, quiet conversations between Jesus and his followers to grand courtroom speeches and intense apocalyptic visions. It offers a rare window into an era when translators believed that altering a single word order could obscure divine truth, resulting in a work of remarkable conviction, scholarly discipline, and stark literal power.