Let's set the scene. It's the late 1800s, and a massive project to create a new, more accurate English Bible—the English Revised Version (ERV)—has just finished. Many celebrated it as a scholarly triumph. But one man, Dean John William Burgon, saw it as a shocking act of vandalism. 'The Revision Revised' is his fiery, detailed protest. It's not a narrative with characters and a plot; think of it as a meticulously argued legal brief or a series of powerful lectures put to paper.

The Story

Burgon's 'story' is the conflict itself. He believed the ERV translators made two huge mistakes. First, they relied heavily on a couple of very old but, in his view, corrupt Greek manuscripts (like the Codex Vaticanus and Sinaiticus). Second, in doing so, they removed or cast doubt on several well-known passages, like the ending of the Gospel of Mark and the story of the woman caught in adultery. Burgon marches through these changes one by one. He quotes the traditional text (the 'Textus Receptus'), quotes the new revision, and then unleashes his arguments about why the change is wrong, poorly supported, or theologically dangerous. His writing is full of dramatic, almost angry, conviction. He's not a dispassionate observer; he's a defender under siege.

Why You Should Read It

You should read this not to find the 'right' answer about Bible translation, but to feel the raw nerve it touched. Burgon’s passion is contagious. Even when his arguments feel extreme (and he calls the new translators' work 'perverse' and 'miserable'), you feel the weight of what's at stake for him: the very words he believed were God's. It's a masterclass in seeing how deeply people care about texts. It also forces you to think about authority. Who has it? Ancient scribes? Modern professors? The church tradition? Burgon puts all his faith in the traditional text that shaped English-speaking Christianity for centuries. This book is a fascinating window into a crisis of faith that most of us never knew happened.

Final Verdict

This is a niche book, but a thrilling one for the right reader. It's perfect for anyone curious about the history of the Bible, translation debates, or Victorian religious controversy. If you enjoy seeing a brilliant, opinionated mind in full battle mode, you'll be captivated. Be warned: it's dense and polemical. It's not a balanced, modern overview. It's one side of a furious argument, delivered with unforgettable force. Read it to understand a pivotal moment in religious history and to meet one of its most unforgettable champions.