The Grounds of Christianity Examined by Comparing The New Testament with the Old — Reading Notes

The Charge of Misquotation

English does not merely argue that New Testament authors interpreted Old Testament passages differently; he accuses them of deliberate distortion. In his analysis of Paul's use of Hosea, English writes that Paul 'wilfully, (yes wilfully, for Paul was a learned man, and knew better) perverted the original from its proper reference.' The passage in Romans 9:24-26, which Paul applies to Gentiles, English insists refers entirely to the Israelites in its original context. Similarly, English points to Romans 9:33, where Paul 'jams two distant passages together no ways related' from Isaiah 8 and 28, altering words to apply them to Jesus. These examples are presented as evidence of a pattern, not isolated errors.

Contradictions in the Conversion Narrative

English also targets the internal consistency of the New Testament itself. He highlights a discrepancy in Paul's account of his conversion: in Acts 26, Paul says his companions 'saw indeed the light, and were afraid, but heard not the words of him that spake to me,' while Acts 9 states that the men 'stood speechless, hearing the voice, but seeing no one.' English uses this to question Paul's credibility, noting that 'in telling the story of his conversion, he ought to have had a better memory.' This observation is part of a broader argument that the New Testament's historical reliability is undermined by such contradictions.

The Scope of the Examination

The book's seventeen chapters cover a wide range of topics beyond prophecy and quotation. English examines the character of Jesus, the argument from martyrdom, the Mosaic Law as a temporary or perpetual institution, and doctrines derived from the Cabbala and Oriental philosophy. He also considers the 'gift of tongues' and other miraculous powers, applying tests from Deuteronomy to distinguish true from false prophets. The final chapters address the peculiar morality of the New Testament as it affects nations and political societies, and whether the Old Testament actually teaches a resurrection and life to come. The excerpts show a work that is both critical and systematic, grounded in close reading of the biblical text.

Readers approaching this work should be prepared for a dense, argument-driven text that assumes familiarity with both Testaments. English writes in a direct, sometimes combative style, but his claims are always tied to specific passages. The book is best read with a Bible at hand to verify the quotations and contexts he discusses. It represents a significant early American contribution to rationalist biblical criticism.

That book left me with a strange quiet ache, the way careful arguments sometimes do when they dismantle something you assumed was solid. It reminded me of another old text, a closer reading of Philo, where the same patient, sorrowful scrutiny of scripture lingers. There’s a particular loneliness in that kind of devotion. Philo-Judæus of Alexandria — A Closer Reading holds a similar, sobering light.