Fenton John Anthony Hort

Fenton John Anthony Hort was born in 1828 and died in 1892. Like his friend Brooke Foss Westcott, Hort had a major role in Bible History, in that he was a major component of the Revised Version published in 1881.

F.J.A. Hort worked on the committee of the Revised Version of the Bible. The Revised Version, was commissioned only to supposedly correct any errors in the King James Bible. The committee was ordered not to change manuscripts, or to use any manuscripts not used in the King James Bible, and also that any and all revisions made had to be incredibly limited. This was the plan . . . though misguided by the thought that there were errors in the King James Bible, they were decent in wanting to keep to the manuscripts that had been proven to be true and reliable. However, Hort, along with his friend Westcott, did not have convictions that the Bible was the Word of God, and were deceived into believing and teaching that the manuscripts used to put together the King James Bible of 1611, should be discarded. Because of this, Hort (and Westcott), subtly introduced other manuscripts and caused the committee to slowly completely depart from the Manuscripts they were told to strictly use. They did so subtly because if it was realized what was being done, they would have most likely been kicked off the committee. Hort succeeded in doing just what he wanted, and the end result was that when the Revised Bible was completed, it was no longer a "more correct" King James Bible, but a completely different Bible, with Different manuscripts and corruptions galore. Researching, it becomes evident that these corruptions were in line with the unbiblical beliefs of F.J.A. Hort.

When dealing with Spiritual things, we must consider the beliefs of others. In the case of Hort, most certainly we should consider what he believed, in order to determine whether he was trustworthy to handle the Word of God. We may say that it is fine for a person to handle translating or reading the Word of God, so long as they have good knowledge of the languages. However, we must remember that in God's eyes, the wisdom of this world is foolishness! The Holy Spirit alone gives knowledge of God's Word the Bible. As the verse at the top of the page says, the natural man knows not the things which are spiritually discerned.

So, let's look at a handful of the beliefs Hort had, being confessed by quotes out of his own mouth.

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The Bible . . . No Different From Other Books

For ourselves, we dare not introduce considerations which could not reasonably be applied to other ancient texts, supposing them to have documentary attestation of equal amount, variety and antiquity.¹

In the New Testament, as in almost all prose writings which have been much copied, corruptions by interpolation are many times more numerous than corruptions by omission.²

Here we see more than one heretical belief. First we see that Hort believed that the Bible was no different from any other ancient text. If we trusted and believed as Hort, we would hold the Bible with equal reverence as we would to Shakespearean plays, or any other type of text which is considered ancient! Next we see that Hort also believed that corruptions within the New Testament, were just as numerous and happened just the same as with any other secular prose writing! Hort doesn't just say that the New Testament possibly had a few mistakes, but rather said matter-of-factly, that the New Testament, being supposedly just like any other writing, had the corruptions introduced more likely by additions, or interpolation, than omissions! Clearly Hort did not believe the Bible was the Word of God. Hort believed the Bible was just like any other book in this world.

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Biblical Eden and Adam's Fall . . . Never Existed

I am inclined to think that no such state as "Eden" (I mean the popular notion) ever existed, and that Adam's fall in no degree differed from the fall of each of his descendants, as Coleridge justly argues.³

Here we see that Hort did not believe the Biblical Notion of the Garden of Eden Existed. This is expected because Hort, as seen above, did not take the Bible any more seriously than any other secular book. The Bible was not any more inspired than the books of the World, according to him. Hort didn't believe in Eden, nor did he see Adam's fall as any different from our own sinning! Yet there is a major difference, for by Adam's fall, all creation became cursed and we all were subject to sin and death. Adam's initial disobedience was the spark that started a major "domino effect" so to speak. Adam, before the fall, was perfect. Yet we his descendants, were never perfect!

We also see a mention that Hort took kindly to the teachings of Coleridge. Coleridge was a poet addicted to opium. Sadly he never escaped the addiction, and it did indeed affect his creativity . . . and beliefs. Coleridge is known for his work titled Aids to Reflection, "Its chief aim is to harmonize formal Christianity with Coleridge's variety of transcendental philosophy."⁴

Hort, who according to his son, "came under the spell of Coleridge"⁵, placed more emphasis on Greek Philosophy than revelation by Scripture, as quoted saying to a Mr. MacMillian:

You seem to make (Greek) philosophy worthless for those who have received the Christian revelation. To me, though in a hazy way, it seems full of precious truth of which I find nothing, and should be very much astonished and perplexed to find anything in revelation.⁶

I call Colossians 2:8 to remembrance now: "Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ."

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Darwin . . . Unanswerable

. . . Have you ever read Darwin? How I should like to talk with you about it! In spite of difficulties, I am inclined to think it unanswerable. In any case it is a treat to read such a book.7

But the book which has most engaged me is Darwin. Whatever may be thought of it, it is a book that one is proud to be contemporary with . . . My feeling is strong that the theory is unanswerable. If so, it opens up a new period.⁸

Rather than believe the Biblical account of Creation, as stated in Genesis, Hort decides to believe a theory of man over the Word of God. If you notice something else, it is almost as though Hort believes the Theory is infallible, without mistake, in that it cannot possibly be refuted . . . it is unanswerable to him! Yet Hort denied the infallibility of Scripture and thought it had many mistakes. Sadly, Hort has chosen to believe man's words over God's Word. God would not have such a person play around with His Word to make it a "more understandable" translation.

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Christ's Atonement . . . Heresy

The fact is, I do not see how God's justice can be satisfied without every man's suffering in his own person the full penalty for his sins.9

Certainly nothing can be more unscriptural than the modern limiting of Christ's bearing our sins and sufferings to His death; but indeed that is only one aspect of an almost universal heresy.¹⁰

Sadly, Hort was not a believer in Christ Jesus. Hort actually has the audacity to call the Truth that by the Sacrifice of Christ Jesus we have the remission of ALL our sins, heresy! Hort believed that to believe that Christ died for all our sins, and that His Sacrifice is sufficient for salvation . . . is to be a heretic! Hort Believed that Salvation was not taken care of at the Cross . . . that every man had to pay the FULL PENALTY for his sins . . . and Hort believed that this was done both in this life and in the unscriptural and truly heretical place of purgatory.

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Hort's Racism

I do not for a moment forget what slavery is, or the frightful effects which Olmsted has shown it to be producing on white society in the South; but I hate it much more for its influence on the whites than on the niggers themselves. The refusal of education to them is abominable; how far they are capable of being ennobled by it is not clear. As yet everywhere (not in slavery only) they have surely shown themselves only as an immeasurably inferior race, just human and no more, their religion frothy and sensuous, their highest virtues, those of a good Newfoundland dog.11

Hort starts out sounding great. He starts out sounding as though he rightly knew and hated slavery. But then he takes a huge turn and shows that he hates Slavery only because it has a poor effect on the Slave Owners themselves! He calls the slaves "niggers" and further says that though education should be offered to them, he believed that it wouldn't help them out because they are an "inferior race", and were nothing more than base humans! Such arrogance and racism indeed! Hort says their highest virtues are the same as a "good Newfoundland dog." Though I am not African American, I still take great offence at these statements made by a man that has been praised and allowed to give us the base of Modern Bible Versions!

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Hort's Occultic Practices & Beliefs

Westcott, Gorham, C.B., Scott, Benson, Bradshaw, Luard, etc., and I have started a society for the investigation of ghosts and all supernatural appearances and effects, being all disposed to believe that such things really exist, and ought to be discriminated from hoaxes and mere subjective delusions; we shall be happy to obtain any good accounts well authenticated with names. Westcott is drawing up a schedule of questions. Cope calls us the "Cock and Bull Club;" our own temporary name is the "Ghostly Guild."¹²

Hort believed so much in ghosts and the paranormal activities such as poltergeists et al., that he, along with his dear friend B.F. Westcott and others, even went as far as to establish a "club" or "society" that searches out and proves such cases to be real and not hoaxes or delusions! This is indeed occultic. Not to mention completely unbiblical. Did the dear Scholar Hort never read in the Word of God that man is appointed to die Once and after that, the Judgement of whether one is going to heaven or hell (later to be cast into the lake of Fire)? It says such in Hebrews 9:27. To speak the truth, Hort might've read such, but if we remember, he believed men's words over God's Words, and therefore if man thought ghosts were real, it didn't matter what the Word of God said. Hort would believe man.

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In Conclusion . . . Hort Admits It

The errors and prejudices which we agree in wishing to remove, can surely be more wholesomely and also more effectually reached by individual efforts of an indirect kind than by combined open assault. At present very many orthodox but rational men are being unawares acted on by influences which will assuredly bear good fruit in due time. If the process is allowed to go on quietly; but I cannot help fearing that a premature crisis would frighten back many into the merest traditionalism. And as a mere matter of prudence, it seems to me questionable to set up a single broad conspicious [sic] target for the philistines to shoot at, unless there is some very decided advantage to be gained.13

Hort confides in Westcott, admitting that they must take a sneaky and subtle approach to their purpose of removing those things they did not believe in. He mentions outright that "at present" many are being unknowingly acted upon by their influences . . . saying it will soon bear fruit! Does this sound like a man we should trust putting in his hands the Word of God, or having him on a committee to bring forth a new version of the Bible? As I mentioned in the beginning, the Revised Version committee was commissioned with good intentions (good intentions, though still incorrect in reasoning errors in the Word of God), and so Hort and Westcott, because they held a disdain for the Bible's Truth in general, substituting men's words to be their beliefs, they knew they couldn't outright attack the Bible. Hort added in another letter:

Also -but this may be cowardice- I have a sort of 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 already known for what will undoubtedly be treated as dangerous heresy, will have great difficulty in finding its way into regions which it might otherwise hope to reach and whence it would not be easily banished by subsequent alarms.¹⁴

Hort again confides with Westcott, saying he believes that their beliefs should be kept secret until AFTER their "text should be cast upon the world" because he knew if their beliefs were found out, they would be cast in suspicion. Then, if they were already in suspicion of heretical beliefs, their text (the Greek Text created by them) would not be so easily accepted. Also note the last part, which shows the purpose upon which they wanted their text to be received. They wanted it to be so received, that no amount of alarms (due to their heretical beliefs) could banish their text!

Oh how horribly wicked these men were in dealing so deceptively! This is honestly quite trademark of Satan himself, who works subtly to introduce compromise and sin into one's life, until the person realizes he or she is caught in a trap of addiction!

Now, I again ask, is this a man we should trust to handle the Word of God? And not only F.J.A. Hort, but also B.F. Westcott, who was Hort's teacher? God Forbid we allow ourselves to be deceived by such men!

NOTE: Some claim that the heretical beliefs of Hort (And Westcott) were when he was younger, and that as he grew older, he grew more in the Truth. Yet know this, that on page 122 of the book Life and Letters of Fenton John Anthony Hort published by his son Arthur, Hort admits that he does not believe in a literal Hell, but that even when he " 'held' the doctrine" he never brought himself to fear Hell Fire. This shows that Hort did not get better in the Truth, but worse. He once believed the Bible concerning Hell, then grew up to discredit it. Truly it is as said in 2 Timothy 3:13 "But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived." Hort waxed worse and worse. And so did his teacher, Westcott.