Who Is This For?
Best For:
Historical study, understanding KJV revision history, appreciating the development of modern textual criticism.
Not Ideal For:
Modern readers, regular devotional use, or those wanting contemporary English.
Strengths & Limitations
✓ Strengths of the RV
- First major revision using modern manuscript discoveries
- Better textual basis than KJV
- Landmark in translation history
- Established scholarly translation principles
- Public domain - freely available
✗ Limitations to Consider
- Victorian English now dated
- Lost some of KJV's literary beauty
- Superseded by later translations (RSV, NASB, ESV)
- Conservative approach retained archaic elements
- Never achieved wide popular acceptance
Overview
The Revised Version was the first major scholarly revision of the King James Version, produced by British scholars using newly available ancient manuscripts. It represented a landmark in English Bible translation, incorporating critical textual scholarship and establishing principles that would guide future translations.
Want to read the RV Bible online? Use our Bible search tool to find any verse, or start reading from Genesis.
Notable Features of the RV
- First major KJV revision using modern scholarship
- Based on Westcott-Hort Greek text
- Over 36,000 changes from KJV in NT alone
- Established principles for modern translation
- Public domain
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Revised Version?
The Revised Version was the first major scholarly revision of the King James Version, produced by British scholars using newly available ancient manuscripts. It represented a landmark in English Bible translation, incorporating critical textual scholarship and establishing principles that would guide future translations.
How can I read the RV Bible online?
You can read and search the Revised Version online for free at Acts1 Family. Use our Bible search tool to find any verse, chapter, or keyword in the RV translation.
When was the RV Bible published?
The Revised Version was first published in 1885. It is classified as a Formal Equivalence translation with a 12th Grade reading level.
Who should use the RV Bible?
Historical study, understanding KJV revision history, appreciating the development of modern textual criticism.
How does the RV compare to other Bible translations?
The Revised Version (RV) is a Formal Equivalence translation. Compare it with other versions like the KJV, ASV, or NIV using our Bible comparison tools to find the best translation for your needs.
Read the RV Online
Search any verse, compare with other translations, or start reading from Genesis.
Start ReadingHistory
Complete History of the RV Translation
By the mid-19th century, the King James Version had been the dominant English Bible for over 250 years, but scholarship had advanced considerably. Major manuscript discoveries, including Codex Sinaiticus (found 1844-1859) and Codex Vaticanus (made available to scholars in the 1860s), provided witnesses to the biblical text older than any previously available. Greek and Hebrew scholarship had also advanced significantly.
In 1870, the Convocation of Canterbury authorized a revision of the KJV. The New Testament company began work in 1870 and completed their task in 1881; the Old Testament company worked from 1870 to 1885. Over 50 scholars participated, representing various denominations.
The revision was conservative in approach - changes were made only when the Greek or Hebrew clearly required it or when English had significantly changed in meaning. Nevertheless, the New Testament alone contained over 36,000 changes from the KJV. The most controversial aspect was the adoption of the Westcott and Hort Greek text, which prioritized Alexandrian manuscripts over the Byzantine text underlying the KJV.
The Revised Version generated both enthusiasm and fierce opposition. While scholars praised its accuracy, many churchgoers rejected it as an attack on 'their' Bible. American scholars produced the American Standard Version (1901) incorporating their preferences.
Translators
Meet the 3 Key Translators and Contributors
B.F. Westcott
NT Company member
Cambridge professor whose critical Greek New Testament (with Hort) provided the textual basis for the RV New Testament.
F.J.A. Hort
NT Company member
Cambridge scholar who collaborated with Westcott on the revolutionary Greek text that transformed NT textual criticism.
Samuel Rolles Driver
OT Company member
Oxford Regius Professor of Hebrew whose work advanced understanding of the Hebrew text and ancient Near Eastern context.
Textual Basis
Manuscript Sources and Translation Methodology
The New Testament was translated from the Westcott-Hort Greek text, prioritizing Alexandrian manuscripts like Codex Sinaiticus and Vaticanus. The Old Testament followed the Masoretic Text with increased attention to ancient versions.
Reception
Scholarly Praise
"The Revised Version was the first official revision of the KJV, incorporating advances in textual criticism and access to older manuscripts like Codex Sinaiticus and Vaticanus."
— Wikipedia, Revised Version (2024) [source]
Scholarly Concerns
The RV never achieved the popularity of the KJV among English readers, being viewed as overly literal and lacking the literary beauty of its predecessor.
— Bible Research, English Revised Version (2024) [source]
Revision History
View 3 Major Revisions and Updates
- 1881 New Testament published to huge public interest.
- 1885 Old Testament and complete Bible published.
- 1895 Apocrypha published, completing the project.
Compare Translations
See how the RV compares to other English Bible translations.
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