John Wesley (1703-1791) was a cleric in the Church of England, a Christian theologian, and a founder of the Methodist movement. In 1755 Wesley published a version of the New Testament which was based on the Authorized Version and included about 12,000 changes to the text. In addition, Wesley’s New Testament included notes which embody his distinctive theological perspective. Several editions of Wesley’s New Testament were published during Wesley’s lifetime, each of which includes additional changes. The first American Edition was published in 1791 and many editions followed in the 19th and 20th Century. The United Methodist Church continues to consider Wesley’s New Testament a foundational document of the denomination.
Click here for sample verses from the version by John Wesley.
The preface to Wesley's New Testament may be found here.
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Table of Contents
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Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament
Early British Editions
1755 - First Edition
Title: Explanatory | Notes | upon | The New Testament. | by | John Wesley, M.A. | Late Fellow of Lincoln College, Oxford. | London, | Printed by William Bowyer. MDCCLV.
Date: 1755
Publisher: William Bowyer: London
Contents: New Testament (with Wesley's notes and comments)
Description: 4to A-5D45E3 (p. vi, 1-386,381-758, 765, (3 errata))
References: Herbert 1114; Chamberlin 538-3, Taliaferro-BVE CN00077, Taliaferro-EELBV 7170.100.
Images: Title page
1757 - Second Edition
Title: Explanatory | Notes | upon | The New Testament. | by | John Wesley, M.A. | Late Fellow of Lincoln-College, Oxford. | The Second Edition. | London: | Printed in the Year M.DCC.LVII.
Date: 1757
Publisher: not given
Contents: New Testament (with Wesley's notes and comments)
Description: 4to A-5D45E2 (p. vi, 765,[b])
References: Herbert see 1114; Chamberlin 538-3, Taliaferro-BVE CN00077, Taliaferro-EELBV 7170.101.
Images: Title page
Facsimile: A pdf facsimile of the Second Edition is available at books.google.com.
1760 - Third Edition
Title: Explanatory | Notes | upon | The New Testament. | by | John Wesley, M.A. | Late Fellow of Lincoln-College, Oxford. | The Third Edition, Corrected. | Bristol: | Printed by Grabham and Pine, in Wine-Street, 1760.
Date: 1760
Publisher: Bristol: Grabham and Pine
Contents: New Testament (with Wesley's notes and comments)
References: Herbert see 1114; Chamberlin 538-3, Taliaferro-BVE CN00077, Taliaferro-EELBV 7170.102.
Images: Title page (Title page image courtesy of the Lovely Lane Museum and Archive ([http://www.lovelylanemuseum.org/])
1768 - Fourth Edition
Title: Explanatory | Notes | upon | The New Testament. | by John Wesley, M.A. | Late Fellow of Lincoln-College, Oxford. | The Fourth Edition. | Bristol: | Printed by William Pine, in Wine-Street. | MDCCLXVIII.
Date: 1768
Publisher: Bristol: William Pine
Contents: New Testament (with Wesley's notes and comments)
Description: 4to A-5P4+1 page (p. portrait, title/b, (iii)-vi, 7-245, 246 as 446, 247-322, 323 as 325, 324-344, 345 as 343, 344-508, 509 as 409, 510-614, 615 as 617, 618-672, 673 as 671, 672-845, 846 as 864, 847-885, 2p unnumbered Index.)
References: Herbert see 1114; Chamberlin 538-3, Taliaferro-BVE CN00077, Taliaferro-EELBV 7170.103.
Images: Title page, Portrait
Comments: Luke II,4 reads "Joseph also went up to Galilee" instead of "Joseph also went up from Galilee."
1788 - Fifth Edition
Title: Explanatory | Notes | upon The | New Testament. | by John Wesley, M.A. | Late Fellow of Lincoln-College, Oxford. | The Fifth Edition. | London: Printed for the Author: | And sold at the New-Chapel, City-Road, and by all the Booksellers | in Town and Country | M,DCC,LXXXVIII
Date: 1788
Publisher: London: for the Author
Contents: New Testament (with Wesley's notes and comments)
Description: 4to (p. vi, 7-914; 565 mis-numbered as 569)
References: Herbert see 1114; Chamberlin 538-3, Taliaferro-BVE CN00077, Taliaferro-EELBV 7170.104.
Images: Title page
Location: A copy is available at the Lovely Lane Museum and Archive ([http://www.lovelylanemuseum.org/]
Title: Explanatory | Notes | upon The | New Testament. | by John Wesley, M.A. | Late Fellow of Lincoln-College, Oxford. | The Fifth Edition, Corrected. | Volume I. | Containing the Four Gospels | London: | Printed for G. Paramore, North Green, Worship-Street. | Sold by G. Whitfield, at the Chapel, City-Road; and at the | Methodist Preaching-Houses in Town and Country. 1795.
Date: 1795
Publisher: London: Printed for G. Paramore, North Green, Worship-Street. Sold by G. Whitfield, at the Chapel, City-Road; and at the Methodist Preaching-Houses in Town and Country.
Contents: New Testament (with Wesley's notes and comments) Volume I: Gospels.
References: Herbert see 1114; Chamberlin 538-3, Taliaferro-BVE CN00077, Taliaferro-EELBV 7170.104.
Images: Title page
Comments: This is the first edition of Wesley's Notes published after his death in 1791.
1817 - Diamond Edition
Title: The | New Testament, | with | Explanatory Notes; | by | John Wesley, M.A. | Late fellow of Lincoln College, | Oxford | (bar) | Diamond Edition. | (bar) | London: | Printed for the Proprietors | (bar) | 1817.
Date: 1817
Publisher: London: Printed for the Proprietors (Printed by J. McGowanm Great Windmill Street, Haymarket.)
Contents: New Testament (with Wesley's notes and comments. Also contains "The Life of Mr. Wesley."
Description: Small 12mo. (p. [722], xx)
References: Herbert see 1114; Chamberlin 538-3, Taliaferro-BVE CN00077, Taliaferro-EELBV 7170.
Images: Title page, Portrait
Comments: This is called the "Diamond Edition" because it uses a diamond sized font, approximately 4.5 pts.
Early American Editions
1791 - First American Edition
Title: Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament by John Wesley M.A. Late Fellow of Lincoln-College. Oxford. The First American Edition. Philadelphia: Printed by Joseph Crukshank: Sold by John Dickins, No. 43 Fourth Street, near the corner of Race-Street. M DCC XCI.
Date: 1791
Publisher: John Dickins: Philadelphia (Volume 1 printed by Joseph Crukshank, Volume 2 by Charles Cist, Volume 3 by Prichard and Hall)
Contents: New Testament (Volume 1: Matthew-John, Volume 2: Acts-Ephesians, Volume 3: Philippians-Revelation)
Description: Volume 1: 12mo A-Ll12Mm8
References: Chamberlin 538-3; Hills 35, Taliaferro-BVE CN00077, Taliaferro-EELBV 7170.200.
Images: Volume 1 Title page, Volume 2 Title page, Volume 3 Title page, Page from 1791 edition (Title page images courtesy of the Lovely Lane Museum and Archive ([http://www.lovelylanemuseum.org/])
Location: A copy of Volume III of the first American edition of Wesley's New Testament may be found at the Christian Heritage Museum.
1806 - Second American Edition
Title: Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament. In Two Volumes. By John Wesley, M.A. Late Fellow of Lincoln College, Oxford. The Second American Edition. Volume First. New York: Published by Ezekiel Cooper and John Wilson, No. 249, Pearl Street. William C. Robinson, Printer. 1806.
Date: 1806
Publisher: Ezekiel Cooper and John Wilson: New York
Contents: Volume I: Matthew-Acts; Volume II: Romans-Revelation
Description: Volume 1: 8vo A-Zz8 (p. vi,7-368), Volume 2: 8vo A-D38 (p. 400)
References: Chamberlin 538-3, Hills 137, Taliaferro-BVE CN00077, Taliaferro-EELBV 7170.201.
Images: Volume I Title page, Volume II Title page
1812 - Third American Edition
Title: Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament. By John Wesley, M.A. Late Fellow of Lincoln College, Oxford. Vol. I. The Third American Edition. New York: Published by Daniel Hitt and Thomas Ware, for the Methodist Connection in the United States. John C. Totten, Printer. 1812
Date: 1812
Publisher: Daniel Hitt and Thomas Ware: New York
Contents: Volume I: Matthew-Acts (printed by John C. Totten); Volume II: Romans-Revelation (printed by Paul & Thomas)
Description: Volume 1: 4to A-Zz4 (p. vi,7-368), Volume 2: 4to A-D34 (p. 400)
References: Chamberlin 538-3, Hills 222, Taliaferro-BVE CN00077, Taliaferro-EELBV 7170.202
Images: Title page
Comments: This was bound as either one or two volumes.
1818 - Fourth American Edition
Title: Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament. By John Wesley, M.A. Late Fellow of Lincoln College, Oxford. Fourth American Edition. New York: Published by J. Soule and T. Mason, for the Methodist Episcopal Church in the United States. Abraham Paul, Printer. 1818
Date: 1818
Publisher: J. Soule and T. Mason: New York
Contents: New Testament
Description: 8vo 1-968 (p. vi,7-768)
References: Chamberlin 538-3, Hills 356, Taliaferro-BVE CN00077, Taliaferro-EELBV 7170.203.
Images: Title page
Later 19th Century American Editions
1845 - American Edition
Title: Explanatory Notes Upon The New Testament. By John Wesley, M.A., Sometime Fellow of Lincoln College, Oxford. New Edition. With the Manuscript Corrections of the Author. George Peck, Editor.
Date: 1845
Publisher: New York: Published by G. Lane and C.B. Tippett, for the Methodist Episcopal Church, at the Conference Office, 200 Mulberry-Street. J. Collord, Printer.
Contents: New Testament
References: Chamberlin 538-3, Taliaferro-BVE CN00077, Taliaferro-EELBV 7170.
Images: Title page
1847 - American Edition
Title: Explanatory Notes Upon The New Testament. By John Wesley, M.A., Late Fellow of Lincoln College, Oxford.
Date: 1847
Publisher: New York: Published by Lane & Tippett, for the Methodist Episcopal Church, 200 Mulberry-Street. Joseph Longking, Printer.
Contents: New Testament
References: Chamberlin 538-3, Taliaferro-BVE CN00077, Taliaferro-EELBV 7170.
Images: Title page (from the online facsimile)
Facsimile: A pdf facsimile of this edition is available at archive.org
1850 - American Edition
Title: Explanatory Notes Upon The New Testament. By John Wesley, M.A., Sometime Fellow of Lincoln College, Oxford. New Edition.
Date: 1850
Publisher: New York: Published by Lane & Scott, 200 Mulberry-Street. Joseph Longking, Printer.
Contents: New Testament
References: Chamberlin 538-3, Taliaferro-BVE CN00077, Taliaferro-EELBV 7170.
Images: Title page (from the online facsimile)
Facsimile: A pdf facsimile of this edition is available at archive.org
1855 - American Edition
Title: Explanatory Notes Upon The New Testament. By John Wesley, M.A. Late Fellow of Lincoln College, Oxford.
Date: 1855
Publisher: New York: Published by Carlton & Phillips
Contents: New Testament
References: Chamberlin 538-3, Taliaferro-BVE CN00077, Taliaferro-EELBV 7170.
Images: Title page
c. 1856 - American Edition - Twelfth Edition
Title: Explanatory Notes Upon The New Testament. By John Wesley, M.A. Late Fellow of Lincoln College, Oxford. Twelfth Edition.
Date: c. 1856
Publisher: New York: Published by Carlton & Porter.
Contents: New Testament
References: Chamberlin 538-3, Taliaferro-BVE CN00077, Taliaferro-EELBV 7170.
Images: Title page (from the online facsimile)
Facsimile: A pdf facsimile of this edition is available at archive.org
c. 1868 - American Edition (Schmul facsimile)
Title: Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament by John Wesley, M.A.
Translation: Wesley, John
Date: c. 1868 (Facsimile 1975)
Publisher: Schmul Publishers: Salem, OH
Contents: Volume IV: New Testament
References: Chamberlin p. 538-3, Taliaferro-BVE CN00077, Taliaferro-EELBV 7170.
Images: Title page
Comments: Based on the Carlton and Lanahan publishers, the original edition was published c. 1868.
c. 1896 - American Edition - Nineteenth Edition
Title: Explanatory Notes Upon The New Testament. By John Wesley, M.A. Late Fellow of Lincoln College, Oxford Nineteenth Edition
Date: c. 1896
Publisher: New York: Eaton & Mains Cincinnati: Jennings & Graham
Contents: New Testament
References: Chamberlin 538-3, Taliaferro-BVE CN00077, Taliaferro-EELBV 7170.
Images: Title page
Facsimile: A pdf facsimile of this edition is available at archive.org
Modern Reprints
Title: Explanatory Notes upon The New Testament by John Wesley, M.A.
Date: 1755 (reprinted 1954)
Publisher: The Epworth Press: London
Contents: New Testament
References: Chamberlin 538-3; Herbert 1114, Taliaferro-BVE CN00077, Taliaferro-EELBV 7170.
Images: Jacket, Title page
Title: John Wesley's New Testament Compared with the Authorized Version
Translation: Wesley, John
Date: 1953 (reprinted 1975)
Publisher: The John C. Winston Company: Philadelphia
Contents: New Testament
References: Chamberlin 538-3; Herbert 2271; Hills see 2369, 2533, Taliaferro-BVE CN00077, Taliaferro-EELBV 7170.
Comments: This edition contains only the text of Wesley's New Testament (omits all the notes). It indicates all the places where Wesley changed the Authorized Version with either italics or ellipses.
Images: Jacket, Cover, Title page
Dating 19th Century American Reprints
During the 19th Century Wesley's Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament was reprinted many times in the United States. Unfortunately, some of these editions are undated. However, it is possible to get an approximate date by looking at the publisher. During the 19th Century, the Methodist Episcopal Church elected "Book Agents" every four years and these men were listed as the publisher on all Methodist books during their tenure. The following table lists the Book Agents from 1789 to 1896.
| 1789 | John Dickins | 1st Edition - 1791 |
| 1798 | Ezekiel Cooper | |
| 1804 | Ezekiel Cooper, John Wilson | 2nd Edition - 1806 |
| 1808 | John Wilson, Daniel Hitt | |
| 1812 | Daniel Hitt, Thomas Ware | 3rd Edition - 1812 |
| 1816 | Joshua Soule, Thomas Mason | 4th Edition - 1818 |
| 1820 | Nathan Bangs, Thomas Mason | |
| 1824 | Nathan Bangs, John Emory | |
| 1828 | John Emory, Beverly Waugh | |
| 1832 | Beverly Waugh, Thomas Mason | |
| 1836 | Thomas Mason, George Lane | |
| 1840 | Thomas Mason, George Lane | |
| 1844 | George Lane, C.B. Tippett | 1845 & 1847 Editions |
| 1848 | George Lane, Levi Scott | 1850 Edition |
| 1852 | Thomas Carlton, Zebulon Phillips | 1855 Edition |
| 1856 | Thomas Carlton, James Porter | n.d. - 12th Edition |
| 1860 | Thomas Carlton, James Porter | |
| 1864 | Thomas Carlton, James Porter | |
| 1868 | Thomas Carlton, John Lanahan, Eleazer Thomas | n.d. - (Schmul Facsimile) |
| 1872 | Reuben Nelson, John M. Phillips | |
| 1876 | Reuben Nelson, John M. Phillips | |
| 1880 | John M. Phillips, Sandford Hunt | |
| 1884 | John M. Phillips, Sandford Hunt | |
| 1888 | John M. Phillips, Sandford Hunt | |
| 1892 | Sandford Hunt, Homer Eaton | |
| 1896 | Homer Eaton, George P. Mains | n.d. - 19th Edition |
Explanatory Notes Upon the Old Testament
Wesly's Notes upon the Old Testament were published in 1765. Unlike the New Testament, Wesley did not change the biblical text - it is the Authorized or King James Version.
1765 Edition
Title: Explanatory Notes upon the Old Testament by John Wesley, M.A.
Date: 1765
Publisher: William Pine, in Wine-Street: Bristol
Contents: Volume I: Genesis-Judges 14, Volume II: Judges 15-Psalms 62, Volume III: Psalms 63-Malachi
References: Chamberlin 113-3; Herbert 1166
Images: Volume II Title page
Schmul Facsimile
Title: Explanatory Notes upon the Old Testament by John Wesley, M.A.
Date: 1765 (facsimile 1975)
Publisher: Schmul Publishers: Salem, OH
Contents: Volume I: Genesis-Judges 14, Volume II: Judges 15-Psalms 62, Volume III: Psalms 63-Malachi
References: Chamberlin 113-3; Herbert 1166
Images: Volume I Title page, Volume II Title page, Volume III Title page
Comments: In 1975 Schmul Publishers reprinted Wesley's Explanatory Notes upon the Old Testament in facsimile. The Old Testament is a facsimile of the first edition of 1765.
