Ethelbert W. Bullinger (1837-1913):
E.W. Bullinger was born in Canterbury England, his family having lived there for more than 250 years, since leaving Switzerland.
He was educated at King’s College London, and as well as having Hebrew and Greek, was a fine musician. He became an ordained clergyman, and served in a number of parishes. As his Biography shows, he experienced conversion to Christ, after one of his sermons one Sunday evening, and a conversation with one of his parishioners.
Thereafter, he devoted his life to clarification of different church and groups teachings, as he had a particular burden for people, and particularly young people, who were sincerely wanting to find Truth, and were confused by all the various teachings. One of his published books, “How to enjoy The Bible”, has, and still does enjoy wide readership, and with later counterparts, helps many people to come to Christ. His many other books culminated in his crowning work, ”The Companion Bible”, which examines the 1611 King James Authorized version, against the best manuscripts extant; and gives accurate information on translation errors, doctrinal misinformation, accidental errors, and any erroneous text etc., which affect the true understanding of God Almighty’s Word. In this work, he as a Greek and Hebrew scholar, was aided by the notes of the eminent Hebrew scholar Dr. Christian David Ginsburg, who in his trust shown to Dr. Bullinger, expressed his own conversion to Christ, and underpinned his own work as a Christian Missionary to his own people, the Jews! This work in particular, has angered the established churches and other groups, as it has called into question their teachings and therefore their control of their members. Dr. Bullinger was ever mindful that the Truth of Christ sets people free, and his trust in his/our Saviour shows in all his writings. He was under constant attack from the church authorities as soon as he made his stand, until his death, and also since his death; which is to be expected, as the Enemy does not easily give up a major stronghold. As Dr. Bullinger famously said, “don’t look for Satan in Soho, look for him in the pulpit!”
It is an interesting fact that a direct ancestor was the famous theologian Johann Heinrich Bullinger (1504-1575, see full articles Encyclopedia Britannica) the Swiss Reformer, who succeeded to Zwingli at Zurich, Switzerland, as pastor. Interestingly, Johann was also noted not only for his anti- Roman Catholic stand, but also due to his association with Calvin and Luther, and his communications with Henry V111, and Edward V1 of England, and other European countries; for advising on the Roman Church conflict, and the forming of the documentation defining the Europe wide protestant understanding. This period as history testifies, was one of turbulence between the churches, and Johann Bullinger played a major role in those events.
It is also an interesting observation, that Ethelbert Bullinger was born and educated just prior to “The Great Debate” at Oxford. Since the mid A.D. 1800s knowledge has accelerated, technology increased, with the consequent huge expansion of war, travel, communication etc., (Dan. 12:4.) This expansion coincides with an event in 1858 of the publication of Charles Darwin's "Origin of Species," which led to conflict between theologians and scientists, called "The great debate." In the event the scientists won that debate, and the power (albeit corrupted) of the church declined.
It was in this atmosphere that Ethelbert Bullinger grew into manhood, and experienced first hand the struggle for supremacy between church and atheism. At the same time “spiritism” of all sorts was rearing its head in force! In this melting pot of change, Dr. Bullinger became a Christian, saw the need, and performed to the best of his considerable talents and training, in his fight for Truth, both in his Bible work, and against the false religious teachings and necromancy of the day.
The reason the established churches have been so against his work, is that he was/is a considerable force, helping to demystify their mumbo-jumbo, and therefore their power! The claims made against him are untrue, he was the most God revering and pious of men, in the mode of the early reformers. His work has helped to transform and guide the confused of Christendom, made that way by the very people who wish to destroy his great contribution to Christ's Body! He was acutely aware of the Satanic hold on religion and people, and his legacy is that his work is so dangerous to the “churches”, that they feel the need to continually try to find grounds to defame, and destroy his reputation, nearly 100 years after his death!
A serious, non-biased study of his work, by a sincere mind, cannot but be affected by the man’s love of Christ, his burden for sincere seekers after Truth, and any who study his life, his serenity under the attacks of churches and necromancy.
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