In the early 1800s, George Bethune English was a promising young man—a Harvard grad and a Marine Corps officer with a bright future. He also had a sharp, questioning mind. When he decided to seriously study the foundations of his Christian faith, he took a direct approach: he compared the prophecies and promises of the Old Testament with how they are presented and claimed in the New.

The Story

This book is his report. English systematically goes through the evidence, asking if the New Testament writers accurately used and interpreted the older Hebrew scriptures. His conclusion? They often didn't. He argues that many of the connections Christians saw as divine prophecy were misunderstandings or misapplications. He published his findings anonymously at first, but when his identity was revealed, the fallout was immediate and severe. He was branded a heretic, lost his social standing, and his career was ruined. The book itself is the artifact of that personal and intellectual explosion.

Why You Should Read It

What grabs me isn't just the argument, but the sheer courage of it. Reading this, you feel the weight of the world English was pushing against. It’s a primary source from the front lines of a belief crisis. You’re not getting a polished, modern analysis; you’re getting the real-time, passionate work of someone who felt betrayed by his own study. It’s compelling because it’s so personal and so high-stakes.

Final Verdict

Perfect for anyone interested in the history of religion, freedom of thought, or the roots of modern biblical scholarship. It’s not an easy, faith-affirming read, but it’s a crucial one for understanding the debates that were happening long before our current ones. If you like historical dramas about ideas and the people brave (or foolish) enough to challenge the status quo, you’ll find this short book surprisingly gripping.