The Bible-work, the revised text, with comm. prepared by J.G. Butler. Old Testament. New Testament. 2nd ed

The Bible-work, prepared by James Glentworth Butler during the late 19th century, represents a significant undertaking in American theological scholarship. Conceived as a comprehensive resource for both clergy and laypeople, the work aimed to synthesize the Revised Version of the Bible with extensive commentary drawn from the leading scholarly minds of the era. Butler, a Presbyterian minister, sought to create a bridge between academic biblical criticism and practical religious instruction, intending the multi-volume set to be an accessible library for the home.

The design of the series reflects the Victorian era's preference for authoritative, multi-volume reference sets that conveyed both intellectual weight and moral stature. The work was published by Funk & Wagnalls, a house known for its commitment to large-scale encyclopedic and religious projects. Upon its release, the commentary was praised for its diligent compilation of diverse critical viewpoints, though it remains primarily valued today as a snapshot of late-nineteenth-century American Protestant hermeneutics rather than as a contemporary academic authority.