He was the son of Edward Wells, vicar of Corsham, Wiltshire. He was admitted to Westminster School in 1680, and elected to a scholarship at Christ Church, Oxford, in 1686. He graduated B.A. in 1690 and M.A. in 1693.
He was inducted to the rectory of Cotesbach, Leicestershire, on 2 January 1702, and he was awarded the degrees of B.D. and D.D. on 5 April 1704. On 28 March 1716 he was instituted to the rectory of Bletchley, Buckinghamshire, on the presentation of his former pupil, Browne Willis. From the pulpit he attacked his benefactor; Browne Willis then published Reflecting Sermons considered; occasioned by several Discourses delivered in the Parish Church of Bletchley.
From 1709 to 1719, Wells produced a Greek critical edition of the New Testament, published in Oxford. Wells drew from the variant readings collated in the edition of John Mill in the construction of the text. While Mill's edition had included the most thorough critical apparatus up to its time, the actual text was a reprint of that of Stephanus. Wells' edition was thus the first to offer the complete Greek New Testament while moving away from the Textus Receptus and toward what is now considered the standard critical text, Nestle-Aland.[1]
Wells died on 11 July 1727, and was buried at Cotesbach.
Worksedit
Among his works are:
An edition of Xenophon's 'Memorabilia' and 'Defence of Socrates,' Greek and Latin, Oxford, 1690.
'Elementa Arithmeticæ numerosæ et speciosæ,' Oxford, 1698.
'A Treatise of antient and present Geography, together with a sett of maps in folio,' Oxford, 1701; 4th edit. London, 1726; 5th edit. 1738.
'Tῆς πάλαι και τῆς νῦν Oἰκουμένης Περιήγησις, sive Dionysii Geographia emendata et locupletata, additione scilicet Geographiæ hodiernæ Græco Carmine pariter donatæ. Cum XVI Tabulis geographicis,' Oxford, 1704, 1709; London, 1718, 1726, 1738, 1761.
'Some Testimonies of the most eminent English Dissenters, as also of foreign reformed Churches and Divines, concerning the lawfulness of the Rites and Ceremonies of the Church of England, and the Unlawfulness of separating from it' (anon.), Oxford, 1706.
'The Invalidity of Presbyterian Ordination proved from the Presbyterians' own Doctrine of the Twofold Order; or a summary View of what has passed in controversy between Dr. Wells and Mr. Pierce … concerning the Invalidity of Presbyterian Ordination,' Oxford, 1707. Concerned with James Peirce.
'Treatises, designed for the use and benefit of his parishioners, dissenting as well as conforming,' Oxford, 1707, 8vo. These are six separately published tracts, with a collective title-page.
'Epistola ad Authorem anonymum Libelli non-ita pridem editi, cui Titulus 'Stricturæ breves in Epistolas D.D. Genevensium et Oxoniensium,' Oxford, 1608 [mistake for 1708].
'An historical Geography of the New Testament … adorned with maps; in two parts,' London, 1708; 2nd edit. 1712; 3rd edit. 1718; new edit. published by the Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge, 1835. vol. 1, vol. 2.
'An historical Geography of the Old Testament,' London, 1711–12, 3 vols.
This, with the 'Geography of the New Testament,' was reprinted at Oxford in two volumes, 1801, and again in 1809.
'The Young Gentleman's Course of Mathematicks,' London, 1712–14, 3 vols.; vol. i. was reissued as 'The Young Gentleman's Arithmetick and Geometry,' 2nd edit. 2 parts, London, 1723; vol. ii. was reissued as 'The Young Gentleman's Astronomy, Chronology, and Dialling,' 3rd edit., with additions, London, 1725; 4th edit. 1736.
'Remarks on Dr. Clarke's Introduction to his Scripture-doctrine of the Trinity,' Oxford, 1713.
'A Paraphrase, with Annotations, on the New Testament; and the Book of Daniel,' London, 1714–19, 2 vols.
'The Rich Man's great and indispensable Duty to contribute liberally to the building, rebuilding, repairing, beautifying, and adorning of Churches,' 2nd edit. London, 1717; reprinted at Oxford, 1840, with an introduction by John Henry Newman.
'A Specimen of an Essay for to Find Out and Ascertain the True or Original Reading of the Hebrew Text, in All Places Where It Now Differs, Either from the Septuagint Version, or from the Samaritan Pentateuch' (1720), containing Propositions I-XVI and only select differences from Genesis I and II.
'Dialogue betwixt a Protestant Minister and a Romish Priest; wherein is shewed that the Church of Rome is not the only true Church; and that the Church of England is a sound part of the Catholick Church of Christ,' 3rd edit. London, 1723.
'An Help for the more easy and clear understanding of the Holy Scriptures,' being a Paraphrase, with Annotations, on the Old Testament, Oxford, 1724–7, 4 vols. This and the 'Paraphrase on the New Testament' contain, besides the paraphrase and annotations, discourses on subjects connected with the Scriptures. A detailed description of these discourses is given in Dr. Henry Cotton's list of editions of the Bible.
Referencesedit
^Bruce M. Metzger, The Text of the New Testament Fourth Edition (Oxford University Press, 2005), pp. 154–155.
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For the Boeing executive see Edward Curtis Wells Edward Wells 1667 1727 was an English mathematician geographer and controversial theologian A 1700 map of Africa by Edward Wells Contents 1 Life 2 Works 3 References 4 External linksLife editHe was the son of Edward Wells vicar of Corsham Wiltshire He was admitted to Westminster School in 1680 and elected to a scholarship at Christ Church Oxford in 1686 He graduated B A in 1690 and M A in 1693 He was inducted to the rectory of Cotesbach Leicestershire on 2 January 1702 and he was awarded the degrees of B D and D D on 5 April 1704 On 28 March 1716 he was instituted to the rectory of Bletchley Buckinghamshire on the presentation of his former pupil Browne Willis From the pulpit he attacked his benefactor Browne Willis then published Reflecting Sermons considered occasioned by several Discourses delivered in the Parish Church of Bletchley From 1709 to 1719 Wells produced a Greek critical edition of the New Testament published in Oxford Wells drew from the variant readings collated in the edition of John Mill in the construction of the text While Mill s edition had included the most thorough critical apparatus up to its time the actual text was a reprint of that of Stephanus Wells edition was thus the first to offer the complete Greek New Testament while moving away from the Textus Receptus and toward what is now considered the standard critical text Nestle Aland 1 Wells died on 11 July 1727 and was buried at Cotesbach Works editAmong his works are An edition of Xenophon s Memorabilia and Defence of Socrates Greek and Latin Oxford 1690 Elementa Arithmeticae numerosae et speciosae Oxford 1698 A Treatise of antient and present Geography together with a sett of maps in folio Oxford 1701 4th edit London 1726 5th edit 1738 Tῆs palai kai tῆs nῦn Oἰkoymenhs Perihghsis sive Dionysii Geographia emendata et locupletata additione scilicet Geographiae hodiernae Graeco Carmine pariter donatae Cum XVI Tabulis geographicis Oxford 1704 1709 London 1718 1726 1738 1761 Some Testimonies of the most eminent English Dissenters as also of foreign reformed Churches and Divines concerning the lawfulness of the Rites and Ceremonies of the Church of England and the Unlawfulness of separating from it anon Oxford 1706 The Invalidity of Presbyterian Ordination proved from the Presbyterians own Doctrine of the Twofold Order or a summary View of what has passed in controversy between Dr Wells and Mr Pierce concerning the Invalidity of Presbyterian Ordination Oxford 1707 Concerned with James Peirce Treatises designed for the use and benefit of his parishioners dissenting as well as conforming Oxford 1707 8vo These are six separately published tracts with a collective title page Epistola ad Authorem anonymum Libelli non ita pridem editi cui Titulus Stricturae breves in Epistolas D D Genevensium et Oxoniensium Oxford 1608 mistake for 1708 An historical Geography of the New Testament adorned with maps in two parts London 1708 2nd edit 1712 3rd edit 1718 new edit published by the Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge 1835 vol 1 vol 2 An historical Geography of the Old Testament London 1711 12 3 vols This with the Geography of the New Testament was reprinted at Oxford in two volumes 1801 and again in 1809 The Young Gentleman s Course of Mathematicks London 1712 14 3 vols vol i was reissued as The Young Gentleman s Arithmetick and Geometry 2nd edit 2 parts London 1723 vol ii was reissued as The Young Gentleman s Astronomy Chronology and Dialling 3rd edit with additions London 1725 4th edit 1736 Remarks on Dr Clarke s Introduction to his Scripture doctrine of the Trinity Oxford 1713 A Paraphrase with Annotations on the New Testament and the Book of Daniel London 1714 19 2 vols The Rich Man s great and indispensable Duty to contribute liberally to the building rebuilding repairing beautifying and adorning of Churches 2nd edit London 1717 reprinted at Oxford 1840 with an introduction by John Henry Newman A Specimen of an Essay for to Find Out and Ascertain the True or Original Reading of the Hebrew Text in All Places Where It Now Differs Either from the Septuagint Version or from the Samaritan Pentateuch 1720 containing Propositions I XVI and only select differences from Genesis I and II Dialogue betwixt a Protestant Minister and a Romish Priest wherein is shewed that the Church of Rome is not the only true Church and that the Church of England is a sound part of the Catholick Church of Christ 3rd edit London 1723 An Help for the more easy and clear understanding of the Holy Scriptures being a Paraphrase with Annotations on the Old Testament Oxford 1724 7 4 vols This and the Paraphrase on the New Testament contain besides the paraphrase and annotations discourses on subjects connected with the Scriptures A detailed description of these discourses is given in Dr Henry Cotton s list of editions of the Bible References edit Bruce M Metzger The Text of the New Testament Fourth Edition Oxford University Press 2005 pp 154 155 Wells Edward Dictionary of National Biography London Smith Elder amp Co 1885 1900 External links editBoston Athenaeum A New Sett of Maps Both of Ancient and Present Geography Digital Collection nbsp Media related to Edward Wells theologian at Wikimedia CommonsAttribution nbsp This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain Wells Edward Dictionary of National Biography London Smith Elder amp Co 1885 1900 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Edward Wells theologian amp oldid 1157622180, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
