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William Greenfield
1799–1831
A gifted self-taught linguist and biblical scholar, he built a remarkable reputation before dying at just thirty-two. His work on multilingual Bible editions and translation debates made him a respected figure among early nineteenth-century readers and scholars.
1 Audiobook
A Greek-English Lexicon to the New Testament
by William Greenfield
About the author
Born in London in 1799, he showed an unusual talent for languages from an early age. Much of his learning came outside formal academic life: while apprenticed as a bookbinder, he studied intensely and began developing the wide linguistic knowledge that later defined his career.
He became known for his work in biblical criticism and for The Comprehensive Bible, published in 1827, a book that reached a wide audience despite sharp criticism from some religious writers. He later worked for the British and Foreign Bible Society, where he wrote on a striking range of languages and took part in editorial and translation-related projects.
His career was brief but impressive. He died in Islington in 1831 after an illness, leaving behind a reputation for extraordinary industry, quick learning, and serious scholarship.