John Gill (theologian)

John Gill (November 23, 1697 – October 14, 1771) was an English Baptist, a biblical scholar, and a staunch Calvinist. Gill's relationship with hyper-Calvinism is a matter of academic debate.

He was born in Kettering, Northamptonshire. In his youth, he attended Kettering Grammar School, mastering the Latin classics and learning Greek by age eleven. The young scholar continued self-study in everything from logic to Hebrew. His love for Hebrew would follow Gill throughout his life.

Early life and education

At the age of about twelve, Gill heard a sermon from his pastor, William Wallis, on the text, "And the Lord called unto Adam, and said unto him, where art thou?" (Genesis 3:9). The message stayed with Gill and eventually led to his conversion. It was not until seven years later that young John made a public profession when he was almost nineteen years of age.

Pastoral work

His first pastoral work was as an intern assisting John Davis at Higham Ferrers in 1718 at age twenty one. He was subsequently called to pastor the Strict Baptist church at Goat Yard Chapel, Horsleydown, Southwark in 1719. In 1757, his congregation needed larger premises and moved to a Carter Lane, St. Olave’s Street, Southwark. His pastorate lasted 51 years. This Baptist Church was once pastored by Benjamin Keach and would later become the New Park Street Chapel and then the Metropolitan Tabernacle pastored by Charles Spurgeon.

During Gill's ministry the church strongly supported the preaching of George Whitefield at nearby Kennington Common.

Important works

In 1748, Gill was awarded the honorary degree of Doctor of Divinity by the University of Aberdeen. He was a profound scholar and a prolific author. His most important works are:
* "The Doctrine of the Trinity Stated and Vindicated" (London, 1731)
*"The Cause of God and Truth" (4 parts, 1735–8), a retort to Daniel Whitby's "Five Points"
* "An Exposition of the New Testament" (3 vols., 1746–8), which with his "Exposition of the Old Testament" (6 vols., 1748–63) forms his "magnum opus"
*"A Dissertation on the Antiquity of the Hebrew Language" (1767)
* "A Body of Doctrinal Divinity" (1767)
* "A Body of Practical Divinity" (1770).

Significance

John Gill is the first major writing Baptist theologian. His work retains its influence into the twenty-first century. Gill's relationship with hyper-Calvinism in English Baptist life is a matter of debate. Peter Toon has argued that Gill was himself a hyper-Calvinist, which would make Gill the father of Baptist hyper-Calvinism. Tom Nettles has argued that Gill was not a hyper-Calvinist himself, which would make him merely a precursor and hero to Baptist hyper-Calvinists.

References

* Daniel, Curt. "Hyper-Calvinism and John Gill". Unpublished Ph.D. dissertation, University of Edinburgh, 1983.
* Ella, George (1995). "John Gill and the Cause of God and Truth". Eggleston, England: Go-Publications.
* Murray, Iain H. "Spurgeon v. Hyper-Calvinism: The Battle for Gospel Preaching". Banner of Truth, 2000. ISBN 0851516920
* Nettles, Thomas J. (1986). "By His Grace and for His Glory: A Historical, Theological, and Practical Study of the Doctrines of Grace in Baptist Life". Grand Rapids: Baker Books. ISBN 0-8010-6742-1
* Oliver, Robert W. "History of the English Calvinistic Baptists: 1771–1892". Banner of Truth, 2006. ISBN 0851519202
* Peter Toon, " [http://www.anglicanbooksrevitalized.us/Peter_Toons_Books_Online/History/hypercal1.htm The Emergence of Hyper-Calvinism in English Nonconformity, 1689-1765] ". London: The Olive Tree, 1967.
* Rippon, John (1838). "Brief Memoir of the Life and Writings of the Reverend John Gill". Reprint: Hess Publications, 1998. ISBN 0-87377-920-7

External links

* [http://www.freegrace.net/gill John Gill's Exposition of the Old and New Testaments] — his "magnum opus"
* [http://www.pbministries.org/books/gill/gills_archive.htm The John Gill Archive] — containing most of Gill's published works, including many sermons and tracts, "The Cause of God and Truth", "A Body of Doctrinal Divinity", and "A Body of Practical Divinity", and "Solomon's Song".

s-ttl|title=Pastor of the New Park Street Chapel
years=1720-1771