John Gill (theologian)
John Gill (23 November 1697 – 14 October 1771) was an English Baptist pastor, biblical scholar, and theologian who held to a firm Calvinistic soteriology. Born in Kettering, Northamptonshire, he attended Kettering Grammar School where he mastered the Latin classics and learned Greek by age 11. He continued self-study in everything from logic to Hebrew, his love for the latter remaining throughout his life.
For other people with the same name, see John Gill (disambiguation).
John Gill
Pastoral work[edit]
His first pastoral work was as an intern assisting John Davis at Higham Ferrers in 1718 at age 21. He became pastor at the Strict Baptist church at Goat Yard Chapel, Horsleydown, Southwark in 1719. His pastorate lasted 51 years. In 1757, his congregation needed larger premises and moved to a Carter Lane, St. Olave's Street, Southwark. 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.
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:
Gill also edited and re-published the works of the 'antinomian' theologian Tobias Crisp. He wrote a
preface to the Hymns of Richard Davis and edited John Skepp’s book titled 'Divine Energy'. He signed the prefatory “epistle to the reader” of Herman Witsius' 'Oeconomy of the Covenants' together with John Brine.[3]
Significance[edit]
John Gill was the first major writing Baptist theologian, his work retaining influence into the 21st 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. However, Tom Nettles and Timothy George have argued that Gill was not a hyper-Calvinist.[4][5][6] Gill's works are still highly regarded by Primitive Baptists and related groups.
This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Jackson, Samuel Macauley, ed. (1914). "John Gill". New Schaff–Herzog Encyclopedia of Religious Knowledge. Vol. IV (third ed.). London and New York: Funk and Wagnalls. p. 489.