John Gill is the most accomplished Baptist theologian of all time.[1] When comparing this titan of the Christian faith with other prominent Baptist figures from church history, one will soon discover that Gill is sui generis . As a pastor of the same congregation for nearly 52 years, Gill was staunchly committed to the work of equipping the body of Christ for their work of service to be rendered to the Most High (Eph. 4:12). The corpus of Gill’s life and ministry evidences the solemnity that he embraced when considering the call on his life to shepherd the people of God (1 Pet. 5:1-4). It is not an exaggeration to say that Gill’s robust expository preaching style and prodigious writing competencies remain unrivaled in Baptist history to the present day.
Amongst his mountain of accomplishments in ministry, Gill produced a written commentary on every verse of the Bible and a two-volume systematic theology that is arguably of more repute than any other theological publication that has ever been written in the English language.[2] Living during a time when God was “on trial” by many self-identifying Christians and non-Christians alike, Gill was a stalwart for defending the convictions espoused by the catholic church on theology proper and Christology.[3] Moreover, the great hymn writer Augustus Toplady (1740-1778) noted that “no man [alive during his era] treated the momentous subject of Calvinism, the system of divine grace in all its branches more closely and judiciously and successfully than Dr. Gill.”[4] Indeed, Gill’s soteriological masterpiece The Cause of God and Truth has led some church historians to regard Gill as the greatest defender of the doctrines of grace since Saint Augustine (354-430). Despite being affectionately known by the nickname “Dr. Voluminous” for his intellectual prowess, Gill was able to temper his lofty scholastic achievements with an intentionality to “watch over his [congregation] with great affection, fidelity, and love.”[5] Contemporary Christians would do well to devote themselves to studying this immense gift to the universal church and more narrowly, to the Baptist theological tradition.
John Gill was born on November 23, 1697 to Mr. Edward and Mrs. Elizabeth Gill. Prior to his birth, the Gills were self-identifying Dissenters from the Church of England and as a result, were members of a church comprised of people with varied ecclesiological persuasions. In time, having been most convinced of the Particular Baptist tradition, the Gill’s went on to join a Particular Baptist church that was pastored by William Wallis.[6] In God’s providence, the transitioning of Gill’s parents from a broadly Dissenting congregation to a committed Particular Baptist church would set the stage for his upbringing within this specific realm of eighteenth-century Christendom. Gill was raised in Kettering, Northamptonshire and grew up attending the local grammar school, displaying a prolific ability to retain the multitude of subjects he was learning far beyond that of his classmates. By the age of 10, Gill had mastered both the Greek and Latin languages, eventually going on to teach himself Hebrew from his own lexicon.[7] Historians have noted that Gill’s academic giftedness was so noteworthy, that he was thought to have rivaled the school’s headmaster in his grasp of the classical languages.[8]
Gill’s formal academic education was abruptly halted around his twelfth birthday due to a new school policy requiring students to attend the daily prayer services of the Church of England.[9] As the son of Dissenting parents, Gill officially withdrew from his local school and was unable to continue his education elsewhere due to the financial constraints it would impose upon his parents.[10] It is interesting to note that despite Gill’s tremendous production of scholarly material throughout the duration of his life, he would never go on to participate in the university educational systems that were present in his day. Nevertheless, in 1748, Gill would go on to receive an honorary Doctor of Divinity from the University of Aberdeen. Even though he was revered by many of his contemporaries as “the Doctor,” Gill himself was emphatically opposed to going by this prestigious designation until the day of his death.[11] In every sense of the term, Gill was truly a “self-taught” Biblical scholar and theologian.
Although he was raised in a Christian household, Gill was not converted until the age of 12, through the preaching of the late William Wallis’ son, Thomas. Upon hearing a sermon focused on Genesis 3:9, Gill realized his personal need for a Savior from his sins and in doing so, came to saving faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.[12] It would be an additional seven years before Gill would undergo baptism as a Believer, and at the age of 19, Gill surrendered his life to the call of God to preach.[13] This would prove to not only be a monumental moment in the life of John Gill, but would set the events into motion that would forever impact the Baptist heritage. Shortly after his baptism and the advent of his preaching ministry in 1716, Gill would go on to marry Elizabeth Negus in 1718. Having met in London, the couple would enjoy 46 years of marriage until the death of Elizabeth in 1764.[14] By God’s grace, their relationship was held in an even higher esteem by Gill than any of his academic or ministry accomplishments. In commenting on Gill’s marriage to Elizabeth, Benjamin Francis noted,
“His marriage with [Elizabeth was what he] always considered as the principal thing for which God, in his providence, sent him to [London]; for she proved affectionate, discreet, and careful; and, by her unremitting prudence, delivered him from all domestic avocations; so that he could, with leisure and greater ease of mind, pursue his studies, and devote himself to his ministerial work.”[15]
Like most Christian couples, John and Elizabeth Gill would endure the highs and lows of living in a fallen world. The couple would have to endure miscarriages and the persecutions that came with Gill being a prominent figure in ministry.[16] Nevertheless, God sustained their marriage and family for nearly five decades, using the Gill family as a powerful witness for His own renown (Jude 1:24-25). On March 22, 1720, the newlyweds would settle into what would be Gill’s pastorate for the next 51 years: Goat Yard Chapel at Horsleydown, Southwark.[17] Following in the footsteps of the seventeenth-century Baptist preacher, Benjamin Keach, Gill would continue to build upon the solid theological foundation that had been laid down by his legendary predecessor. In the century to follow, God would go on to lead Charles Haddon Spurgeon to carry on the weighty legacy that was formulated within this Particular Baptist church in London.[18]
Until his death on October 14, 1771, Gill’s influence in ministry would expand far beyond his Baptist contemporaries. It has been rightly observed by church historians that “to say that [John] Gill influenced evangelical Christians in general and Baptists in particular is like saying the sun influences the daytime.”[19] Indeed, Christians across multi-denominational lines can glean much encouragement from Gill’s life of faithfulness to the Lord and poignant Biblical-theological erudition. Yet, more importantly, Christians can marvel at the extravagant grace of the triune God to allow John Gill to continue to bless His people for the past four centuries of church history. To God alone be the glory for the life and ministry of John Gill, and to God alone be the glory forever and ever. Amen (Rom. 11:36)!
[1] J.R. Broome, Dr. John Gill: Address given at the Annual General Meeting of the Gospel Standard Trust, 19 May 1990 (Harpenden, Herts., England: Gospel Standard Trust, 1991), Page 2.
[2] Biography of John Gill, (2017, March 07), Retrieved June 17, 2020, from https://comingintheclouds.org/about-protestant/teachers-preachers/biography-of-john-gill/.
[3] Biography of John Gill. (2017, March 07). Retrieved June 17, 2020, from https://comingintheclouds.org/about-protestant/teachers-preachers/biography-of-john-gill/.
[4] J.R. Broome, Dr. John Gill: Address given at the Annual General Meeting of the Gospel Standard Trust, 19 May 1990 (Harpenden, Herts., England: Gospel Standard Trust, 1991), Page 2.
[5] Haykin, M. (2017, November 14), John Gill and His Defence of the Trinity, The Gospel Coalition: Canada, Retrieved June 17, 2020, from https://ca.thegospelcoalition.org/columns/bedes-wall/john-gill-defence-trinity/.
[6] Biography of John Gill, (2017, March 07), Retrieved June 17, 2020, from https://comingintheclouds.org/about-protestant/teachers-preachers/biography-of-john-gill/.
[7] Weaver, S. (2018, October 23), Ten Baptists Everyone Should Know: John Gill, Retrieved June 17, 2020, from https://credomag.com/2012/05/ten-baptists-everyone-should-know-john-gill/?amp.
[8] Hughey, S. (2004). John Gill: The Reformed Reader. Retrieved June 17, 2020, from http://www.reformedreader.org/rbb/gill/gillindex.htm.
[9] Weaver, S. (2018, October 23), Ten Baptists Everyone Should Know: John Gill, Retrieved June 17, 2020, from https://credomag.com/2012/05/ten-baptists-everyone-should-know-john-gill/?amp.
[10] Hughey, S. (2004). John Gill: The Reformed Reader. Retrieved June 17, 2020, from http://www.reformedreader.org/rbb/gill/gillindex.htm.
[11] Hughey, S. (2004). John Gill: The Reformed Reader. Retrieved June 17, 2020, from http://www.reformedreader.org/rbb/gill/gillindex.htm.
[12] Hughey, S. (2004). John Gill: The Reformed Reader. Retrieved June 17, 2020, from http://www.reformedreader.org/rbb/gill/gillindex.htm.
[13] Biography of John Gill, (2017, March 07), Retrieved June 17, 2020, from https://comingintheclouds.org/about-protestant/teachers-preachers/biography-of-john-gill/.
[14] Rippon, J. (1998), A Memoir of the Life and Writings of Rev. John Gill, D.D., Hess Pubns, Page 11.
[15] Rippon, J. (1998), A Memoir of the Life and Writings of Rev. John Gill, D.D., Hess Pubns, Page 11.
[16] Rippon, J. (1998), A Memoir of the Life and Writings of Rev. John Gill, D.D., Hess Pubns, Page 12.
[17] Hughey, S. (2004). John Gill: The Reformed Reader. Retrieved June 17, 2020, from http://www.reformedreader.org/rbb/gill/gillindex.htm.
[18] Gill, J, John Gill’s Exposition of the Bible Commentary, Retrieved June 17, 2020, from https://www.biblestudytools.com/commentaries/gills-exposition-of-the-bible/.
[19] Biography of John Gill, (2017, March 07), Retrieved June 17, 2020, from https://comingintheclouds.org/about-protestant/teachers-preachers/biography-of-john-gill/.
Dewey is a licensed and ordained minister in the Southern Baptist Convention. He was raised in the Dallas-Fort Worth area, is happily married to Beall, and is a proud father of Isabelle Ruth. Dewey played college baseball at Western Texas College, receiving the Associate of Arts degree in General Studies. Following his time at Western Texas College, Dewey would continue as a student-athlete at The Master’s University, earning the Bachelor of Arts degree in Christian Ministries. Upon completion of his undergraduate work, Dewey went on to acquire the Master of Arts degree in Biblical Studies from The Master’s University, as well as the Master of Theology degree in Historical Theology from Campbellsville University. Dewey is currently a doctoral student at The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, with an emphasis in Christian Worldview and Apologetics. Over the last decade, Dewey has served local churches in a variety of ways, focusing on next generation ministries. He has experience teaching children in AWANA, serving as youth pastor, as well as leading college students and young adults. He is also passionate about personal evangelism, and has led groups in gospel outreaches in cities around the country. To strengthen his service to the church, and in conjunction with his seminary studies, Dewey has participated in several academic fellowships and cohorts. He specializes in the disciplines of apologetics, biblical theology, historical theology, and systematic theology. Dewey is also actively involved with Covenant Confessions—a ministry of Covenant Baptist Theological Seminary. Today, Dewey serves as the Associate Pastor of Next Generation and Outreach at Metro East Baptist Church (Wichita, Kansas).
You can follow Dewey on Twitter @SlaveofChrist17
