Grace and nature in the theology of John Gill (1697-1771)
John Gill (1697-1771), one of the greatest Baptist theologians, made a tremendous contribution to the establishment, education, and development of the Particular Baptists and Calvinistic Independents in his times. He stood firmly in the Reformed orthodox tradition in an age of theological turmoil. Despite such an enormous contribution, history, however, shows that he has been criticised as both deviating from the Reformed tradition and as a hinderer of the 'possible' growth of the Particular Baptists. He has been always recognised as a High or Hyper-Calvinist in a pejorative way. The crux of this evaluation or criticism is the claim that he put such extreme stress on the sovereign grace of God to the extent that human responsibility is limited or even eliminated, particularly with reference to salvation and evangelical piety. This criticism, however, has a weakness in that Gill has been always interpreted and criticised from an evangelistic perspective. As a result, all other significant doctrinal issues have been overshadowed. In particular, Gill's understanding of theology, Scripture, God, creation, and providence that shaped his concepts of salvation and evangelism, has been almost untouched. In addition,
Park, Hong-Gyu
Baptist; Calvinist
Grace and nature in the theology of John Gill (1697-1771). John Gill (1697-1771), one of the greatest Baptist theologians, made a tremendous contribution to the establishment, education, and development of the Particular Baptists and Calvinistic Independents in his times. He stood firmly in the Reformed orthodox tradition in an age of theological turmoil. Despite such an enormous contribution, history, however, shows that he has been criticised as both deviating from the Reformed tradition and as a hinderer of the 'possible' growth of the Particular Baptists. He has been always recognised as a High or Hyper-Calvinist in a pejorative way. The crux of this evaluation or criticism is the claim that he put such extreme stress on the sovereign grace of God to the extent that human responsibility is limited or even eliminated, particularly with reference to salvation and evangelical piety. This criticism, however, has a weakness in that Gill has been always interpreted and criticised from an evangelistic perspective. As a result, all other significant doctrinal issues have been overshadowed. In particular, Gill's understanding of theology, Scripture, God, creation, and providence that shaped his concepts of salvation and evangelism, has been almost untouched. In addition,
grace nature theology john john great baptist theologian make tremendous establishment education development particular baptists time firmly reformed orthodox tradition age theological turmoil despite enormous history however show criticise deviate reformed tradition possible growth particular_baptists always recognise high hyper calvinist way crux evaluation criticism claim_put extreme stress sovereign grace god extent human responsibility limit even eliminate particularly reference salvation evangelical piety criticism however weakness always interpret evangelistic perspective significant doctrinal issue overshadow particular theology scripture god creation providence shape concept salvation evangelism almost untouched addition