John Gill (1697-1771) Theologian

Dr.John Gill was an English Baptist pastor, biblical scholar and theologian who held firm to the Calvinistic doctrine of salvation. John was the first major writing Baptist theologian. His church at Goat Yard Chapel would in the future become The Metropolitan Tabernacle…

He was born in Kettering, Northamptonshire and attended the grammar school there. He mastered the Latin classics and learned Greek by the age of 11.

At the age of 12 he heard a sermon on the text And the Lord God called unto Adam and said unto him, Where art thou? Genesis ch.3 v 9. This stayed with but it was not until he was 18 that he made a public profession.

At the age of 21 he began his first pastoral work as an intern for John Davis at Higham Ferrers.

Aged just 22 he began his 51 year pastorate at the Strict Baptist church at Goat Yard Chapel, Horsleydown, Southwark. His congregation needed a larger premises so they moved to Carter Lane, St. Olave’s Street, Southwark. This would later become the New Park Street Chapel and then The Metropolitan Tabernacle - which today has the largest Baptist congregation in the U.K…

John was a profound scholar and a prolific author. He was one of the greatest biblical scholars of his time. His Bible commentaries remain in print to this day.
Works of John Gill a veritable cornucopia of Biblical knowledge Amazon
(See list of Various works)

He continued self-study in everything from logic to Hebrew. His love of Hebrew remained throughout his life.

John supported George Whitefield at Kennington Gardens. In 1739 the earliest sermons on the ’ Great Awakening’ brought 1000s to experience new birth.
( see ‘Great Awakening’ notes)
Sources used
Amazon
History Great Awakening
Metropolitan Tabernacle
wikipedia