John Gill was born in 1697 and died in 1771. In 74 years he was able to acquire a scope of Biblical knowledge and enjoy a degree of usefulness seldom attained by any man. Gill was called to pastor the Strict Baptist Church in 1720, which he continued to pastor for 51 years. Eventually the Strict Baptist Church would evolve into the Metropolitan Tabernacle which would be pastored by Charles Spurgeon for ever 35 years.

"In some respects, he has no superior. For good, sound, massive, sober sense in commenting who can excel Gill?" - C.H. Spurgeon, Autobiography Vol. 1.

1697 -- Born, 23 November, Kettering, Northamptonshire.  

1709 -- Conversion through preaching of William Wallis.  

1716 -- First public confession of Christ; baptism; becomes church member and occasional preacher. 

1717 -- Assists John Davis at Higham-Ferrers. 

1718 -- Marriage to Elizabeth Negus Nominated by John Noble for a grant from the Particular Baptist Fund. 

1719 -- Supplies at Goat Yard Chapel, Horselydown, Southwark. Called to pastor the Horselydown church. Received into membership 15 November.  

1720 -- Inducted as pastor on 22 March. 

1721 -- Reorganizes pastoral and evangelistic outreach of the church. 

1724 -- Begins preaching series on the Song of Solomon First publication. 

1728 -- Exposition of the Song of Solomon published with a translation of the Chaldee Targum. 

1731 -- Treatise on the Doctrine of the Trinity against Sabellianism in the Baptist churches. 

1732 -- Lime Street lectures published. 

1735-38 -- The Cause of God and Truth published in installments. 

1737-39 -- Various pamphlets on the baptism controversy published as a result of the anti-Baptist writings of Samuel Bourne, a Presbyterian minister. 

1738 -- Death of Elizabeth, John Gill’s daughter, aged 13, on 30 May Gill preaches her funeral sermon on 1 Thess 4:13-14. 

1740 -- A Vindication of the Cause of God and Truth against Heywood’s Arminian objections to the Cause of God and Truth. 

1746-48 -- Exposition of the whole New Testament in three folio volumes. 

1748 -- Receives the degree of Doctor of Divinity from Marischal College, Aberdeen University, for his knowledge of the Scriptures, oriental languages and Jewish antiquity. 

1749 -- The Divine Right of Infant-Baptism Examined and Disproved against the New England writer, Jonathan Dickinson. 

1752 -- Writes The Doctrine of the Saints’ Final Perseverance against John Wesley’s Serious Thoughts Upon the Perseverance of the Saints. This was followed by Wesley’s Predestination Calmly Considered which Gill refuted with The Doctrine of Predestination, Stated and Set in the Scripture Light. 

1755 -- Publishes Dr. Crisp’s Works in two volumes, adding a Memoir and explanatory notes. 

1757 -- Moves to new chapel in Carter Lane, St. Olave’s Street, Southwark. 

1763-66 -- Exposition of the Old Testament published in four volumes. 

1764 -- 10 October, Elizabeth Gill dies aged 67 being married to Gill 46 years. 

1769 -- Body of Doctrinal Divinity published in two volumes. 

1770 -- Body of Practical Divinity in two volumes published including a Dissertation concerning the Baptism of Jewish Proselytes. 

1771 -- Dies 14 October at his home in Camberwell, aged 73 years 10 months. 

The Reformed Reader Home Page  Copyright 1999, The Reformed Reader, All Rights Reserved