The eminent Baptist pastor-theologian John Gill (1697-1771) is a towering figure in Baptist thought and life. The late D. Martyn Lloyd-Jones thought of Gill as “a man, not only of great importance in his own century, but a man who is still of great importance to all of us….” But more than a mere Baptist theologian, the growing retrieval movement of classically Reformed orthodox theology also places Gill among the greatest theologians in the Great Tradition.

Yet much of Gill’s work has not seen a fresh publication for a new generation of pastors, students, and scholars in dire need of historical resources that remain resolutely committed to classic orthodox Christian doctrine. While many of Gill’s theological mentors, like Thomas Goodwin and John Owen, have seen renewed interest and efforts in publication, Gill has not. The last publication of Gill’s magnum opus, A Body of Doctrinal Divinity and A Body of Practical Divinity was re-published in 2007 with difficult typesetting and over 1,000 pages of text. Pastors, students, and laymen deserve access to Gill in a way that is refreshingly readable.

Given this need, The London Lyceum, The Andrew Fuller Center, and H&E Publishing have partnered together to form The John Gill Project. Our mission with the project is to republicize the work of John Gill for a new generation. Baptists have riches within their history, but they will be left inaccessible lest we work to retrieve them. So, we are seeking to begin this effort that will include an estimated 20 total volumes by editing a new abridged version of Gill’s two great systematic theological works immediately. Like the abridged version of Herman Bavinck’s magisterial Reformed Dogmatics, this version will cover over twenty major sections of Gill’s work with modern typesetting and editing to around 80,000 total words to allow for a wide range of readership. It will also include a brand new introduction from historians Michael Haykin and Jonathan Swan. Our churches and seminaries deserve wider access to Gill. So, we expect this project to continue in the future with further publications of other major sections in unabridged formats.

Given the John Gill Project’s mission to re-publish Gill for a new generation, we are seeking to publish an estimated 20 total volumes in the next 3-5 years, (all unabridged), ranging from the Trinity, to public worship, to covenant theology, to depending on the level of support, a full-length unabridged version of his two-volume systematic theology. We estimate a total need of $40,000 for the full series. We believe this investment will pay major gospel dividends, strengthening pastors and churches.

Your support is crucial for recovering the theological and spiritual riches of John Gill for Baptists and the broader Christian tradition. Donations of at least $100 will receive the initial abridged and edited volume due for Jan 2023. Donations of at least $1,000 will receive the full series as publications are completed.

Sincerely,

The John Gill Project Editorial Board

Michael A. G. Haykin and Jonathan Swan, The Andrew Fuller Center

Jordan L. Steffaniak and Garrett Walden, The London Lyceum

Chance Faulkner and Christopher Osterbrock, H&E Publishing

David Rathel, Gateway Seminary