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 and The Andrew Fuller Center 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.

We are currently working on an initial abridged version similar to the abridged version of Herman Bavinck’s magisterial Reformed Dogmatics. It will cover the most important sections of Gill’s work with modern typesetting and editing to around 100,000 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. Other volumes in the series are expected to include unabridged sections from Gill’s Body of Divinity and Body of Practical Divinity (e.g. The Trinity, the Divine Attributes, Covenant Theology, etc.), selected sermons (many of which have never been published), and a full three-volume unabridged set of the Body of Divinity and Body of Practical Divinity. 

Given the work of the project and the costs associated with high-quality publishing, we estimate a total remaining need of $10,000 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.

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

David Rathel, Gateway Seminary