Calvinistic baptists in Jamaica? : a historical-theological study of the relationship between the theology and work of five pioneering missionaries in Jamaica

Date
2021-03-04
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Journal ISSN
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Publisher
Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University
Abstract
ENGLISH ABSTRACT: This study examines the theology and work of five Baptist missionaries (George Liele, John Rowe, William Knibb, Thomas Burchell, and James M. Phillippo) who came to Jamaica during the 18th and 19th century. It purports that there has not been any previous collective study of Calvinistic Baptist missions from 1782 to 1879 in Jamaica. Furthermore, it argues that these men’s theology was largely influenced by Calvinistic theology, which they affirmed and that this in part was responsible for the resilience they had despite the many challenges and trials they had in Jamaica. To test the validity of his claim, the author examines each of the five men’s lives, including their birth, family of origin, education, teachings, speeches, publications, work, character and death. Additionally, he discusses the origin, history, and theology of Calvinistic Baptists to examine how widespread it was during the late eighteenth and late nineteenth century to demonstrate the likelihood that all five men held to this view. He also analyses if they affirmed God’s sovereignty and providence through Arminian, Calvinist, General Baptist and Particular Baptist confessions to locate where they were theologically. This analysis seeks to ascertain whether their views were more in keeping with Calvinism to deduce if they were Particular Baptists or not. Thus, he surveys if they affirmed God’s providence in salvation through Arminian, Calvinist, General Baptist and Particular Baptist confessions and the acronym TULIP (total depravity, unlimited election, limited atonement, irresistible grace and the perseverance of the saints) for each of the four confessions. The reason for this approach is that the Calvinistic doctrines which are usually more emphasised or distinguishable in the lives of believers would be in terms of how they view God’s sovereignty, providence and God’s providence in salvation (namely through the acronym TULIP). The author also highlights the positive impact that these five Baptist missionaries made in missions, education, health care, social and economic development and character development too, and partially attributes it to their Calvinistic convictions. Finally, he argues that learning Church History has many advantages. For instance, it can help Christians to avoid mistakes in the past (such as being suspicious of Calvinism). Also, it can assist in informing denominations which unintentionally excluded important areas of their history regarding their origins and the reasons why they did what they did in the past and how that knowledge may benefit them going forward.
AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Hierdie studie ondersoek die teologie en werk van vyf Baptiste-sendelinge (George Liele, John Rowe, William Knibb, Thomas Burchell en James M. Phillippo) wat gedurende die 18de en 19de eeu na Jamaika gekom het. Dit argumenteer dat daar geen vorige kollektiewe studie van Calvinistiese Baptiste-sendings van 1782 tot 1879 in Jamaika was nie. Verder beweer dit dat hierdie mense se teologie grotendeels beïnvloed is deur die Calvinistiese teologie, wat hulle onderskraag het en dat dit deels verantwoordelik was vir die entoesiasme wat hulle gehad het ondanks die vele uitdagings en beproewings wat hulle in Jamaika gehad het. Om die geldigheid van sy argument te toets, ondersoek die outeur elk van die vyf mans se lewens, insluitend hul geboorte, familie van herkoms, opvoeding, leerstellings, toesprake, publikasies, werk, karakter en dood. Verder bespreek hy die oorsprong, geskiedenis en teologie van Calvinistiese Baptiste om te verstaan hoe wydverspreid dit gedurende die laat agtiende en laat negentiende eeu was ten einde aan te toon dat dit waarskynlik was dat al vyf mans hierdie siening gehuldig het. Die studie bespreek ook die sieninge van God se soewereiniteit en voorsienigheid onder Arminiaanse, Calvinistiese, Algemene Baptiste en Besondere Baptiste-belydenisse.. Hierdie analise poog om vas te stel of hulle sienings meer ooreenstem met die Calvinisme om te bepaal of dit spesifieke baptiste was of nie. Daar word dus gevra of en how hulle God se voorsienigheid in redding bevestig het deur Arminiaanse, Calvinistiese, Algemene Baptiste en Besondere Baptiste-belydenisse en die afkorting TULIP (totale verdorwenheid, onbeperkte verkiesing, beperkte versoening, onweerstaanbare genade en die volharding van die heiliges) binne die konteks van die vier geloofstradisies. Die rede vir hierdie benadering is dat die Calvinistiese leerstellings wat gewoonlik duidelik of onderskeibaar is in die lewens van gelowiges, sou te voorskyn kom in terme van hoe hulle God se soewereiniteit, voorsienigheid en God se voorsienigheid in redding beskou (naamlik deur die akroniem TULIP). Die skrywer beklemtoon ook die positiewe impak wat hierdie vyf Baptiste-sendelinge op missies, onderwys, gesondheidsorg, sosiale en ekonomiese ontwikkeling en karakterontwikkeling gehad het, en hy skryf dit gedeeltelik toe aan hul Calvinistiese oortuigings. Ten slotte voer hy aan dat die studie van Kerkgeskiedenis baie voordele inhou. Dit kan Christene byvoorbeeld help om foute in die verlede te vermy (soos om agterdogtig te wees oor Calvinisme). Dit kan ook help om denominasies in te lig wat onbewustelik belangrike dele van hul geskiedenis uitgesluit het aangaande hul herkoms, die redes waarom hulle gedoen het wat hulle in die verlede gedoen het aan te dui en om kennis te bied wat tot hul voordeel kan strek.
Description
Thesis (PhD)--Stellenbosch University, 2021.
Keywords
Calvinistic Baptists, Missionaries -- Jamaica, Arminian, UCTD
Citation