Andrew Fuller
Encyclopedia
Andrew Fuller was an eminent Baptist
minister, born in Cambridgeshire
, and settled at Kettering
.
Fuller was a zealous controversialist in defence of the governmental theory of the atonement against Hyper-Calvinism
on the one hand and Socinianism
and Sandemanianism on the other, but he is chiefly distinguished in connection with the foundation of the Baptist Missionary Society
, to which he for the most part devoted the energies of his life.
During his life, Fuller pastored two congregations—Soham
(1775–1782) and Kettering
(1782–1815). He died on 7 May 1815 at Kettering
, Northamptonshire
.
According to Christianity Today, "“Tall, stout and muscular, a famous wrestler in his youth,” this self-taught farmer’s son became a champion for Christ, “the most creatively useful theologian” of the Particular Baptists. His book The Gospel Worthy of All Acceptation, 1785, restated Calvinist theology for Baptists influenced by the Evangelical Revival. His Doctorate of Divinity was bestowed by Brown University, Rhode Island. Fuller was minister at Kettering, where the Baptist Missionary Society was formed in 1792, with Fuller as the energetic first Secretary."
Baptist
Baptists comprise a group of Christian denominations and churches that subscribe to a doctrine that baptism should be performed only for professing believers , and that it must be done by immersion...
minister, born in Cambridgeshire
Cambridgeshire
Cambridgeshire is a county in England, bordering Lincolnshire to the north, Norfolk to the northeast, Suffolk to the east, Essex and Hertfordshire to the south, and Bedfordshire and Northamptonshire to the west...
, and settled at Kettering
Kettering
Kettering is a market town in the Borough of Kettering, Northamptonshire, England. It is situated about from London. Kettering is mainly situated on the west side of the River Ise, a tributary of the River Nene which meets at Wellingborough...
.
Fuller was a zealous controversialist in defence of the governmental theory of the atonement against Hyper-Calvinism
Hyper-Calvinism
Hyper-Calvinism is a pejorative term referring to a denial of the free offer of the gospel and duty-faith. The term "Hyper-Calvinism" is used in the writings of Iain Murray, Curt Daniel, Peter Toon and others who seek to defend the free offer of the gospel as well as duty faith.The controversy over...
on the one hand and Socinianism
Socinianism
Socinianism is a system of Christian doctrine named for Fausto Sozzini , which was developed among the Polish Brethren in the Minor Reformed Church of Poland during the 15th and 16th centuries and embraced also by the Unitarian Church of Transylvania during the same period...
and Sandemanianism on the other, but he is chiefly distinguished in connection with the foundation of the Baptist Missionary Society
Baptist Missionary Society
rightBMS World Mission is a Christian missionary society founded by Baptists from England in 1792. It was originally called the Particular Baptist Society for the Propagation of the Gospel Amongst the Heathen, but for most of its life was known as the Baptist Missionary Society...
, to which he for the most part devoted the energies of his life.
During his life, Fuller pastored two congregations—Soham
Soham
Soham is a small town in the English county of Cambridgeshire. It lies just off the A142 between Ely and Newmarket . Its population is 9,102 , and it is within the district of East Cambridgeshire.-Archaeology:...
(1775–1782) and Kettering
Kettering
Kettering is a market town in the Borough of Kettering, Northamptonshire, England. It is situated about from London. Kettering is mainly situated on the west side of the River Ise, a tributary of the River Nene which meets at Wellingborough...
(1782–1815). He died on 7 May 1815 at Kettering
Kettering
Kettering is a market town in the Borough of Kettering, Northamptonshire, England. It is situated about from London. Kettering is mainly situated on the west side of the River Ise, a tributary of the River Nene which meets at Wellingborough...
, Northamptonshire
Northamptonshire
Northamptonshire is a landlocked county in the English East Midlands, with a population of 629,676 as at the 2001 census. It has boundaries with the ceremonial counties of Warwickshire to the west, Leicestershire and Rutland to the north, Cambridgeshire to the east, Bedfordshire to the south-east,...
.
According to Christianity Today, "“Tall, stout and muscular, a famous wrestler in his youth,” this self-taught farmer’s son became a champion for Christ, “the most creatively useful theologian” of the Particular Baptists. His book The Gospel Worthy of All Acceptation, 1785, restated Calvinist theology for Baptists influenced by the Evangelical Revival. His Doctorate of Divinity was bestowed by Brown University, Rhode Island. Fuller was minister at Kettering, where the Baptist Missionary Society was formed in 1792, with Fuller as the energetic first Secretary."
See also
- Fuller Baptist ChurchFuller Baptist ChurchFuller Baptist Church is a Baptist church located in the town of Kettering in northern Northamptonshire, England. This church was organized over 300 years ago, and has contributed to the creation of a number of Baptist churches nearby.-Founding:...
, Kettering. - Deathless SermonDeathless SermonThe Deathless Sermon was a sermon given during the decline of Hyper-Calvinism in England. It was preached by Particular Baptist Minister, William Carey on May 30, 1792 at the Friar Lane Baptist Chapel in Nottingham as an effort to arouse his pastoral contemporaries to intentional evangelistic...
- William Carey
- Strict BaptistStrict BaptistStrict Baptists, also known as Particular Baptists, are Baptists who believe in a Calvinist or Reformed interpretation of Christian soteriology. The Particular Baptists arose in England in the 17th century and took their namesake from the doctrine of particular redemption.-Further reading:*History...
- Reformed BaptistReformed BaptistReformed Baptists are Baptists that hold to a Calvinist soteriology. They can trace their history through the early modern Particular Baptists of England. The first Reformed Baptist church was formed in the 1630s...
External links
- Andrew Fuller Project — is preparing a modern critical edition of The Works of Andrew Fuller. This project is led by Michael A. G. Haykin, the Principal of Toronto Baptist Seminary and professor of church history at The Southern Baptist Theological SeminarySouthern Baptist Theological SeminaryThe Southern Baptist Theological Seminary , located in Louisville, Kentucky, is the oldest of the six seminaries affiliated with the Southern Baptist Convention . The seminary was founded in 1859, at Greenville, South Carolina. After being closed during the Civil War, it moved in 1877 to Louisville...
. The project description page has a substantial section headed, "Andrew Fuller: Life & Legacy". - Memoir, Sermons and Circular Letters (Archived 2009-10-25)edited by James Duvall, Baptist History Homepage.
- The Pastors Missionary Vision links to a [mp3 only] presentation by John Armstrong at the 1988 Desiring God Pastor's Conference, in which Armstrong draws heavily on Fuller's life and works.
- Holy Faith, Worthy Gospel, World Vision mp3 Andrew Fuller’s Broadsides Against Sandemanianism, Hyper-Calvinism, and Global Unbelief by John Piper at Desiring God 2007 Conference for Pastors.