Calvinistic Baptists in Jamaica? A historical-theological study of the relationship between the theology and work of five pioneering missionaries in Jamaica. by Sheldon Campbell Dissertation presented for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Systematic Theology and Ecclesiology at Stellenbosch University Co-supervisors: Prof. Retief Muller and Prof. Dion Forster March 2021 Stellenbosch University https://scholar.sun.ac.za DECLARATION By submitting this dissertation electronically, I declare that the entirety of the work contained therein is my own, original work, that I am the sole author thereof, that reproduction and publication thereof by Stellenbosch University will not infringe any third party rights and that I have not previously in its entirety or in part submitted it for obtaining any qualification. Sheldon Kirk Yohannes Campbell March, 2021 Copyright © 2021 Stellenbosch University All rights reserved Stellenbosch University https://scholar.sun.ac.za 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). iii Stellenbosch University https://scholar.sun.ac.za 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. iv Stellenbosch University https://scholar.sun.ac.za 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). v Stellenbosch University https://scholar.sun.ac.za 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. vi Stellenbosch University https://scholar.sun.ac.za ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS I would first like to thank the Lord Jesus Christ for saving me. My life was nothing without him. If it were not for Christ’s salvific work and the Holy Spirit’s empowerment, I would not be a Christian and desirous for this kind of research to assist others in the church. I also recognise that it was only through God's help that I was able to complete this doctoral thesis. I would like to say thanks to Professor Michael Haykin from Southern Baptist Theological Seminary who told me to consider working with Calvinistic Baptists. He gave me the names of William Knibb, Thomas Burchell, and James M. Phillippo when I was having difficulty choosing a denomination. I would also like to thank Mikaela Levons for helping to edit my work and for giving me excellent feedback when I requested it. I would also like to thank my first supervisor Prof. Retief Muller who had been with me for the past three years as this progressed from an idea to the research proposal and now dissertation. Your contribution has been indelible. However, I must also express my gratitude to Prof Dion Forster (my second supervisor) who assisted me with the completion of the work. Prof. Muller was unable to do so, through a new assignment in the U.S. Nonetheless, he graciously conducted a final review of my doctoral thesis and for this I am very grateful. I would like to especially thank my wife Sara and boys Isaiah and Elijah that allowed me to devote the necessary time to pursue this study. I recognise your sacrifice, and I am so appreciative. vii Stellenbosch University https://scholar.sun.ac.za DEDICATION I will like to dedicate this work to the many faithful missionaries that left the comforts of their homes and countries to travel to Jamaica to share the gospel of Jesus Christ here. I know many died prematurely, and for some, their wives and children may have even preceded them in death, but they continued investing in this island, which they believed God had called them to serve. We are forever grateful for their sacrifice! viii Stellenbosch University https://scholar.sun.ac.za TABLE OF CONTENTS DECLARATION .................................................................................................................................................. II ABSTRACT ....................................................................................................................................................... III OPSOMMING ...................................................................................................................................................V ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS................................................................................................................................... VII DEDICATION ................................................................................................................................................. VIII LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS AND ACRONYMS ....................................................................................................