John Gifford Bellett facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
John Gifford Bellett
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| Born | 19 July 1795 |
| Died | 10 October 1864 |
| Nationality | Irish |
| Occupation | Writer, theologian |
John Gifford Bellett (born July 19, 1795 – died October 10, 1864) was an Irish writer and religious thinker. He played an important part in starting a Christian group called the Plymouth Brethren.
Contents
The Life of John Bellett
John Bellett was born in Dublin, Ireland. He went to school in Exeter, England. Later, he studied at Trinity College Dublin, where he was very good at studying old Greek and Roman texts.
Starting the Plymouth Brethren
In Dublin, Bellett met John Nelson Darby. Darby was a minister, which is like a pastor, in the Church of Ireland. In 1829, Bellett and Darby began meeting with other people. They met to share a special meal called communion and to pray together. These meetings helped start the Plymouth Brethren movement.
Bellett's Christian Journey
Bellett became a Christian when he was a student. By 1827, he was a layman, meaning he was a regular member of the church, not a minister. He wrote a letter in 1858 about a speech by William Magee, the Archbishop of Dublin. The Archbishop wanted the government to protect the church more.
This idea, where the government has a lot of power over the church, is called Erastianism. It bothered Darby and many others, including Bellett. They believed the church should be free from government control.
Bellett and Darby became good friends, especially because they shared similar ideas about future events mentioned in the Bible. They often went to meetings and discussions at the home of Lady Powerscourt. Bellett and Darby, along with the Plymouth Brethren movement, were known for believing in ideas like dispensationalism and premillennialism.
- Dispensationalism is a way of understanding the Bible. It suggests that God has worked with people in different ways during different periods of history.
- Premillennialism is a belief that Jesus Christ will return to Earth before a 1,000-year period of peace and righteousness.
Bellett's Writings
John Bellett wrote many articles and books about topics from the Bible. His most famous books are The Patriarchs, The Evangelists, and The Minor Prophets. You can find a longer list of his works on the STEM Publishing website.
Key Books by Bellett
- The Patriachs (published in 1909)
- The Evangelists (published in 1903)
- The Minor Prophets (edited by W. Kelly, published in 1870)
- Short Meditations (published in 1866)
- Moral Glory of Jesus Christ
