Thomas Bell (1733–1802) was a Scottish minister, known as a theologian and translator.
Life
Bell was born at
Moffat
Moffat ( gd, Mofad) is a burgh and parish in Dumfriesshire, now part of the Dumfries and Galloway local authority area in Scotland. It lies on the River Annan, with a population of around 2,500. It was a centre of the wool trade and a spa town.
...
on 24 December 1733, and attended the parish school there. He was sent to the
University of Edinburgh
The University of Edinburgh ( sco, University o Edinburgh, gd, Oilthigh Dhùn Èideann; abbreviated as ''Edin.'' in post-nominals) is a public research university based in Edinburgh, Scotland. Granted a royal charter by King James VI in 15 ...
while still young, completed the course and continued theological studies at the university.
Instead of seeking license from the
Church of Scotland
The Church of Scotland ( sco, The Kirk o Scotland; gd, Eaglais na h-Alba) is the national church in Scotland.
The Church of Scotland was principally shaped by John Knox, in the Scottish Reformation, Reformation of 1560, when it split from t ...
, Bell applied to the
Presbytery of Relief
The Relief Church (or Presbytery of Relief) was a Scottish Presbyterian denomination founded in 1761. In 1847 it united with the United Secession Church to form the United Presbyterian Church of Scotland.
In relation to the history of the Church ...
, founded by
Thomas Gillespie in 1761. He was licensed in 1767, and the same year was settled as minister of the Relief congregation at
Jedburgh
Jedburgh (; gd, Deadard; sco, Jeddart or ) is a town and former royal burgh in the Scottish Borders and the traditional county town of the historic county of Roxburghshire, the name of which was randomly chosen for Operation Jedburgh in su ...
, as successor to
Thomas Boston the younger
Thomas Boston, the younger (1713–1767) was a Scottish minister of the Relief Church.
Early life
The youngest son of Thomas Boston (1676–1732), he was born at Ettrick on 3 April 1713. After some home instruction, he went to the grammar school ...
; he remained there for ten years. In 1777 he was translated to a large congregation of the Relief church in Glasgow.
This move was without the consent of the Relief Synod, and three years passed before a rupture was resolved.
Bell was an opponent of hymn-singing in his church. Ill for about five years at the end of his life, his ministry was carried out by a substitute.
He died in Glasgow on 15 October 1802.
Works
In 1780 Bell published ''The Standard of the Spirit lifted up against the Enemy coming in like a Flood'', and in 1785 appeared ''A Proof of the True and Eternal Godhead of the Lord Jesus Christ''.
From the Dutch original of
Peter Allinga he translated ''The Satisfaction of Christ'' (1790). This was a work opposed to
Socinians
Socinianism () is a nontrinitarian belief system deemed heretical by the Catholic Church and other Christian traditions. Named after the Italian theologians Lelio Sozzini (Latin: Laelius Socinus) and Fausto Sozzini (Latin: Faustus Socinus), uncle ...
, and Bell was responding in it to the controversy over the Unitarian views of
William McGill of Ayr; he also wrote a work of his own, ''The Articles of Ayr Contrasted with the Oracles of Truth''.
He translated from the Latin of
Herman Witsius ''The Controversies stated in Great Britain under the Unhappy Names of Antinomians and Neonomians'' (posthumously published), as well as ''A View of the Covenants of Works and Grace'', and ''Sermons on various Important Subjects'' (1814).
Family
Bell was father of
James Bell the geographical writer.
Notes
External links
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Attribution
1733 births
1802 deaths
Scottish translators
People from Moffat
18th-century British translators
Ministers of the Relief Church
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