William Kelly (Guernsey and Blackheath)
Encyclopedia
William Kelly was born in Millisle
, County Down
, Ireland
. He was educated at Trinity College, Dublin
and secured a post as governor to the Seigneur of Sark in 1841. He married in Guernsey
and in the 1870s moved to Blackheath, London
. Kelly became a prominent member of the Plymouth Brethren
amongst whom he was a prolific writer. His writings also enjoyed the respect of scholars such as Henry Alford
, Heinrich Ewald
and George Anthony Denison
.
. He retained a close connection with the Channel Islands
for thirty years, residing chiefly in Guernsey, but for the latter half of his Christian career his home was at Blackheath.
Kelly was a graduate in classical honours of Trinity College, Dublin, and was recognised as not merely a sound, erudite scholar, but a controversialist of formidable calibre. Besides aiding Dr. Samuel Prideaux Tregelles
in his investigations as a Biblical textual critic
, Kelly himself published, in 1860, a critical edition of the Book of Revelation
, which Professor Heinrich Ewald
of Göttingen
, declared was the best piece of English work of the kind that he had seen.
Such studies were carried on concurrently with the editing of a periodical entitled The Prospect. He took up the editorship of The Bible Treasury in 1857, and continued till his death. As editor of the latter he was brought into correspondence with such men as Dean Henry Alford
, Dr Scott the lexicographer (whom he convinced of his own interpretation of the word rendered in the Authorised Version of 2 Thessalonians 2: 2, as "is at hand"), Principal Edwards (who confessed to Mr Kelly his conversion to the pre-millennial standpoint), with William Sanday
of Oxford, and other living theologians.
After the capitulation of younger ecclesiastical associates to the Higher Criticism, Archdeacon Denison spoke of Kelly's periodical as the only religious magazine any longer worth reading — so steadfast was the editor in his rejection of what he believed to be Christ-dishonouring views of the Bible.
The last prominent survivor of the first generation of the Plymouth Brethren
died on 27 March, 1906. Shortly before his death, Kelly said "There are three things real — the Cross, the enmity of the world, the love of God." An aged clergyman, who had long resorted to him for counsel, on hearing of his death, wrote: "He was pre-eminently a faithful man, and feared God above many"
, whose right-hand man he was for many years until he severed his connection, and formed a faction which bore his name.
The Collected Writings of John Nelson Darby were edited by Kelly, who has done much by his own expositions to give currency to the views enshrined in them. Kelly also edited the writings of John Gifford Bellet
. The large amount of Kelly's own writing contains lectures or notes on all the books of the Bible
. The title-pages of Kelly's works generally bore only the initials "W. K.". Several of his best-known expositions appeared during the last fifteen years of his life. Within Darby's lifetime, Kelly was already well known to outsiders by his lectures on the Pentateuch, the Gospel of Matthew
, the Revelation
of John
, the Church
of God, and the New Testament
doctrine of the Holy Spirit
, besides notes on Romans. After 1890 he issued In the Beginning, commended by Archbishop Benson and expositions of the prophecies of Isaiah
, of the Gospel of John
, of the epistle to the Hebrews
, of the epistles of John
; a volume of 600 pages on God's Inspiration of the Scriptures and his last words on Christ's Coming Again, in which he vindicates the originality of Darby's teaching in regard to the Secret Rapture
.
Charles Haddon Spurgeon
(1834 -1892), wrote about Kelly and said that he was "a leading writer of the exclusive Plymouth School;" "an eminent Divine of the Brethren School who sometimes expounds ably, but with a twist towards the peculiar dogmas of his party;" "We are sorry to see such a mind as Mr. Kelly's so narrowed by party bounds;" "It is a pity that a man of such excellence should allow a very superior mind to be so warped;" and finally, adapting Pope's well-known words, he says, "Kelly is a man who, born for the universe, has narrowed his mind by Darbyism."
Millisle
Millisle or Mill Isle is a village on the Ards Peninsula in County Down, Northern Ireland. It is mostly within the townland of Ballymacruise, about south of Donaghadee. It had a population of 1,800 in the 2001 Census...
, County Down
County Down
-Cities:*Belfast *Newry -Large towns:*Dundonald*Newtownards*Bangor-Medium towns:...
, Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
. He was educated at Trinity College, Dublin
Trinity College, Dublin
Trinity College, Dublin , formally known as the College of the Holy and Undivided Trinity of Queen Elizabeth near Dublin, was founded in 1592 by letters patent from Queen Elizabeth I as the "mother of a university", Extracts from Letters Patent of Elizabeth I, 1592: "...we...found and...
and secured a post as governor to the Seigneur of Sark in 1841. He married in Guernsey
Guernsey
Guernsey, officially the Bailiwick of Guernsey is a British Crown dependency in the English Channel off the coast of Normandy.The Bailiwick, as a governing entity, embraces not only all 10 parishes on the Island of Guernsey, but also the islands of Herm, Jethou, Burhou, and Lihou and their islet...
and in the 1870s moved to Blackheath, London
Blackheath, London
Blackheath is a district of South London, England. It is named from the large open public grassland which separates it from Greenwich to the north and Lewisham to the west...
. Kelly became a prominent member of the Plymouth Brethren
Plymouth Brethren
The Plymouth Brethren is a conservative, Evangelical Christian movement, whose history can be traced to Dublin, Ireland, in the late 1820s. Although the group is notable for not taking any official "church name" to itself, and not having an official clergy or liturgy, the title "The Brethren," is...
amongst whom he was a prolific writer. His writings also enjoyed the respect of scholars such as Henry Alford
Henry Alford
Henry Alford was an English churchman, theologian, textual critic, scholar, poet, hymnodist, and writer.-Life:...
, Heinrich Ewald
Heinrich Ewald
Georg Heinrich August Ewald was a German orientalist and theologian.-Life:Ewald was born at Göttingen where his father was a linen weaver. In 1815 he was sent to the gymnasium, and in 1820 he entered the University of Göttingen, where he studied with J.G. Eichhorn and T. C. Tychsen, specialising...
and George Anthony Denison
George Anthony Denison
George Anthony Denison was a Church of England priest.-Life:Brother of politician John Evelyn Denison, 1st Viscount Ossington, he was born at Ossington, Nottinghamshire, and educated at Eton and Christ Church, Oxford...
.
Biography
Being left fatherless at a young age, Kelly was already supporting himself by being engaged in teaching the family of Mr. Cachemaille, Rector of Sark. In 1840 Kelly made the Christian confession, and he shortly afterwards embraced the views of, and became a member of the Plymouth BrethrenPlymouth Brethren
The Plymouth Brethren is a conservative, Evangelical Christian movement, whose history can be traced to Dublin, Ireland, in the late 1820s. Although the group is notable for not taking any official "church name" to itself, and not having an official clergy or liturgy, the title "The Brethren," is...
. He retained a close connection with the Channel Islands
Channel Islands
The Channel Islands are an archipelago of British Crown Dependencies in the English Channel, off the French coast of Normandy. They include two separate bailiwicks: the Bailiwick of Guernsey and the Bailiwick of Jersey...
for thirty years, residing chiefly in Guernsey, but for the latter half of his Christian career his home was at Blackheath.
Kelly was a graduate in classical honours of Trinity College, Dublin, and was recognised as not merely a sound, erudite scholar, but a controversialist of formidable calibre. Besides aiding Dr. Samuel Prideaux Tregelles
Samuel Prideaux Tregelles
Samuel Prideaux Tregelles was an English biblical scholar, textual critic, and theologian.- Life :Tregelles was born at Wodehouse Place, Falmouth, of Quaker parents, but he himself for many years was in communion with the Plymouth Brethren and then later in life became a Presbyterian...
in his investigations as a Biblical textual critic
Textual criticism
Textual criticism is a branch of literary criticism that is concerned with the identification and removal of transcription errors in the texts of manuscripts...
, Kelly himself published, in 1860, a critical edition of the Book of Revelation
Book of Revelation
The Book of Revelation is the final book of the New Testament. The title came into usage from the first word of the book in Koine Greek: apokalupsis, meaning "unveiling" or "revelation"...
, which Professor Heinrich Ewald
Heinrich Ewald
Georg Heinrich August Ewald was a German orientalist and theologian.-Life:Ewald was born at Göttingen where his father was a linen weaver. In 1815 he was sent to the gymnasium, and in 1820 he entered the University of Göttingen, where he studied with J.G. Eichhorn and T. C. Tychsen, specialising...
of Göttingen
Göttingen
Göttingen is a university town in Lower Saxony, Germany. It is the capital of the district of Göttingen. The Leine river runs through the town. In 2006 the population was 129,686.-General information:...
, declared was the best piece of English work of the kind that he had seen.
Such studies were carried on concurrently with the editing of a periodical entitled The Prospect. He took up the editorship of The Bible Treasury in 1857, and continued till his death. As editor of the latter he was brought into correspondence with such men as Dean Henry Alford
Henry Alford
Henry Alford was an English churchman, theologian, textual critic, scholar, poet, hymnodist, and writer.-Life:...
, Dr Scott the lexicographer (whom he convinced of his own interpretation of the word rendered in the Authorised Version of 2 Thessalonians 2: 2, as "is at hand"), Principal Edwards (who confessed to Mr Kelly his conversion to the pre-millennial standpoint), with William Sanday
William Sanday
William Sanday was born in Holme Pierrepont, Nottinghamshire, England to William Sanday and Elizabeth Mann. He was a British theologian and biblical scholar...
of Oxford, and other living theologians.
After the capitulation of younger ecclesiastical associates to the Higher Criticism, Archdeacon Denison spoke of Kelly's periodical as the only religious magazine any longer worth reading — so steadfast was the editor in his rejection of what he believed to be Christ-dishonouring views of the Bible.
The last prominent survivor of the first generation of the Plymouth Brethren
Plymouth Brethren
The Plymouth Brethren is a conservative, Evangelical Christian movement, whose history can be traced to Dublin, Ireland, in the late 1820s. Although the group is notable for not taking any official "church name" to itself, and not having an official clergy or liturgy, the title "The Brethren," is...
died on 27 March, 1906. Shortly before his death, Kelly said "There are three things real — the Cross, the enmity of the world, the love of God." An aged clergyman, who had long resorted to him for counsel, on hearing of his death, wrote: "He was pre-eminently a faithful man, and feared God above many"
Ministry and Publications
Kelly's chief interest was in ministering spiritually to those whom he described as the "few despised ones of Christ's flock." To such service he gave untiring energy, until two months before his death. He identified himself whole-heartedly with the body of doctrine developed by John Nelson DarbyJohn Nelson Darby
John Nelson Darby was an Anglo-Irish evangelist, and an influential figure among the original Plymouth Brethren. He is considered to be the father of modern Dispensationalism. He produced a translation of the Bible based on the Hebrew and Greek texts called The Holy Scriptures: A New Translation...
, whose right-hand man he was for many years until he severed his connection, and formed a faction which bore his name.
The Collected Writings of John Nelson Darby were edited by Kelly, who has done much by his own expositions to give currency to the views enshrined in them. Kelly also edited the writings of John Gifford Bellet
John Gifford Bellet
John Gifford Bellett was an Irish Christian writer and theologian, and was influential in the beginning of the Plymouth Brethren movement.-Life:Bellett was born in Dublin, Ireland...
. The large amount of Kelly's own writing contains lectures or notes on all the books of the Bible
Bible
The Bible refers to any one of the collections of the primary religious texts of Judaism and Christianity. There is no common version of the Bible, as the individual books , their contents and their order vary among denominations...
. The title-pages of Kelly's works generally bore only the initials "W. K.". Several of his best-known expositions appeared during the last fifteen years of his life. Within Darby's lifetime, Kelly was already well known to outsiders by his lectures on the Pentateuch, the Gospel of Matthew
Gospel of Matthew
The Gospel According to Matthew is one of the four canonical gospels, one of the three synoptic gospels, and the first book of the New Testament. It tells of the life, ministry, death, and resurrection of Jesus of Nazareth...
, the Revelation
Book of Revelation
The Book of Revelation is the final book of the New Testament. The title came into usage from the first word of the book in Koine Greek: apokalupsis, meaning "unveiling" or "revelation"...
of John
John the Apostle
John the Apostle, John the Apostle, John the Apostle, (Aramaic Yoħanna, (c. 6 - c. 100) was one of the Twelve Apostles of Jesus. He was the son of Zebedee and Salome, and brother of James, another of the Twelve Apostles...
, the Church
Christian Church
The Christian Church is the assembly or association of followers of Jesus Christ. The Greek term ἐκκλησία that in its appearances in the New Testament is usually translated as "church" basically means "assembly"...
of God, and the New Testament
New Testament
The New Testament is the second major division of the Christian biblical canon, the first such division being the much longer Old Testament....
doctrine of the Holy Spirit
Holy Spirit
Holy Spirit is a term introduced in English translations of the Hebrew Bible, but understood differently in the main Abrahamic religions.While the general concept of a "Spirit" that permeates the cosmos has been used in various religions Holy Spirit is a term introduced in English translations of...
, besides notes on Romans. After 1890 he issued In the Beginning, commended by Archbishop Benson and expositions of the prophecies of Isaiah
Isaiah
Isaiah ; Greek: ', Ēsaïās ; "Yahu is salvation") was a prophet in the 8th-century BC Kingdom of Judah.Jews and Christians consider the Book of Isaiah a part of their Biblical canon; he is the first listed of the neviim akharonim, the later prophets. Many of the New Testament teachings of Jesus...
, of the Gospel of John
Gospel of John
The Gospel According to John , commonly referred to as the Gospel of John or simply John, and often referred to in New Testament scholarship as the Fourth Gospel, is an account of the public ministry of Jesus...
, of the epistle to the Hebrews
Epistle to the Hebrews
The Epistle to the Hebrews is one of the books in the New Testament. Its author is not known.The primary purpose of the Letter to the Hebrews is to exhort Christians to persevere in the face of persecution. The central thought of the entire Epistle is the doctrine of the Person of Christ and his...
, of the epistles of John
Epistles of John
Three books in the New Testament, thought to have been written between 90-100, are collectively called the Epistles of John:*First Epistle of John*Second Epistle of John*Third Epistle of JohnThe traditional author of these letters is John the Evangelist....
; a volume of 600 pages on God's Inspiration of the Scriptures and his last words on Christ's Coming Again, in which he vindicates the originality of Darby's teaching in regard to the Secret Rapture
Rapture
The rapture is a reference to the "being caught up" referred to in 1 Thessalonians 4:17, when the "dead in Christ" and "we who are alive and remain" will be caught up in the clouds to meet "the Lord"....
.
Biography and Criticism
His biography, based on Turner's and others biographies, has been compiled by Edwin N Cross http://www.chaptertwobooks.org.uk. W G Turner and Heyman Wreford also wrote short biographical sketches about Kelly.Charles Haddon Spurgeon
Charles Spurgeon
Charles Haddon Spurgeon was a large British Particular Baptist preacher who remains highly influential among Christians of different denominations, among whom he is still known as the "Prince of Preachers"...
(1834 -1892), wrote about Kelly and said that he was "a leading writer of the exclusive Plymouth School;" "an eminent Divine of the Brethren School who sometimes expounds ably, but with a twist towards the peculiar dogmas of his party;" "We are sorry to see such a mind as Mr. Kelly's so narrowed by party bounds;" "It is a pity that a man of such excellence should allow a very superior mind to be so warped;" and finally, adapting Pope's well-known words, he says, "Kelly is a man who, born for the universe, has narrowed his mind by Darbyism."
External links
- The Chapter Two Trust are publishers and distributors of the works of William Kelly.
- Complete writings of William Kelly
- Biography of William Kelly
- William Kelly, Sus escritos traducidos al Español