Thomas Newton

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Dr. Thomas Newton (1704 - 1782) was an English cleric, biblical scholar and author. He served as the Bishop of Bristol from 1761 to 1782. Newton was born in Lichfield, Staffordshire and educated at Cambridge where he became a fellow of Trinity College. He was ordained in the Church of England, but continued scholarly pusuits. His best remembered works include his annotated edition of Paradise Lost, including a biography of John Milton published in 1749. In 1754 he published a large scholarly analysis of the prophecies of the Bible, titled Dissertations on the Prophecies.

Newton was elevated to Bishop of Bristol in 1761, and was recognized again in 1768 by being named the Dean of St Paul's Cathedral in London. He was a Christian universalist.^[1][2]

One of Newton's famous quotes concerns the Jewish people:

The preservation of the Jews is really one of the most signal and illustrious acts of divine Providence... and what but a supernatural power could have preserved them in such a manner as none other nation upon earth hath been preserved. Nor is the providence of God less remarkable in the destruction of their enemies, than in their preservation... We see that the great empires, which in their turn subdued and oppressed the people of God, are all come to ruin... And if such hath been the fatal end of the enemies and oppressors of the Jews, let it serve as a warning to all those, who at any time or upon any occasion are for raising a clamor and persecution against them.[1]

[edit] References

1. ^ Richard Bauckham. "Universalism: a historical survey". Themelios 4.2 (September 1978): 47-54.
2. ^ "Plain Guide to Universalism: Who Are Universalists?". Accessed Dec. 5, 2007.