Jonathan Dickinson
Jonathan Dickinson was an influential figure in early American religious history, born in 1688 in Hatfield, Massachusetts. He graduated from Yale University in 1706 and became a pastor in Elizabeth Town, New Jersey, where he also practiced as a local physician. In 1717, Dickinson and his congregation joined the Presbyterian Church, leading him to advocate for a more formalized expression of the church's beliefs. His writings began in 1721, with notable works including "The True Scripture Doctrine," published in 1741, which articulated his vision for moderate evangelism within the church. Despite his efforts, a schism occurred within the Presbyterian Church during his ministry. Dickinson authored nearly thirty published works, often engaging in theological debates with the Anglican and Baptist traditions. In 1746, he co-founded the College of New Jersey, serving as its first president until his passing in 1747. His legacy includes a commitment to clarifying and defining religious beliefs during a transformative period in American Christianity.
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Jonathan Dickinson
Clergyman
- Born: April 22, 1688
- Birthplace: Hatfield, Massachusetts
- Died: October 7, 1747
Biography
Jonathan Dickinson was born in 1688 in Hatfield, Massachusetts. He attended Yale University, graduating in 1706. Three years later, he was ordained as a pastor and appointed to Elizabeth Town, New Jersey, where he would live for the rest of his life, serving as a pastor and local physician. In 1717, Dickinson and his congregation joined the Presbyterian Church. Shortly thereafter, Dickinson became an outspoken advocate of formalizing the beliefs of the church, which were until then rather loosely defined.
Dickinson began writing as a way to clarify his opinions on the direction of the church, beginning with Remarks upon Mr. Gales Reflections on Mr. Walls History of Infant Baptism in 1721. His most well-known volume is The True Scripture Doctrine, published in 1741, which methodically professed his moderate evangelism and his hopes for the Presbyterian Church. His words were unable to prevent a schism from occurring, however, and in 1745 Dickinson went to work on reviving his vision of the church. Dickinson was a prolific author and nearly thirty of his books were published between 1721 and 1793.
Dickinson’s had dogmatic quarrels with the Anglican and Baptist churches and some of his later writings were aimed against these religions. These works include The Vanity of Human Institutions in the Worship of God: A Sermon Preached at Newark, and The Reasonableness of Nonconformity to the Church of England, in Point of Worship. In 1746, Dickinson, along with a group of lay Presbyterians, founded the College of New Jersey. He was elected president and taught classes there until his death in 1747.