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Ripley, Henry Jones, D.D.

Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature

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Ripley, George, Ll.d.

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a distinguished Baptist divine and Biblical scholar, was born in Boston, Jan. 28, 1798. He entered Harvard University, a medal scholar from the Boston Latin School, at the early age of fourteen, and graduated with the class of 1816. He took the full course of theological study at Andover, where he graduated in 1819. He was ordained as an evangelist Nov. 7, 1819, and spent some time in Georgia, devoting himself especially to the religious welfare of the colored people in the section of the state where he labored. The length of his ministerial service at the South was not far from seven years, 1819-1826. One year during this period he spent in Eastport, Me. Soon after the founding of the Newton Theological Institution, Dr. Ripley was elected, in 1826, professor of Biblical literature and pastoral duties, which office he held until 1832, when the election of another officer allowed him to direct his whole attention to Biblical interpretation. In 1839 he was transferred to the chair of sacred rhetoric and pastoral duties, which position he occupied with ability for seventeen years. The last three years of his connection with the institution he was associate professor of Biblical literature. After a service of thirty-four years, he resigned his professorship. After his resignation he was occupied some five years in literary work, and for a time was engaged in evangelical labors among the freedmen of Georgia. Returning to the institution at Newton, he accepted an appointment as librarian, which position he held during the remainder of his life. He died at Newton Center, Mass., May 21, 1875. Prof. Ripley made diligent use of his pen during his life. He published quite a number of carefully prepared articles in the American Baptist Magazine, the Christian Review, and the Bibliotheca Sacra. He was also the author of the following works: Memoir of Rev. Thomas S. Winn: — Christian Baptism, an examination of Prof. Stuart's essay on the mode of baptism: — Notes on the Four Gospels: — Notes on the Acts of the Apostles: — Notes on the Epistle to the Romans:: — Notes on the Epistle to the Hebrews, with new translation: — Sacred Rhetoric, composition and delivery of sermons: — Exclusiveness of the Baptists, a review of Rev. A Barnes's pamphlet on exclusivism: — Church Polity, a treatise on Christian churches and the Christian ministry. He prepared also an edition of Campbell's Lectures on Systematic Theology, and edited the Karen Apostle by Rev. Francis Mason. See Stearns, Hovey, and Clarke, Funeral Addresses. (J.C.S.)