Bible Commentaries

John Nelson Darby

John Nelson Darby (1800-1882) was a British-Irish theologian, an influential figure in the development of Christian fundamentalism, and a key founder of the Plymouth Brethren movement. Darby's impact on Christianity extends far beyond the confines of the Brethren, particularly through his dispensationalist theology, which has profoundly shaped evangelical belief, especially in the United States.

Educated as a lawyer at Trinity College, Dublin, Darby experienced a religious conversion, leading him to abandon his legal career for the Anglican ministry. However, disillusioned by the state church's rigidity and lack of spiritual vitality, he left to become one of the early leaders in the Plymouth Brethren, a group that sought to return to the simplicity and purity of the early church.

Darby's theological contributions are vast, but he is perhaps best known for his systematization of dispensationalism-a theological framework that views history as a series of dispensations or periods in which God interacts with humanity in different ways. This perspective introduced the concept of the pre-tribulation rapture, proposing that Christ would return secretly to rapture the church before a period of tribulation on earth, followed by His second coming in glory and judgment.

An indefatigable traveler and a prolific writer, Darby spent much of his life spreading his theological views across Europe and North America, influencing many through his writings and Bible translations. His translation of the Bible into English, French, and German helped disseminate his ideas, as did his extensive body of written work, which includes commentaries, essays, and letters.

Darby's legacy is complex, marked by his commitment to biblical literalism and his anticipation of Christ's imminent return. His interpretations of Scripture continue to resonate within Christian eschatology, making him a figure of enduring significance in the history of Christian thought.