23 Facts About Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke was an Irish writer and biblical scholar.

Adam Clarke's father, an Anglican, was a village schoolmaster and farmer; his mother was a Presbyterian.

Adam Clarke's childhood consisted of a series of life-threatening mishaps.

Adam Clarke afterwards resided chiefly in London, and devoted much of his time to literary research.

Adam Clarke contributed to the Eclectic Review from the date of its establishment in 1804, and rendered much literary assistance to the British and Foreign Bible Society.

In 1815, Adam Clarke removed and resided in an estate in Millbrook, for several years.

In 1823, Adam Clarke removed to London and afterwards to Haydon Hall, where he resided until his death.

Adam Clarke rose to high rank in the Wesleyan body.

Adam Clarke was thrice President of the Conference in 1806,1814 and 1822.

Adam Clarke was a preacher of rare power and gifts and particularly in his latter years, he preached to crowded churches.

Adam Clarke was an amateur historian and scholar, and was invited by Brandt, secretary of the Royal Society of Antiquarians to see the newly acquired Rosetta Stone.

Adam Clarke proposed that the stone was basalt, a theory which while recently was found to be incorrect was thought to be correct until the late 1900s when better scanning equipment was developed.

Adam Clarke proposed that the third language was Coptic, a clue which was used by Jean-Francois Champollion who successfully completed the translation in 1822.

Adam Clarke was elected a member of six of the most learned societies of his day.

Adam Clarke was a member of the British and Foreign Bible Society, Fellow of the American Antiquarian Society in 1816, a Member of the Royal Irish Academy, an Associate of the Geological Society of London, a Fellow of the Royal Asiatic Society, and a member of the American Historical Institute.

Adam Clarke died from an attack of cholera on 26 August 1832.

Adam Clarke is chiefly remembered for writing a commentary on the Bible which took him 40 years to complete and which was a primary Methodist theological resource for two centuries.

Adam Clarke followed Wesley in opposing a Calvinistic scheme of salvation, preferring instead the Wesleyan-Arminian positions regarding predestination, prevenient grace, the offer of justification to all persons, the possibility of entire sanctification, and assurance of salvation.

Adam Clarke taught that the Bible provides a complete interpretation of God's nature and will.

Adam Clarke did not believe it biblically faithful to affirm this doctrine, maintaining that prior to the Incarnation, Jesus was "unoriginated".

Adam Clarke's view was opposed by many Methodists, notably Richard Watson.

Watson and his allies argued that Adam Clarke's position jeopardized the integrity of the doctrine of the Trinity.

Adam Clarke joined with other ministers in being an early critic of slavery.