Adolph Saphir was born in Hungary in a well-respected Jewish family, son of Israel Saphir, a prominent figure in the Jewish community there. As a direct result of the Scottish mission to the Jews, and many conversations with Dr. Keith, the whole family accepted the gospel, believed that Jesus is the promised Messiah, and all were baptised in 1843.
Rev. Dr. Keith - Adolph Saphir - "Rabbi Duncan" - Rev.
Dr Black
Adolph Saphir was 12 at the time of the disruption in 1843, and
is here painted in the disruption picture, with those who had a direct
influence on his conversion.
The conversion of Israel Saphir and his family caused a great sensation among the Jews, who knew that as a Jew he had been remarkable for honesty and wisdom, and who could not believe that in becoming a Christian he was a deceiver.
In 1843 Adolph was sent to Edinburgh, to Dr Duncan, together with Alfred Edersheim and Alexander Tomory.
From 1844-1848 he attended the gymnasium in Berlin, and then came back to Scotland to study for the ministry in Glasgow University and Marischal College, Aberdeen.He then became a student of theology in the Free Church college, Edinburgh.
In 1854, after his studies were completed, he was recommended by Dr. Keith to the Irish Presbyterian Church as a missionary to the Jews. He was licensed and ordained by the Presbytery of Belfast, and married Sara Owen.
They stayed in Hamburg, but the methods he wanted to use to evangelise the Jews were not approved, and so he resigned his position and his salary. In 1855 they went to Glasgow and stayed there for more than 6 months, until he was called to the ministry at Laygate presbyterian Church, South shields. Here he continued for five years.
He went to St Mark's Presbyterian Church, Greenwich in
1861, and people flocked to hear him, not only on Sundays, but at weeknight
services.
The secret of his ministry was that Jesus Christ was to him first
and foremost. He preached Jesus from Genesis to Revelation.
In 1872 he left Greenwich and started the ministry in Notting Hill. Members of lots of different churches (Church of England, Congregationalists, Baptists, Plymouth brethren, and others) came to hear him preach the Word of God.
To be continued
December 2005