Presbyterian & Reformed Publishing has continued to build its fascinating series American Reformed Biographies with the latest addition, Dr. Tom Nettles’ James Petigru Boyce: A Southern Baptist Statesman. This outstanding volume is available here. For a Presbyterian such as myself this volume was not only informative, but also inspiring. While I would differ from Boyce on baptism and ecclesiology, we would be of one mind about the biblical nature of Calvinism. Nettles provides for the reader an entree into the life of a well-known theologian and educator in his own day who has been eclipsed in subsequent years. The memory of Boyce and his Calvinistic ideals have not been lost. The recent recovery of Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, KY under the leadership of R. Albert Mohler was in many ways a return to the vision Boyce had for SBTS at the beginning. Boyce was unusually gifted as a theologian, educator, and financier. These were qualities he would use in spades in the early days of the establishment of the seminary. The reader comes away wanting to be used of God is similar ways.
James Petigru Boyce
2 Responses to “James Petigru Boyce”
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I appeal to you, brothers, to watch out for those who cause divisions and create obstacles contrary to the doctrine that you have been taught; avoid them. For such persons do not serve our Lord Christ, but their own appetites, and by smooth talk and flattery they deceive the hearts of the naïve. (Romans 16:17-18)
I’m not in the SBC, but it appears to me that a group supporting the tradition of Boyce is at Founders.org.
Bob
Yes, it is the Founder’s movement that appears to be key in all this. Thanks for the link.