Preaching and Scholarship: Inaugural Address of Archibald Thomas Robertson
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Overview
Can scholars preach? Should scholars preach? What is the relationship between intellectual cultivation and thoughtful preaching? In his inaugural lecture at Southern Baptist Seminary in 1890, A. T. Robertson clarifies the relationship between scholarship and preaching. He contends that objections to theological education usually arise from ignorance about the real workings of seminaries. This address counters the prejudice against higher learning, and shows that it is not only possible, but preferable for someone to become a respectable scholar and remain a preacher. Moreover, says Robertson, we cannot underestimate the work of the Holy Spirit during intellectual pursuit.
Top Highlights
“But my plea is for a scholarship that helps men to preach. For after all, the great need of the world is the preaching of the gospel, not saying off a sermon, but preaching that stirs sinful hearts to repentance and godliness.” (Page 9)
“We know that he has no use for the pride of learning, but neither does he care for the arrogance of ignorance. Certainly” (Page 3)
“For if a man is to preach, he must be able to think.” (Page 14)
“There has to be some severe thinking and suffering before you will command the ears and hearts of men. Mere dabbling in books will not make you a deeper man. But if you get a studious habit upon you, it will help you to go to the bottom of things.” (Page 15)
“Give us men in the pulpit to-day above all things that fear God and think the gospel good enough for anybody and make no apology for preaching it.” (Page 9)
- Title: Preaching and Scholarship: Inaugural Address of Archibald Thomas Robertson
- Author: A. T. Robertson
- Publisher: Baptist Book Concern
- Publication Date: 1890
- Pages: 18
Archibald Thomas Robertson was born on November 6, 1863 in Chatham, Virginia, during the height of the Civil War. His family moved to Statesville, North Carolina, where he grew up. He was baptized in 1876 and immediately recognized God’s call to preach, and attended Wake Forest College. Upon graduation in 1885, Robertson entered The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, where he devoted himself to Greek studies under John Broadus. He was appointed Greek instructor as a student, and received his Th.M. in 1888. Robertson became an associate professor in 1890, and then served as Professor of New Testament Interpretation from 1895 to 1934. He devoted his life to preaching, teaching, scholarly activities, and giving public lectures, many of which have been reproduced in book form in this collection. He was a founding member of the Baptist World Alliance, and participated in numerous Bible conferences with Dwight Moody and F. B. Meyer.
