James Robinson Graves: Staking the Boundaries of Baptist Identity

Biography & Memoir, Religious
Cover of the book James Robinson Graves: Staking the Boundaries of Baptist Identity by James A. Patterson, B&H Publishing Group
View on Amazon View on AbeBooks View on Kobo View on B.Depository View on eBay View on Walmart
Author: James A. Patterson ISBN: 9781433675980
Publisher: B&H Publishing Group Publication: February 1, 2012
Imprint: B&H Academic Language: English
Author: James A. Patterson
ISBN: 9781433675980
Publisher: B&H Publishing Group
Publication: February 1, 2012
Imprint: B&H Academic
Language: English
James Robinson Graves (1820-1893) is known for firmly believing that Baptists of his day needed clearly distinct markers in order to preserve a meaningful denominational identity. The founder of Landmarkism, his theology emphasized church succession (an unbroken trail of authentic congregations dating back to the New Testament), the local church (rather than the idea of a universal Body of Christ), and strict baptism guidelines.

In this first biography of Graves in more than eighty years, author James A. Patterson portrays the man as bold and brash. A native of Vermont who moved south to Nashville in 1845, the self-educated preacher and budding journalist would become a combative defender of the Baptist cause, engaging in public controversy with Methodists, Restorationists, and even fellow Baptists.

Ultimately, Graves sought to influence the direction of the Southern Baptist Convention in its formative period and was the primary shaper of the “Tennessee Tradition,” now considered a key strand of Southern Baptist life and identity. By focusing on Graves’s understanding of essential Baptist boundary markers, this book assesses the strengths and weaknesses of the Landmark legacy. It concludes with an epilogue that discusses the enduring influence of his ideas in the decades after his death.

James Robinson Graves (1820-1893) is known for firmly believing that Baptists of his day needed clearly distinct markers in order to preserve a meaningful denominational identity. The founder of Landmarkism, his theology emphasized church succession (an unbroken trail of authentic congregations dating back to the New Testament), the local church (rather than the idea of a universal Body of Christ), and strict baptism guidelines.

In this first biography of Graves in more than eighty years, author James A. Patterson portrays the man as bold and brash. A native of Vermont who moved south to Nashville in 1845, the self-educated preacher and budding journalist would become a combative defender of the Baptist cause, engaging in public controversy with Methodists, Restorationists, and even fellow Baptists.

Ultimately, Graves sought to influence the direction of the Southern Baptist Convention in its formative period and was the primary shaper of the “Tennessee Tradition,” now considered a key strand of Southern Baptist life and identity. By focusing on Graves’s understanding of essential Baptist boundary markers, this book assesses the strengths and weaknesses of the Landmark legacy. It concludes with an epilogue that discusses the enduring influence of his ideas in the decades after his death.

More books from B&H Publishing Group

Cover of the book Eight Twenty Eight by James A. Patterson
Cover of the book The Minister's Manual for Funerals by James A. Patterson
Cover of the book Once Upon a Gulf Coast Summer by James A. Patterson
Cover of the book Secret of the Shroud by James A. Patterson
Cover of the book No Silver Bullets by James A. Patterson
Cover of the book The New American Commentary Volume 3A - Leviticus by James A. Patterson
Cover of the book Holman Old Testament Commentary - Judges, Ruth by James A. Patterson
Cover of the book 52 Bible Verses You Should Have in Your Heart by James A. Patterson
Cover of the book Courageous Living by James A. Patterson
Cover of the book Divorce by James A. Patterson
Cover of the book Holman QuickSource Bible Atlas by James A. Patterson
Cover of the book The Athlete’s Bible by James A. Patterson
Cover of the book Marriage Is by James A. Patterson
Cover of the book The Seven Rings of Marriage by James A. Patterson
Cover of the book The Power of Desperation by James A. Patterson
We use our own "cookies" and third party cookies to improve services and to see statistical information. By using this website, you agree to our Privacy Policy