Our Biblical Heritage: James P. Boyce

                                                                                                       Vol. VI, No. 3, April 1993

This is a new feature which will appear in the Banner from time to time. Its purpose is to provide our readers with quotes from outstanding Southern Baptist forebears setting forth their convictions about the nature of Scripture and other selections from biographies, official documents, and other sources which will gradually produce a broad appreciation of the true stance of Southern Baptists regarding biblical authority and related matters. The Banner suggests that readers may wish to keep a file of Banners to share with others and from which to review specific articles as those subjects arise in the life of your church, local association, state convention, or SBC affairs.

The Southern Baptist Convention was established in 1845. Our first heritage item came just eleven years later in 1856 when James P. Boyce delivered his inaugural address at Southern Baptist Theological Seminary.

"Peculiar obligations rest upon those to whom are entrusted the education of the rising Ministry. God in His mercy preserve the instructors from the crime of teaching a single error, however unimportant, and grant unto all our Boards the grace necessary for faithfulness to the trusts devolved upon them, that false doctrine, however trifling, may receive no countenance...

"You will infringe the right of no man, and you will secure the rights of those who have established here an instrumentality for the production of a sound ministry. It is no hardship to those who teach here, to be called upon to sign the declaration of their principles, for there are fields of usefulness open elsewhere to every man, and none need accept your call who cannot conscientiously sign your formulary (the Seminary Abstract of Principles)..."

Boyce also wrote a Brief Catechism of Bible Doctrine from which the following is excerpted: "How came it (the Bible) to be written? God inspired holy men to write it. Did they write it exactly as God wished? Yes; as much as if He had written every word Himself. Ought it, therefore, to be believed and obeyed? Yes; as much as though God had spoken directly to us.

James Boyce was president of Southern Seminary 1872-1879 and president of the SBC 1888. Let's examine briefly his views expressed in the above selections. In the first he addresses the responsibilities of all those to whom the SBC assigns trust for training up new pastors: seminary trustees, presidents, administrators, and faculty. He emphasizes the overwhelming importance of correct doctrine. He justifies the obligation of professors to teach only in accord with the expectations of those who have established the institution. He alludes to the requirement for professors to sign and adhere to the doctrinal statement of the seminary. And he notes that if a professor cannot in good conscience adhere to the expected doctrine, he is free and able to seek employment elsewhere.

In the catechism selection Boyce clearly establishes himself as what we today would call an inerrantist: God inspired men to write the Bible exactly as He wished, and it should be believed and obeyed just as though God had spoken directly, personally to us.