ABSTRACT

of

SYSTEMATIC THEOLOGY

by

REV. JAMES PETIGRU BOYCE, D. D., LL. D.,

Joseph-Emerson-Brown Professor of Systematic Theology in The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary.

This book was reprinted by the den Dulk Christian Foundation, 4265 Dover Ave., Hanford, CA 93230

COPYRIGHT 1887

By James Petigru Boyce

ISBN: 0-87552-872-4

To the

HON. JOSEPH E. BROWN,

President of the Board of Trustees of The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary,

this book is respectfully dedicated, as a token of high personal esteem, and in recognition of his deep interest in the cause of education, and especially of the theological education of the Christian ministry; as evinced, among other generous gifts, by his endowment in The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary of the Chair of Systematic Theology, with which the author is officially connected.

Acknowledgements

God in His providence raises up men who are concerned to see the truth of His word spread abroad not only in their own churches and communities but throughout the world. Two such men have been very instrumental in the past by their personal financial and prayer support in connection with the reprinting and distribution of this volume. Both of these gentlemen have now gone home to be with the Lord. We dedicate in memoriam this edition of Abstracts of Systematic Theology.

to

WILLIAM MENEES

elder

North Pompano Baptist Church

and

HAROLD S. IRWIN, JR.

trustee

den Dulk Christian Foundation

Publisher’s Introduction

The re-publication of this Abstract of Systematic Theology is a tribute to one of the great Christians and Theologians in American church history. Its author, James Petigru Boyce, the principal founder of the first Southern Baptist Seminary, now located in Louisville, Kentucky, might be called “the forgotten Baptist”. He may not be as well known as John A. Broadus and Basil Manly, Jr. (hence Broadman Press), but both of these men considered Boyce their spiritual leader. This in itself is a tribute to him.

In this preface we will give:

I. a brief biographical sketch of this great and godly man..

II. an account of the kind of Christian man and teacher he was through the eyes of an associate and a student.

III. and, finally, what James P. Boyce’s legacy and message is to Christians and Baptists today.

The three primary sources for this preface are the Memoirs of James P. Boyce, by his close friend John A. Broadus, a Founder’s Day address given on January 11, 1924 entitled James Petigru Boyce: God’s Gentleman, by Dr. David M. Ramsey, a former pupil of Boyce, and A History of Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, by William A. Mueller.

A statement by Dr. Ramsey rightly sets the tone of this preface and why we ought to consider James P. Boyce and his works:

“… his life was modeled after that of the Perfect Man.… Thinking of him as being the kind of man that Jesus was, we read that the people marvelled at the gracious words that proceeded out of his mouth. With Boyce, as with his Master, graciousness marked ...