James Robinson Graves

The first new biography in more than eighty years of James Robinson Graves (1820-1893), a noted Southern Baptist who staked distinct denominational boundaries through what is known as Landmarkism.

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.

J. R. Graves has been described by one historian as one who "influenced Southern Baptist life of the 19th century in more ways, and probably in a greater degree, than any other person." Over several decades, Graves was editor of The Tennessee Baptist, one of the most enduring and influential denominational papers across the south in the 19th century. His colorful style and homespun theology mesmerized thousands of southern believers, especially Baptists. In 1854, Graves tackled the issue of God's sovereignty and human free will, a provocative subject among Baptists in those days (Indeed the subject remains contentious both in theology and philosophy!). The core of Graves' view was published in three consecutive editions of his paper in 1854. Though a short compilation of articles, Graves represents what one might call a "soft" Calvinistic view of God's sovereignty and human free will reflected across the south in the late 19th century.

This book presents a detailed record of a historic debate on the subject of baptism. Two prominent pastors, Jacob Ditzler and James Robinson Graves, each argue their case for or against the practice of baptizing believers. A fascinating look at the theological debates of the past. This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work is in the "public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work. Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.