Malcolm B Yarnell

While the Southern Baptist Convention has so often been a step behind on the issue of race since its formation, there was still light shining in the darkness: a group of biblically faithful men and women who both recognized and fought for their racially marginalized brothers and sisters. Chief among these men and women was Thomas Buford Maston. T. B. Maston faithfully engaged the topic as the SBC's preeminent ethicist from 1922-1963 as a professor at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. This stand ultimately cost him his job. Even still, some sixty years later, his theology and ethics model the full unity in Christ. This book examines the writings of T. B. Maston in his efforts to reform the racially misguided interpretations of Scripture in the church and their subsequent prejudices. Maston is not merely a visionary who foreshadowed the eventual position of the SBC, and more widely, the evangelical church, but is one who directly caused legitimate change. Maston's profound yet humble work gives a blueprint for future racial reconciliation through integration in the church.

While the Southern Baptist Convention has so often been a step behind on the issue of race since its formation, there was still light shining in the darkness: a group of biblically faithful men and women who both recognized and fought for their racially marginalized brothers and sisters. Chief among these men and women was Thomas Buford Maston. T. B. Maston faithfully engaged the topic as the SBC's preeminent ethicist from 1922-1963 as a professor at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. This stand ultimately cost him his job. Even still, some sixty years later, his theology and ethics model the full unity in Christ. This book examines the writings of T. B. Maston in his efforts to reform the racially misguided interpretations of Scripture in the church and their subsequent prejudices. Maston is not merely a visionary who foreshadowed the eventual position of the SBC, and more widely, the evangelical church, but is one who directly caused legitimate change. Maston's profound yet humble work gives a blueprint for future racial reconciliation through integration in the church.

For generations Baptists have asked, "what does it mean to be a Baptist?" Exploring the life of Thomas Patient is helpful in finding an answer to this question. An English Puritan, then an American Baptist, then an English Particular Baptist, Patient's life of faithfulness and dedication to sound doctrine culminates in his foundational role in establishing the Baptist movement in Ireland. Although unknown by most Baptist historians, this exploration of the convictions and theology of Patient's life and ministry illustrates this under-appreciated figure's role in locating the Baptist identity. Through exploring Patient's extensive and early treatment of the doctrine of believer's baptism, Caswell grounds Baptist identity not fundamentally in the doctrine of soul competency, but rather in the biblical doctrine of believer's baptism. The life and ministry of Thomas Patient reminds readers why Baptists have been called Baptists. The Baptist identity is one distinguished by its unwavering conviction to the biblical doctrine of believer's baptism by immersion.