Archibald Thomas Robertson

Archibald Thomas Robertson, who as a professor of New Testament at Southern Baptist Theological Seminary shaped the thought of the Southern Baptist Convention for over half a century, was the son of Ella Martin and John Robertson. He was raised on a farm in Virginia. When he was 12 years old, the family moved to North Carolina, where at the age of 13 he had a conversion experience. At the age of 16 he was licensed as a Southern Baptist preacher. He attended Wake Forest College from which he graduated in 1885, and then pursued seminary work at the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary (Th.M., 1888). Following graduation he was ordained and became the pastor of the New Castle (Kentucky) Baptist Church but had to resign due to health within a few months. He became an assistant instructor at the seminary and was promoted to professor in 1892. In 1894 John Albert Broadus, the professor of New Testament interpretation at the seminary, died. A few months previously, Robertson had married Ella Thomas Broadus, his daughter, and in 1895 he was elected to succeed Broadus.

During his long career, Robertson specialized in the study of New Testament Greek, which led to the publication of 45 books. His most popular volume was Harmony of the Gospels (1922), a project he had begun as a revision of a similar book compiled by Broadus. Robertson broke with previous tradition by not building on the feasts Jesus is reported to have attended as the measurable turning points in his life. On the other hand, he stressed the historical nature of the Gospel of John at a time when many of his colleagues were calling it into question. As a scholar, his most important contribution was A Grammar of the Greek New Testament in the Light of Historical Research (1914), whose 1,454 pages consumed over 26 years in its preparation.

Robertson is also remembered for suggesting the possibility of Baptists worldwide meeting for fellowship and discussion of global issues. First mentioned in an article in the Baptist Argus in 1904, his suggestion was picked up and an initial Baptist World Conference was held in 1905, at which Robertson helped write the constitution for the Baptist World Alliance.

Throughout his career Robertson wrote for the laity as well as his fellow scholars. His interest in spreading a popular knowledge and appreciation for the Bible is seen in such books as his Commentary on Matthew in Bible for Home and School (1910); John the Loyal, or Studies in the Ministry of the Baptist (1911); Paul's Joy in Christ (1917); and New Testament History (Airplane View) (1923).