Prolific Greek Scholar and Teacher Archibald T. Robertson (1863-1934)

Dan Nelson February 20, 2020

Archibald T. Robertson (1863-1934)

Prolific Greek Scholar and Teacher

(A synopsis from Baptist Biographies and Happenings in America History. Contact me for a copy of the book). A. T. Robertson was one of the greatest Greek Scholars Baptist have ever produced. He labored in the Greek text all his life and began teaching at Southern Baptist Seminary in 1890 and continued into the 20th century all the way to 1934 when he died only a few hours after teaching his last New Testament.Many have profited from Robertson’s New Testament Word Pictures. His greatest work through a 1,454-page book entitled: “A Grammar of the Greek New Testament in Light of Historical Research.” The work is still consulted today as the opus for New Testament Interpretation when using the original text. His translation was called “The Big Grammar” and is used worldwide as the project of 26 years of translation going through four editions. It was three feet tall in its finished product in 1923.Robertson was a native Virginian who went to Wake Forest College and graduated in 1885. He enrolled in Southern that year and finished his studies in 1888. He started teaching there only a few years later married the future president John Broadus’s daughter and maintaining a close relationship with Broadus until the time of his death.Robertson held several Interim Pastorates and was usually preaching every Sunday. He was much in demand for Bible conferences and he particularly was used at D.L. Moody’s Northfield conference center and Winona Lake retreat grounds.One would feel the lifetime scholar would be above many of his listeners as he preached, but many marveled at his sermons and their inspiration. W.L. Poteat said his sermons were “sprightly.”14 He spoke at First Baptist Church of Oklahoma City and walked the aisles calling many youth to Christ. On that particular Sunday, a massive number of conversions were recorded.15 Even his lectures in the classroom were inspiring. Former students recall being seriously moved in his description of the crucifixion at the end of his lecture course on the Life of Christ which lingered, over them for days.” A student came by his office later in tears.One might also think that Robertson just wanted to make scholars out of his students who could not practically pastor a normal Baptist church. Robertson believed seminary education was time well spent, to sharpen the skills of a pastor in proclaiming the truths of the Bible to people. He joked, “The greatest proof that the Bible is inspired is that it has stood so much bad preaching.” However, he intended to do all he could in helping his students know what the text really said so that they might proclaim its truths with power.After collapsing and later dying after his last class, he was buried by his father-in-law John Broadus in their family plot in Louisville. This great scholar probably died just the way he would have wanted it, in Greek class translating a verse out of the Greek New Testament when he passed away. Robertson’s legacy is amazing in perspective considering the years he spent teaching and the monumental works he produced. He is such a worthy example of scholarship that every pastor and leader in Baptist work should strive to represent.Here are some of his famous quotes:Give a man an open Bible, an open mind, a conscience in good working order, and he will have a hard time to keep from being a Baptist.We don’t need theology in heaven, but we need it here for homeconsumption.Are there some preachers who God can’t use? There are some God has a hard time using. (References provided in my book: “Baptist Biographies”).