John Broadus - Everyone May Preach
John Albert Broadus
Scholar, teacher, preacher, and denominational leader. The fourth child of Major Edmund and Nancy (Sims) Broadus, he came into a home which, though not wealthy, was distinguished by intelligence, culture, and piety. When he was about 16, he was converted. His early education had been at home and in a private school. From 1844 to 1846 he taught in a small school and engaged in disciplined independent study.
In the fall of 1846 Broadus entered the University of Virginia to prepare for ministry, receiving the M.A. degree in 1850. During the next year he taught in a private school in Fluvanna County, Va., serving in small country churches, and diligently studied church history, theology, sermons, and the Bible. During this year two notable events occurred - his ordination, Aug. 12, 1850, and on Nov. 13, 1850, his marriage to Maria Harrison, a daughter of Gessner Harrison (1807-62), professor of ancient languages at the University of Virginia.
Calls of various kinds came to the young teacher, and he finally accepted the post as tutor in Latin and Greek at his alma mater and a pastor of the Baptist church at Charlottesville. After one year he resigned his teaching position in order to devote full time to pastoring. This he did with the exception of two years when he was given a leave of absence to serve as chaplain at the University of Virginia.
In 1858 Broadus was asked to become a member of the faculty of the new Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. Though he had a part in planning the institution, he declined the offer because of his attachment to preaching and pastoral work. After months of struggling with the decision, he agreed to become a member of the first faculty when the seminary opened in Greenville, S. C., in 1859. For the next 36 years he was professor of New Testament interpretation and homiletics, and his life was inextricably bound to the school.
The last years of Broadus’ life brought increasing recognition. He published the following works: Lectures on the History of Preaching(1876, revised, 1896); Commentary on the Gospel of Matthew (1886); Sermons and Addresses (1886); Jesus of Nazareth (1890); Memoir of James Petigru Boyce (1893); Harmony of the Gospels (1893); twenty or more pamphlets, tracts, etc.; and many periodical articles. In 1889 he gave the Yale Lectures on Preaching and is the only Southern Baptist ever to be accorded this honor.
For decades his book about preaching was used in major institutions of higher learning. Even translated to other languages.
He died Mar. 16, 1895, almost at the zenith of his fame, and was buried in Cave Hill Cemetery in Louisville, Ky.
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Those scattered abroad went everywhere preaching... Acts 8:4. Those - male and female. Acts 8:3 As for Saul, he made havoc of the church, entering every house, and dragging off men and women, committing them to prison.
They preached without needing the approval of others, without ordination, and without advanced training.