Archibald Alexander

 

In the new issue of Credo Magazine, “Old Princeton,” James Garretson has written an article entitled, “Archibald Alexander: Architect of Old Princeton.” James M. Garretson is the former pastor of congregations in the Orthodox Presbyterian Church and Presbyterian Church in America. He is the author of A Scribe Well-Trained: Archibald Alexander and the Life of Piety and Princeton and Preaching: Archibald Alexander and the Christian Ministry. His most recent books include Princeton and the Work of Christian Ministry as well as Pastors-Teachers of Old Princeton. 

Here is his introduction:

Established in 1812 as The Theological Seminary of the Presbyterian Church in the United States of America, Princeton Theological Seminary quickly became the premier academic institution for Presbyterian ministerial training in the United States.

Committed to the preservation of Reformed and Calvinistic confessional orthodoxy; experimental piety; and the Presbyterian polity that American Presbyterianism had come to embody by the end of the eighteenth century, Princeton’s founders sought to design a school for ministerial preparation that would provide godly models and exemplary minister-scholar mentors in a community environment characterized by sanctified academic inquiry in order to prepare young men to become Presbyterian pastors who would be both pious and learned.

Princeton’s founders were careful to root the identity of the new school in the ministerial and confessional heritage of colonial Presbyterianism.  Having learned from earlier ruptures within its denominational history, the seminary’s charter embodied a proper balance in emphasis between doctrine and piety in the training students received; by emphasizing its commitment to the theology of the Westminster Standards and the importance of ‘vital piety’ in Christian character, the founders sought to avoid the issues that agitated the peace and unity of the colonial Presbyterian Church in the division which emerged in the 1730’s – 1740’s between ‘New Side’ and ‘Old Side’ ministers.

The founder’s interest in cultivation of vital piety and sound theological learning lies at the heart of the school’s purpose.  The Presbyterian Church believed that both piety and theological knowledge were essential for the maturing of Christian character and ministerial leadership.  Portions of a Plan approved by the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church delineate the goals for which the seminary was established:

‘That, as filling the Church with a learned and able ministry, without a corresponding portion of real piety, would be a curse to the world, and an offence to God and his people; so the General Assembly think it their duty to state, that in establishing a seminary for training up ministers, it is their earnest desire to guard, as far as possible, against so great an evil.  And they do hereby solemnly pledge themselves to the churches under their care, that in forming, and carrying into execution the plan of the proposed seminary, it will be their endeavour to make it, under the blessing of God, a nursery of vital piety, as well as of sound theological learning: and to train up persons for  the ministry, who shall be lovers, as well as defenders of the truth as it is in Jesus; friends of revivals of religion; and a blessing to the Church of God.’

Foremost among Princeton’s widely acclaimed faculty was its founding professor, Archibald Alexander.   Highly regarded as a preacher and pastor, Alexander’s reputation was further enhanced as the first Professor of Didactic and Polemic Theology. A prolific author, Alexander’s published works include biblical studies, church history, systematic and historical theology, biography, missions, sermons, and countless pieces on practical theology.  Alexander’s ministerial instruction established the school’s reputation as an educational center committed to the spiritual and intellectual development of its students; with the passing of the years, the ministerial education that Princeton provided left a lasting legacy on the development of American Presbyterian pastoral and pulpit practice.

Read the rest of Garretson’s article today!

To view the Magazine as a PDF

Each of us are indebted to those theologians of ages past who have gone before us, heralding the gospel, and even fighting to their last breath to keep the God of that gospel high and lifted up. It is hard to think of a group of men more worthy of this praise than those of the Old Princeton heritage. Men like Archibald Alexander, Charles Hodge, B. B. Warfield, J. Gresham Machen, and many others, stand in this rich heritage, men who defended the faith once for all delivered to the saints against the ever-growing threat of liberalism around them.

Since this year marks the 200^th anniversary of Old Princeton (1812-2012), it is fitting that we devote ourselves to remembering and imitating these great theologians of yesterday, not because they are great in and of themselves, but because their example points us to the great and mighty God we worship. And who better to introduce us to these Old Princetonians than James M. Garretson writing on Archibald Alexander, W. Andrew Hoffecker making our acquaintance with Charles Hodge, Fred Zaspel reminding us of B. B. Warfield, and D. G. Hart increasing our love for J. Gresham Machen? Not to mention a very in-depth interview with Paul Helseth on Old Princton and the debate over “right reason.”  May these articles and interviews inspire us so that in our own day we might experience a revival of this rich orthodoxy that has stood the test of time.