James Robinson Graves: Staking the Boundaries of Baptist Identity

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James A. Patterson's study delves into the life and mind of James Robinson Graves, focusing on the history of Landmarkism in the nineteenth century. Graves argued that "true" Baptists should trace their lineage directly to the early church, rather than through Protestantism. This doctrine, controversial at the time and often misunderstood today, is crucial for understanding how Baptists define their identities in relation to other Baptists and competing denominations. While recent historians have largely dismissed Graves, Patterson presents a nuanced revision that aligns him with central concerns of Baptist thought since the First Great Awakening. This work, part of the America's Baptists series, combines biographical insight with thematic exploration of Graves's contentious views on ecclesiology, Baptist history, and eschatology. Organized into seven chronological chapters, the updated edition features expanded discussions on Christian republicanism, Graves's relationship with race, and a longer epilogue addressing recent scholarship on Graves and Landmarkism. This accessible introduction highlights the significant yet disputed role of the Landmark tradition in shaping Southern Baptist life and thought, offering seminary students and scholars a rich new interpretation of this often-misunderstood figure.