No Compromise "No Empty Words, No White Lies, No Token Prayers…"

A Brief Biography of J.P. Boyce

INTRODUCTION

There are very few people in history that have made the type of impact that J.P. Boyce made on the people of the Southern Baptist Heritage. It is as though his entire life was shaped and used by God to provide the foundational structure for all Baptist theological institutions that would be birthed from the Southern Baptist movement. His impact is undeniable, yet the details of his life are often unknown. This short biographical sketch was written to provide a simple overview of the life of the man, affectionately called, “Jim Peter.”

EARLY LIFE

James Petigru Boyce was born in Charleston, South Carolina on January 11, 1827 to Mr. and Mrs. Ker Boyce. Ker Boyce was a wealthy banker in the Charleston area that married Amanda Jane Caroline Johnston who had descended from a family of lawyers, judges, and statesmen of strict Presbyterian stock. James’ birth into the wealthy Boyce family afforded him with a vast amount of opportunities for educational and cultural experiences that would shape him into both a gentleman and a scholar. Boyce was blessed not only to have wealth, but also to have a Godly mother who was converted under the ministry of Basil Manly Sr. in 1830. From very early on, He was consistently exposed to the exposition of Holy Scripture by Manly, whose influence in James’ life was tremendous. Dr. Tom Nettles notes, “Boyce recalled an abundance of occasions when Manly had the right word, whether in the present of joy and mirth or sorrow or lament.” Nettles goes on to list a quote by Boyce regarding Manly Sr., “Would that I could venture to speak more at large about his life in this respect or to state personal recollections which crowd upon me as to that part his ministry.” Manly’s early influence on Boyce is unmistakable and becomes much clearer later on in his theological writings and practices.

EDUCATION AND CONVERSION

After completing Charleston High School, Boyce enrolled in Charleston College, where he would continue to sharpen his mind for work that God had in store for him. While attending Charleston College, Boyce excelled academically and made lifelong friendships with many of his classmates. It was during these times that great turmoil was facing the Baptist church. The northern Baptist and the southern Baptist were engaged in serious conflict over the matters of missionary support and slavery. The result would be a split between the two groups and the official birth of the Southern Baptist as a distinct entity from the northern Baptist. It was during this turmoil that Ker Boyce made the decision that James should transfer to Brown University to finish his education. It was at Brown that Boyce came under the influence of Francis Wayland. “Wayland was a renowned Baptist statesman and educator and one of the formative leaders of the Triennial Convention.” Broadus said that Wayland “made a more potent impression upon the character, opinions, and usefulness of James Boyce than any other person with whom he came in contact.” But more important that anything, Boyce was converted to Christ under the ministry of Francis Wayland. During the spring of 1846, the students of Brown University were gathering together for “college fast” to pray earnestly for the souls of the “impenitent.” During this time, several of the professors led times of Bible study and prayer on the campus. Boyce was deeply interested and attended many of these meetings prior to the spring vacation. While traveling home to Charleston, Boyce came under great conviction of sin while reading his Bible. Broadus comments saying, “He felt himself a ruined sinner, and, like the rest, had to look to the merits of Christ alone for salvation.” After spring vacation was over, Boyce returned to Brown and immediately began to serve the Lord as a new Christian. His service was spurred on by the spiritual renewal that was taking place at Brown in 1847. Boyce resolved to continue serving Christ “until not a soul can be found who has not felt and known the pardoning grace of God.” The outgrowth of this service would eventually manifest itself in the form of a formal call to the ministry.

PRINCETON, A PASTORATE, AND FURMAN

Just months before entering seminary, Boyce married Lizzie Ficklen on December 20, 1848. James had met Lizze at the marriage of his college friend, Milton Robert. James quickly became enamored with Lizzie and sought her hand in marriage in an immediate fashion. Lizzie initial refused, but through perseverance, James eventually won her heart. After marriage to Lizzie and further confirmation of the call to ministry, Boyce went on to Princeton Theological Seminary, where he studied from 1849 to 1851. It was at Princeton where he came under the influences of men like Archibald Alexander and Charles Hodge. Timothy George notes that, “By the mid-nineteenth century, Princeton had become the theological center of Calvinist orthodoxy in America.” Though Boyce had been exposed to Calvinistic theology very early on from the ministry of Basil Manly Sr., it was during his time at Princeton that he “drank