About this episode

Dr. Eric Smith discusses his critical biography of John Broadus, exploring his life, legacy, and the complexities of cultural and theological transitions in the post-Civil War South.

This episode features Dr. Eric Smith discussing his critical biography of John Broadus, a pivotal figure in Southern Baptist history. The conversation explores Broadus's life, legacy, and the complexities of navigating cultural and theological transitions in the post-Civil War South. Chapters 00:00 Introduction to the episode and guest 01:23 Who was John Broadus? A brief overview 04:00 Broadus’s influence in Baptist life and culture 06:14 Approach to writing a balanced, honest biography 09:56 Choosing Broadus for a critical biography 13:29 Reckoning with Broadus’s legacy and controversial aspects 16:03 Broadus’s ability to bridge North and South after the Civil War 19:20 Broadus’s charm and reception in Northern audiences 22:04 Broadus’s navigation of Southern culture and identity 23:41 Balancing theological liberalism and conservatism 29:39 Broadus’s legacy and influence on future generations 37:22 Reflections on the task of writing a critical biography 38:14 The process of selecting primary sources 43:31 Personal character and exemplary qualities of Broadus 47:21 Broadus’s preaching and communication style Support this podcast at —…

People in this episode

Host: Jordan Steffaniak

Guest: Eric Smith

Topics covered

• John Broadus
• Southern Baptist history
• cultural transitions
• theological discussions
• biography writing

Keywords

• John Broadus
• Eric Smith
• Southern Baptist
• biography
• post-Civil War
• theology
• cultural identity

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Southern Baptist, The London Lyceum

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