Archibald Alexander

Professor Howard Hendricks said that every Christian needs a Paul, a Barnabas, and a Timothy in their lives. A Paul–to serve as a mentor and role model, a Barnabas–to come alongside to offer encouragement, and a Timothy–someone in whom we can invest our lives. I thought of his comment when I reflected on the story of Archibald Alexander (1772-1851) and Charles Hodge. Archibald became the first professor at Princeton Seminary when it opened with three students in 1812. These students not only learned from their professor; they lived with him. Archibald’s home, shared with his wife and four children under nine, also functioned as the school’s classroom, library, and chapel. Charles Hodge lived in town with his mother and siblings, his father having died when Charles was an infant of yellow fever. Archibald attended the same church as Charles and took him under his wing. Archibald invited Charles to go on mission trips with him. As they rode by horseback through the New England countryside, Charles became enthralled with the vital spirituality in his professor. Charles became an earnest student at the seminary and eventually replaced his mentor professor. Charles named his son after Archibald and sat with the family when his teacher died. Charles became a leading biblical scholar in 19th-century America. It’s doubtful he would have achieved the same prominence without Archibald’s influence. When Charles visited Archibald shortly before he died, Archibald said, “I consider it one of my greatest blessings that I have been able to bring you forward.” Archibald prayed the following prayer for those approaching the brink of another world. What an instructive prayer, whether we are old or young: