Caldwell connects church history to students’ lives, ministries 

Jonathan Edwards scholar Robert Caldwell’s passion is to help his students at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary understand that the “great stories of church history really do connect” with their stories and ministry. 

Caldwell, professor of church history, said he first became interested in history during his undergraduate years at Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois, where he “was drawn to intellectual history: the history of science and philosophy” which led him to graduate with majors in history and philosophy. 

“What intrigued me initially was the history of science,” Caldwell recalled. “I found it fascinating how scientific worldviews have changed throughout the centuries. I had a robust education in science in high school, and in college that history captivated me. From there I progressed to the history of philosophy, and in seminary I moved on to the history of theology and the church. I love to think about how people from different times have lived, thought, and worshipped.”

After receiving his bachelor’s degree, he went on to earn his Master of Arts in Christian Thought, Master of Divinity, and Doctor of Philosophy degrees from Trinity Evangelical Divinity School in Deerfield, Illinois.

His pursuit of history and his extensive education have benefited students at Southwestern Seminary since he began teaching at the institution in 2004. Caldwell teaches both introductory courses in church history, as well as electives, including American Christianity, a course on Jonathan Edwards, and American Awakenings – Theologies of the American Revivals. 

Caldwell became very interested in the life and influence of Jonathan Edwards during his time in seminary because he “wanted to read and be challenged by someone who united both the head and heart. Edwards was a great theological mind who could also write about the Christian life in a way that inspires fidelity to God and Christ. I wanted to have those influences in my life, which is what drew me to studying him more deeply.” 

Kevin Ulmer, a Ph.D. student from Ferriday, Louisiana, also has a deep interest in the preaching of Jonathan Edwards and Caldwell’s expertise on one of the leaders of the First Great Awakening is intriguing to him. 

Commending his scholarship on Edwards, Ulmer said, “He has helped me understand who Edwards is, what Edwards was about and the implications of that on Edwards’s preaching, which is of great interest to me.” 

Ulmer added that Caldwell “presents himself in a humble way and is extremely knowledgeable, always seeks to be helpful and personally invests in his students doing well. He is a five-star faculty member.” 

He has been able to get to know Caldwell from both a student and colleague perspective. When he was a Master of Divinity student, he worked on campus in a couple of different jobs, one of which was doing statistics and being involved with enrollment and assessment. Ulmer worked directly with Caldwell in this role. 

“He has been great to work with from a faculty/student standpoint and from a co-worker standpoint,” said Ulmer. When Ulmer first came to Southwestern in 2015, Caldwell was his spiritual formation faculty member. Throughout that experience, Caldwell mentored and made a spiritual investment in Ulmer and a small group of students. 

Caldwell said he enjoys “taking students through the entirety of the history of Christianity” and “helping explain to students why we do certain things and where certain thoughts and practices come from.” 

“I love to teach church history and training students in the ministry,” said Caldwell. He said he likes giving students “a historical sense to what preceded them” and “the value of history.” He enjoys explaining to students “what makes us Christians, what makes us Baptists, and what makes us Protestant.” 

Caldwell is committed to helping students by being available to them. “Whenever they want to talk or chat about issues relating to the courses that arise, I am available,” he said. Caldwell notes that he also writes a plethora of recommendation letters for students for various ministry roles or so they might further their education. 

Joshua Garvin, a Master of Divinity student originally from Keizer, Oregon, said he was “privileged” to take Caldwell’s Church History I class and has plans to take Church History II from him, too.

Garvin has experienced multiple ways Caldwell invests in him as a student and admires his dedication to his profession at the seminary and his students. “He continually reads and absorbs academic and scholarly material for the sake of improving his craft here,” he said. 

Caldwell “frequently uses the term, ‘grace upon grace’ as he waves his hands over the class… and he believes it as a standard of life,” Garvin noted. “He views the people of history with the same grace he hopes for himself, and this is only amplified in his interactions with the people around him.” 

“Dr. Caldwell also displays himself as a man of peace – externally displaying the internal working of the Spirit of God,” Garvin added. 

Caldwell is also a published author and is the associate editor of the Southwestern Journal of Theology. His writings include Theologies of the American Revivalists: From Whitefield to Finney, Trinitarian Theology of Jonathan Edwards: Text, Context, and Application, and Communion in the Spirit: The Holy Spirit as the Bond of Union in the Theology of Jonathan Edwards. He has also contributed chapters in several other books and journal articles for other publications. 

When Caldwell is not educating and inspiring students with the origins of church history, he loves to run and play the guitar. He also enjoys worshipping at Rock Creek Baptist Church in Crowley, Texas, where he serves as a Sunday School teacher and worship leader. “We’re a small fellowship with a big heart,” said Caldwell.  

Caldwell helps his students understand the value of learning church history for ministry. 

“Teaching church history is a lot like passing down wisdom; more specifically, theological, spiritual, and practical wisdom from Christians in times past. They weren’t perfect, but we can learn from their mistakes and stand confidently on their shoulders when they stood firm for Christ and his Word,” he said.

Caldwell enjoys “seeing students come to realize that the great stories of church history really do connect with and inform the personal stories of students’ lives and their ministries. This is what keeps me coming back to teach church history semester after semester. It’s what drives me to dig further into the topic and refine my teaching. And hopefully, it helps in building up the church to the glory of God.”