Colin Smith was an Old Testament scholar who was passionate about Biblical languages, innovative educational technology, and Bible translation. But he will be remembered for his commitment to mentoring and teaching young leaders to think rigorously.
Dr. Smith died suddenly on Sunday morning, June 22, 2008, at his home in North Carolina. He was 53.
“We are teaching a generation that says, ‘Show me this truth from the Bible,’ ” Dr. Smith wrote in a recent Baptist Bulletin article. “Can you blame them for wanting to see it from the Scriptures? We need to do more than merely show people truths from the Bible. We should show the logical development of theology: how theology begins in Scripture, how it hangs together with Scripture, and how it influences the way we do things.”
He was a professor of Old Testament and Biblical languages at the graduate school of Piedmont Baptist College (Winston-Salem, N.C.). He was previously on the faculty of Baptist College and Seminary (Clarks Summit, Pa.) and Capital Bible Seminary (Lanham, Md.), a language consultant for Baptist Mid-Missions, and a frequent speaker at GARBC state and national conferences. He earned a BRE from Baptist Bible College, an MA from Capital Bible Seminary, and an MA and a PhD from Cornell University.
He had recently served as a church-planting pastor with Grace Baptist Church (Clarks Summit, Pa. (2005–2007). He was previously an assistant pastor of Grace Baptist Church, Hazelton, Pa. (1974–1977), senior pastor of Grace Baptist Church, Laurel, Ma. (1978–1993), and senior pastor of Brooktondale Baptist Church, Ithaca, N.Y. (1993–98).
He is survived by his wife, Anita, five children, and eight grandchildren.
“A dear and treasured friend of the Association is with the Lord,” said Dr. John Greening, national representative of the GARBC. “In his unique style, Colin Smith opened our eyes to the intricacies and clarity of God’s Word. He inspired countless young men to study Hebrew and to use it in their preparation for preaching.”
“Having a deep and abiding loyalty to our Regular Baptist identity, he helped us to understand the implications of our Baptist heritage and doggedly promoted the importance of local church ministry,” Greening said.
“To Colin’s dear wife, Anita, and his family: Our heartfelt sympathy is with you. We all share in your enormous loss—you are loved.”
- Read Baptist Bible College’s online tribute to Dr. Smith.
- Read Where’s the “C” in the Baptist Distinctives? by Colin Smith.
