James Montgomery Boice served as senior pastor of Tenth Presbyterian Church in Philadelphia from 1968 until his death in June 2000. He was a prolific author who, in addition to several commentaries, wrote “Foundations of the Christian Faith,” “Christ’s Call to Discipleship,” and “The Parables of Jesus.” His radio show, The Bible Study Hour, is still heard today.
On June 15, 2015, the 15th anniversary of Boice’s passing, PCA pastor Rick Phillips remembered his friend. These words are a brief extract from comments he posted that day.
When he died in 2000, James Boice was known primarily for his nationwide radio preaching ministry, The Bible Study Hour, along with his scores of valuable books, especially his expositional commentary series. The church he pastored was considered a model of vitality and integrity, and the ministry he co-founded, the Alliance of Confessing Evangelicals, was playing a significant role in spreading a strongly evangelical version of the historic Reformed faith.
Fifteen years after his death, Boice should be seen as one of the motivating forces behind the recent spread of Calvinism among thousands of younger believers, especially in Baptist and Charismatic churches. Though himself a deeply committed Presbyterian, Boice reached far into other Christian circles through his teaching materials in Bible Study Fellowship, his preaching at the Philadelphia Conference on Reformed Theology, and the combination of personal godliness and reverent joy that inspired so many younger leaders.
Many of the figures associated with today’s new Calvinism have expressed the influence of Boice on their ministries and teaching, including John Piper, Tim Keller, and Al Mohler. In the last year of his life, Boice frequently spoke to me of his great optimism for the church, largely due to the legions of younger ministers who were taking God’s words seriously and embracing the doctrines associated with God’s sovereignty. I doubt, however, that he appreciated the significance of his own role in advancing that cause.
I recall being present on the Tenth Church platform, together with his successor Philip Ryken, when Boice announced his illness and impending death to the stunned Tenth congregation. After [he] concluded and moved to depart, he briefly stopped. Grasping my arm and looking into my eyes, he smiled and exclaimed, “Press on, brother. Fight the good fight.”
My point in relating this event is not to highlight my relationship with Boice but to offer it as a lens to view his devotion to serving Christ. Jim gave himself to the church, but he also gave himself to his friends and spiritual children. How greatly we miss him.