Dr. Robert Paul Martin Departed to the Rest Above (February 4, 2016)
Since 1989 and its first publication the essay of Bob Martin on “The Legitimacy and Use of Confessions” has stood at the front of my A Modern Exposition of the 1689 Baptist Confession of Faith. Let me be clear. That fine essay is his work, though I fear over the years this has not been clear to many who have read and, I believe, profited from that work and especially his introductory essay. I owe a debt to Bob for permitting the use of that essay in my book. I am writing right now out of a sense of gratitude and in order to express my sense of indebtedness to this dear brother.
I knew Bob originally as part of the faculty and, I think, if memory serves, the dean of Trinity Ministerial Academy. I appreciated him then and still do today. Though I have not often seen him in recent years, it was my joy to meet him in 2014 (for the last time) at the Pastors’ Conference at Trinity Baptist Church in Montville, NJ. This was just after the return of the cancer that finally took his life. He was then, as I had always known him to be, a Christian Gentleman of the fine Southern variety combining in his temperament courtesy, kindness, firmness, loyalty, and gentleness.
We are glad that he has gone to the rest above to await the rest that remains to the people of God. We envy him a little—we who remain below to continue the battle he fought for gospel truth and righteousness in a wretched and fallen world. We wish his wife, Colleen, the consolations of the Spirit of God, his family much comfort in their loss, and all of his Christian loved ones joy in the prospect of a happy and glorious reunion with our dear brother in the day of the resurrection.
The Lord Reigns,
Dr. Sam Waldron
Pastor, Grace Reformed Baptist Church of Owensboro, Kentucky
Dean, Covenant Baptist Theological Seminary
Dr. Sam Waldron is the Academic Dean of CBTS and professor of Systematic Theology. He is also one of the pastors of Grace Reformed Baptist Church in Owensboro, KY. Dr. Waldron received a B.A. from Cornerstone University, an M.Div. from Trinity Ministerial Academy, a Th.M. from Grand Rapids Theological Seminary, and a Ph.D. from Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. From 1977 to 2001 he was a pastor of the Reformed Baptist Church of Grand Rapids, MI. Dr. Waldron is the author of numerous books including A Modern Exposition of the 1689 Baptist Confession of Faith, The End Times Made Simple, Baptist Roots in America, To Be Continued?, and MacArthur’s Millennial Manifesto: A Friendly Response.
