Alexander Maclaren

Alexander Maclaren was born on February 11, 1826, in Glasgow, Scotland. His family later moved to London, where he grew up. He was a quiet, studious boy, and he came to faith in Christ as a teenager under the influence of his family and a Baptist church. He was baptized and felt that he was called to preach. He entered Stepney College, a Baptist training school in London, and he was an exceptional student, especially in the study of the Greek New Testament.

At the age of twenty he was called to be pastor of the Portland Chapel in Southampton. The church was small and was in a poor state, and he stayed for twelve years. He worked hard to learn his craft. He spent his mornings in the study and his afternoons visiting his people. He did not believe in preaching without careful preparation. In those years he formed the habits that marked the rest of his career. He took a passage of Scripture, studied it in the original language, and then asked what it meant and how it spoke to the heart.

In 1858 he was called to Union Chapel in Manchester, a large church in a great industrial city. It had only a few members when he arrived, and the building was often half empty. His preaching soon changed that. People came from all over the city to hear him, and the church grew to fill its large building. He remained there for forty-five years. His sermons were known for their clear structure, their rich use of the text and their directness in applying the truth. He did not rely on stories or on dramatic effects. He relied on the Word of God, set forth with care.

He was a remarkably shy man, and he did not enjoy public life. He disliked speaking at large meetings and avoided publicity. Yet when he stood in the pulpit, he was transformed. Those who heard him said that he seemed to see the whole truth of the passage and to hold it up for the people to see. He was often described as the prince of expositors, and many ministers sat under him to learn how to preach.

He was twice elected president of the Baptist Union, in 1875 and 1901. He traveled to speak in Britain and America, though he was always uneasy about it. He also wrote a great deal. His main work is Expositions of Holy Scripture, which fills more than thirty volumes. It gathers his sermons on every book of the Bible and has been used by preachers around the world. He also wrote a number of smaller books, including studies on the Psalms and on the Epistles.

He struggled with his own limits. He was prone to doubts about his gifts and often felt that his work was not worthy. He suffered from times of depression and exhaustion. He also lost his wife, Marion, after long years of marriage, and he felt the grief deeply. Through it he leaned on the Scriptures he taught.

He retired from Union Chapel in 1903 and spent his last years in Edinburgh. He died on May 5, 1910. His books remain in print and are still used by pastors who want to learn how to open the Bible to a congregation. His life shows how a man who feels small can be used greatly when he gives himself to the faithful study and the plain teaching of the Word.