Thomas J. Nettles (January 17, 1946–) is an American Baptist preacher, historian, and theologian, widely regarded as one of the foremost Baptist scholars of his generation, known for his preaching and extensive writings on church history and theology. Born in Brandon, Mississippi, to devout Southern Baptist parents, he grew up steeped in the faith, though he initially wrestled with assurance of salvation—a struggle resolved during a revival meeting in Perrin, Texas, after his first year at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary (SWBTS). He earned a B.A. in Spanish from Mississippi College (1968) and both an M.Div. (1971) and Ph.D. in Church History (1976) from SWBTS, where his academic career began as a professor in 1976. Nettles’s preaching career spans pastoral roles and academia, blending pulpit ministry with scholarly influence. He pastored churches in Mississippi, Tennessee, Texas, and Kentucky, often preaching on the doctrines of grace and Baptist distinctives, reflecting his Calvinistic theology. His academic tenure includes Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary (1976–1982), Mid-America Baptist Theological Seminary (1982–1985), Trinity Evangelical Divinity School (1985–1997, as Professor of Church History and Chair), and The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary (SBTS) (1997–2014), where he retired as Senior Professor of Historical Theology. A key figure in the SBC’s Conservative Resurgence, his 1980 book Baptists and the Bible (co-authored with L. Russ Bush) bolstered the inerrancy movement, cementing his influence.