# Joseph A. Johnson Jr.

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American theologian

Joseph A. Johnson Jr. Born Joseph Andrew Johnson Jr. 1914 Shreveport, Louisiana, U.S. Died September 29, 1979(1979-09-29) (aged 64–65) Shreveport, Louisiana, U.S. Resting place Lincoln Memorial Park, Shreveport, Louisiana, U.S. Education Monroe Colored High School Vanderbilt University Iliff School of Theology Occupation Theologian Spouse Grace Johnson Children 2 sons, 1 daughter

**Joseph Andrew Johnson Jr.** (1914 – September 29, 1979) was an African-American [theologian](/source/Theologian). He was a professor of New Testament at the [Interdenominational Theological Center](/source/Interdenominational_Theological_Center) and [Fisk University](/source/Fisk_University), and a bishop of the [Christian Methodist Episcopal Church](/source/Christian_Methodist_Episcopal_Church) in Mississippi and Louisiana.

## Early life

Johnson was born in 1914 in [Shreveport, Louisiana](/source/Shreveport%2C_Louisiana).[1][2] He grew up poor in a [shotgun house](/source/Shotgun_house).[3]

Johnson was educated at the Monroe Colored High School.[3] He attended Texas College in [Tyler, Texas](/source/Tyler%2C_Texas), followed by the [Iliff School of Theology](/source/Iliff_School_of_Theology).[3] He graduated from [Vanderbilt University](/source/Vanderbilt_University)'s [Divinity School](/source/Vanderbilt_University_Divinity_School), where he earned a bachelor's degree (B.D.- bachelor of Divinity which today is a Masters of Divinity) in 1954 and a [PhD](/source/PhD) in 1958, at age 44. He was the first African American to graduate from the university.[4][1] He returned to the Iliff School of Theology, where he earned a master's degree and a second PhD.[1]

## Career

Johnson was a professor of New Testament at the [Interdenominational Theological Center](/source/Interdenominational_Theological_Center) in Atlanta, Georgia.[1][2] In 1969, he became a professor of New Testament at [Fisk University](/source/Fisk_University).[1][2] He later became a professor and eventually the president of the Phillips School of Theology in [Jackson, Tennessee](/source/Jackson%2C_Tennessee).[1]

Johnson became a bishop of the [Christian Methodist Episcopal Church](/source/Christian_Methodist_Episcopal_Church) in 1966.[3] By 1979, he was the presiding bishop of the Fourth Episcopal District in Mississippi and Louisiana.[3][5][6] Johnson served on the [Faith and Order Commission](/source/Faith_and_Order_Commission) of the [World Council of Churches](/source/World_Council_of_Churches).[1] He was also the chairman of the commission on theology of the National Committee of Black Churchmen and the commission on worship of the [Consultation on Church Union](/source/Consultation_on_Church_Union).[1]

Johnson authored six books.[7] In *The Soul of the Black Preacher*, he argued that Christianity was a liberating factor for African Americans.[8] Johnson worked on a new translation of the New Testament for two decades.[2][5]

Johnson was the second African American to serve board of trust of his alma mater, Vanderbilt University, from 1971 to 1979.[1][9] He also served on the boards of Tyler College and the Iliff School of Theology.[5]

The Bishop Joseph Johnson Black Cultural Center at Vanderbilt University.

## Personal life, death and legacy

With his wife Grace, Johnson had two sons and a daughter.[5] One of his sons, [Joseph Johnson III](/source/Joseph_Johnson_III), was a physicist and Professor at the Florida A&M University.[10]

Johnson died on September 29, 1979, in Shreveport, at age 65.[5][6] He was buried in Lincoln Memorial Park, Shreveport.[1][6] In 1984, the Afro House on the campus of Vanderbilt University was renamed in his honor.[7][9] In 2018, his portrait by [Simmie Knox](/source/Simmie_Knox) was added to Kirkland Hall, the administration building.[11]

## Selected works

- Johnson, Joseph A. Jr. (1971). *The Soul of the Black Preacher*. Philadelphia: Pilgrim Press. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [9780829801934](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/9780829801934). [OCLC](/source/OCLC_(identifier)) [489898582](https://search.worldcat.org/oclc/489898582).

- Johnson, Joseph A. Jr. (1976). *The Local Church and Lay Evangelism*. Shreveport, Louisiana: Fourth Episcopal District Press. [OCLC](/source/OCLC_(identifier)) [7450555](https://search.worldcat.org/oclc/7450555).

- Johnson, Joseph A. Jr. (1977). *Proclamation Theology*. Shreveport, Louisiana: Fourth Episcopal District Press. [OCLC](/source/OCLC_(identifier)) [3965982](https://search.worldcat.org/oclc/3965982).

- Johnson, Joseph A. (1978). *Basic Christian Methodist Beliefs*. Shreveport, Louisiana: Fourth Episcopal District Press. [OCLC](/source/OCLC_(identifier)) [4570190](https://search.worldcat.org/oclc/4570190).

## References

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-tennesseanobit_1-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-tennesseanobit_1-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-tennesseanobit_1-2) [***d***](#cite_ref-tennesseanobit_1-3) [***e***](#cite_ref-tennesseanobit_1-4) [***f***](#cite_ref-tennesseanobit_1-5) [***g***](#cite_ref-tennesseanobit_1-6) [***h***](#cite_ref-tennesseanobit_1-7) [***i***](#cite_ref-tennesseanobit_1-8) [***j***](#cite_ref-tennesseanobit_1-9) ["Bishop Johnson's Rites Conducted; VU's First Black Grad"](https://www.newspapers.com/image/112289654/?terms=%22Joseph%2BA.%2BJohnson%22). *The Tennessean*. September 30, 1979. p. 10. Retrieved October 8, 2018 – via [Newspapers.com](/source/Newspapers.com).

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-dailyheraldobit_2-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-dailyheraldobit_2-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-dailyheraldobit_2-2) [***d***](#cite_ref-dailyheraldobit_2-3) ["Southern Churches Leader Dies"](https://www.newspapers.com/image/468868532/?terms=%22bishop%2BJoseph%2BA.%2BJohnson%22). *The Daily Herald*. Provo, Utah. September 27, 1979. p. 4. Retrieved December 22, 2018 – via [Newspapers.com](/source/Newspapers.com).

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-timesbishopjohnson_3-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-timesbishopjohnson_3-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-timesbishopjohnson_3-2) [***d***](#cite_ref-timesbishopjohnson_3-3) [***e***](#cite_ref-timesbishopjohnson_3-4) Coffey, Kathie (July 15, 1979). ["Bishop Joseph Johnson. 'Dirt-floor baby' motivates"](https://www.newspapers.com/image/211824689/?terms=%22Joseph%2BA.%2BJohnson%22). *The Times*. Shreveport, Louisiana. Retrieved October 8, 2018 – via [Newspapers.com](/source/Newspapers.com).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-4)** Knox, Simmie (2018). ["Bishop Joseph Johnson"](https://www.vanderbilt.edu/trailblazers/person/joseph-johnson/). *Vanderbilt University*. Retrieved 3 January 2026.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-dailynewsobit_5-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-dailynewsobit_5-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-dailynewsobit_5-2) [***d***](#cite_ref-dailynewsobit_5-3) [***e***](#cite_ref-dailynewsobit_5-4) ["Bishop Dies In Louisiana"](https://www.newspapers.com/image/17351270/?terms=%22Joseph%2BA.%2BJohnson%22). *The Daily News*. Huntington, Pennsylvania. September 27, 1979. p. 2. Retrieved October 8, 2018 – via [Newspapers.com](/source/Newspapers.com).

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-thetimesshreveportobit_6-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-thetimesshreveportobit_6-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-thetimesshreveportobit_6-2) ["Bishop Joseph Johnson"](https://www.newspapers.com/image/213185901/?terms=%22bishop%2BJoseph%2BA.%2BJohnson%22). *The Times*. Shreveport, Louisiana. September 28, 1979. p. 3. Retrieved December 22, 2018 – via [Newspapers.com](/source/Newspapers.com).

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-laudslate_7-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-laudslate_7-1) ["Vanderbilt lauds late CME leader"](https://www.newspapers.com/image/283558375/?terms=%22bishop%2BJoseph%2BA.%2BJohnson%22). *The Jackson Sun*. Jackson, Tennessee. October 7, 1984. p. 42. Retrieved October 8, 2018 – via [Newspapers.com](/source/Newspapers.com).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-nelsenreviewed_8-0)** Nelsen, Hart M. (Winter 1973). "Reviewed Work: The Soul of the Black Preacher by Joseph A. Johnson, Jr". *Review of Religious Research*. **14** (2): 134–135. [doi](/source/Doi_(identifier)):[10.2307/3509795](https://doi.org/10.2307%2F3509795). [JSTOR](/source/JSTOR_(identifier)) [3509795](https://www.jstor.org/stable/3509795).

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-tennessean84vutodedicate_9-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-tennessean84vutodedicate_9-1) Reed, W. A. (April 12, 1984). ["VU To Dedicate Joseph Johnson Center Tomorrow"](https://www.newspapers.com/image/112354757/?terms=%22bishop%2BJoseph%2BA.%2BJohnson%22). *The Tennessean*. p. 18. Retrieved December 22, 2018 – via [Newspapers.com](/source/Newspapers.com).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-10)** Johnson-Oliver, Cynthia (28 June 2017). ["In Memoriam: Dr. Joseph A. Johnson III (1940-2017) | Bishop Joseph Johnson History Project"](https://bishopjosephjohnson.org/2017/06/28/in-memoriam-dr-joseph-a-johnson-iii-1940-2017/). Retrieved 2021-02-22.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-tntribunevanderbiltexamines_11-0)** Bratten, Clare (November 15, 2018). ["Vanderbilt Examines its Past With Honors for Black Alumni/Faculty"](https://web.archive.org/web/20181228174932/https://tntribune.com/education/college/vanderbilt/vanderbilt-examines-its-past-with-honors-for-black-alumni-faculty/). *The Tennessee Tribune*. Archived from [the original](https://tntribune.com/education/college/vanderbilt/vanderbilt-examines-its-past-with-honors-for-black-alumni-faculty/) on December 28, 2018. Retrieved December 28, 2018.

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