On Thursday, May 15, 1958, the commencement sermon was given in the SEBTS Chapel. After the prelude and processional (start-0:34), Dr. Sydnor Stealey, the President of SEBTS, gave an invocation (0:35-2:40). After a few more songs, prayer, Scripture reading, and the graduates’ gift to the seminary (2:41-22:20), Dr. Dotson McGinnis Nelson, Jr., the pastor at First Baptist Church of Greenville, SC, gave the main address entitled, “Truth Incarnate” (22:21-1:07:15). The service concluded with a hymn, a benediction from Dr. Stealey, and the recessional (1:07:16-end).
After President Stealey opens in prayer and the reading of Colossians 1:9-19 (start-06:44), he introduces and reads the Abstract of Principles (6:45-21:04). After making some concluding thoughts, Dr. Stealey moves on to having two new professors sign the Abstract of Principles (23:30-26:55). Those professors were Dr. James E. Tull, Professor of Theology, and Dr. Emily K. Lansdell, Professor of Missions.
Dr. Stealey welcomes and introduces Dr. Eduard Schweizer, a visiting lecturer who is a New Testament professor from the University of Zurich. Dr. Schweizer proceeds to discuss differing views, especially a gnostic one, on the "Body of Christ" and then posits the position he believes is most in line with the Bible.
After an introduction by Dr. Stealey (start-3:30), Dr. Roger G. Branch, the Secretary of Missions for the Baptist Convention of North Carolina, shares three lessons he learned about pastoral ministry through his 25 years of experience. The three lessons are maintaining a wholesome self-scrutiny, the need for developing lay people, and there is tremendous value in the relationship to that denomination of which you are a part (3:31-19:01). The service concludes with a hymn (19:02-end).
After reading Philippians 2:19-3:4, Dr. William Claudius Strickland, who was Associate Professor of New Testament Interpretation, spoke about the "Three Marks of a Worshiping Community". The three marks are worshiping God by His Spirit, boasting only in Lord Jesus, and not allowing oneself to depend on physical advantages.
Dr. Stealey opens by reading Ephesians 6:10-20, and then introduces Dr. Niebuhr after a hymn. Dr. Helmut Richard Niebuhr, a Christian theologian, Professor at Yale Divinity School, and author of Christ and Culture, speaks on the impact Protestantism had at that time, and how they influence and shape culture.
After an opening prayer, recitation, and song (start-11:30), Edward Allison McDowell, Jr., Professor of New Testament Interpretation, preaches from Matthew 10:39 and focuses on the significance of Jesus’ crucifixion and challenges the listeners to not waste their lives.
After an introduction and word of thanks from Dr. Stealey, the President of SEBTS (start-1:38), Dr. George Raymond Beasley-Murray, the Principal of Spurgeon’s College in London, gives his final of three lectures on the subject of Baptism (1:39-end).
Dr. Sydnor Lorenzo Stealey, the first President of Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary, speaks about meeting with the other Southern Baptist seminary presidents and about the further development of Southeastern.
After an opening responsive reading, prayer, and introduction (start-7:15), Benjamin Lynes, pastor of Wake Forest Baptist Church, spoke from Luke 11:52 (7:16-end). He urged the listeners to use knowledge for the Kingdom of God and not for academic use alone.