Alexander Balmain Bruce was a Scottish churchman and theologian. He was born at Aberargie near Perth, Scotland. Alexander showed exceptional ability during his education.

For over forty years he devoted himself to the ministry of the Christian gospel, first as a pastor, and then as a distinguished Professor of Apologetics and the New Testament. His early religious doubts caused him throughout his life to be sympathetic with those who held similar doubts. After serving at Ancrum, then at Lochwinnoch, he was called to Cardross in Dumbartonshire (now Dunbartonshire) in 1859, and to Broughty Ferry in 1868. There he published his first notable work, the Training of the Twelve.

In 1874 he delivered his Cunningham Lectures, later published as The Humiliation of Christ, and the following year was appointed to the chair of Apologetics and New Testament exegesis at the Free Church College in Glasgow, where he remained for twenty-four years.

Concentrating primarily on the historic Jesus, he believed the best defense of Christ was the character and work of Christ and the ultimate proof and best defense of Christianity.