BAPTIST BAPTIST HERITAGEHERITAGEIntroduction:Introduction:

DistinctivesDistinctivesPolityPolity

FocusesFocusesOriginsOrigins

Copyright 2007 NOBTS, Rex D. Butler and Lloyd A. Harsch

Baptist Baptist DistinctivesDistinctives

Baptist DistinctivesBaptist Distinctives Authority of the BibleAuthority of the Bible

Foundational authority for all Foundational authority for all matters of faithmatters of faith

Regenerate church membershipRegenerate church membership Membership is for believers onlyMembership is for believers only

Baptism by immersionBaptism by immersion The local expression of one’s The local expression of one’s

conversion is believer’s baptism by conversion is believer’s baptism by immersionimmersion

Baptist DistinctivesBaptist Distinctives Congregational polityCongregational polity

Each congregation is autonomous Each congregation is autonomous in choosing its leaders and stating in choosing its leaders and stating its beliefsits beliefs

No congregation can dictate the No congregation can dictate the practice or beliefs of another practice or beliefs of another congregationcongregation

Baptist DistinctivesBaptist Distinctives Priesthood of the believer (soul Priesthood of the believer (soul

competency)competency) One can go directly to God without any One can go directly to God without any

human mediatorhuman mediator Religious freedomReligious freedom

Faith cannot be forced and the state Faith cannot be forced and the state should not dictate matters of faithshould not dictate matters of faith

Lordship of ChristLordship of Christ He rules objectively in the world and He rules objectively in the world and

subjectively in the lives of believerssubjectively in the lives of believers

Baptist DistinctivesBaptist Distinctives Ordinances, not sacramentsOrdinances, not sacraments

A sacrament is a means by which God’s A sacrament is a means by which God’s grace is conveyed to yougrace is conveyed to you

We follow in believer’s baptism and We follow in believer’s baptism and observe the observe the Lord’s Supper because God has ordained Lord’s Supper because God has ordained that we do so, not because we receive a that we do so, not because we receive a special measure of God’s grace through special measure of God’s grace through participation in these activitiesparticipation in these activities

PolityPolity

ModelsModels Hierarchical Hierarchical

Power and decisions flow from the top Power and decisions flow from the top downdown

Any decision made at a higher Any decision made at a higher ecclesiastical level is binding on all ecclesiastical level is binding on all levels below itlevels below it

Examples are: Episcopal & Catholic Examples are: Episcopal & Catholic StructuresStructures

ModelsModels Representative Representative

Congregation sends delegates to Congregation sends delegates to presbytery, which in turn chooses presbytery, which in turn chooses delegates to the synod, etc.delegates to the synod, etc.

Any decision made at a higher Any decision made at a higher ecclesiastical level is binding on all ecclesiastical level is binding on all levels below itlevels below it

Example: Presbyterian DenominationsExample: Presbyterian Denominations

ModelsModels CongregationalCongregational

Congregations voluntarily join together Congregations voluntarily join together in associationsin associations

Decisions made by associations and/or Decisions made by associations and/or conventions are not binding on any conventions are not binding on any congregationcongregation

Example: Baptists & CongregationalistsExample: Baptists & Congregationalists

Society Society Made up of individuals whose membership Made up of individuals whose membership

is based solely upon their contributions to is based solely upon their contributions to the societythe society

Organized around a single issue or missionOrganized around a single issue or mission Convention Convention

Made up of individuals sent by financially Made up of individuals sent by financially contributing churches contributing churches

No official connection to other entities No official connection to other entities (state conventions are separate (state conventions are separate organizations from associations or SBC)organizations from associations or SBC)

Cooperative Methods Cooperative Methods Among BaptistsAmong Baptists

Associations Associations Composed of congregations which Composed of congregations which

send messengerssend messengers State Conventions State Conventions

Composed of messengers sent by Composed of messengers sent by congregationscongregations

SBC SBC Composed of messengers sent by Composed of messengers sent by

congregationscongregations

Southern Baptist Southern Baptist ConventionConvention

Focuses in Baptist LifeFocuses in Baptist Life

Focuses in Baptist Focuses in Baptist LifeLife

DoctrineDoctrine – ultimate concern is – ultimate concern is correct beliefcorrect belief

ExperienceExperience – ultimate – ultimate concern is how one lives one’s concern is how one lives one’s faithfaith

While both of these two areas While both of these two areas are important to the Christian are important to the Christian life, individuals and groups life, individuals and groups tend to emphasize one area tend to emphasize one area more than the othermore than the other

Baptist OriginsBaptist Origins

Four Theories of Baptist Four Theories of Baptist OriginsOrigins

Succession TheoriesSuccession Theories Baptist SuccessionismBaptist Successionism Spiritual Kinship Spiritual Kinship

Non-succession TheoriesNon-succession Theories Outgrowth of English SeparatismOutgrowth of English Separatism Anabaptist Influence or Dual AncestryAnabaptist Influence or Dual Ancestry

BackgroundBackground Heated debate in mid-19Heated debate in mid-19thth century century

Church of Christ claimed that it was the only true Church of Christ claimed that it was the only true churchchurch

Many Baptists defected to Church of Christ, which Many Baptists defected to Church of Christ, which was becoming fastest growing Protestant was becoming fastest growing Protestant denomination in Americadenomination in America

Landmarkists Landmarkists Countered with claims that Baptists originated in first Countered with claims that Baptists originated in first

century – even before Pentecostcentury – even before Pentecost There was an unbroken chain of organic succession There was an unbroken chain of organic succession

from 1from 1stst-century church to modern Baptist churches-century church to modern Baptist churches W.H. WhitsittW.H. Whitsitt

President of Southern Seminary & church historianPresident of Southern Seminary & church historian Refuted Landmarkist claims; developed theory of Refuted Landmarkist claims; developed theory of

Baptist descent from English Separatism & was firedBaptist descent from English Separatism & was fired

Baptist SuccessionismBaptist Successionism TheoryTheory

There has been unbroken succession of There has been unbroken succession of organized Baptist churches from NT to presentorganized Baptist churches from NT to present

Affirms that earlier Dissenters were Baptists Affirms that earlier Dissenters were Baptists under other namesunder other names

Donatists (4Donatists (4thth century) century) Cathari (11Cathari (11thth century) century) Waldensians (12Waldensians (12thth century) century) Anabaptists (16Anabaptists (16thth century) century)

Called “JJJ” TheoryCalled “JJJ” Theory ““Jesus-Jordan-John”Jesus-Jordan-John” Baptists originated with John the Baptist; Jesus was Baptists originated with John the Baptist; Jesus was

baptized in the Jordan; Jesus formed the first Baptist baptized in the Jordan; Jesus formed the first Baptist church & promised that it would never vanish (Matt. church & promised that it would never vanish (Matt. 16:18)16:18)

Baptist SuccessionismBaptist Successionism AdvocatesAdvocates

Adam TaylorAdam Taylor: 1818, : 1818, The History of the The History of the English General BaptistsEnglish General Baptists, identified John the , identified John the Baptist as founder of Baptist denominationBaptist as founder of Baptist denomination

G.H. OrchardG.H. Orchard: 1838, insisted that : 1838, insisted that unbroken successionism of Baptist churches unbroken successionism of Baptist churches is essential to their validity todayis essential to their validity today

J.R. GravesJ.R. Graves (1823-93), leader of (1823-93), leader of Landmarkism: adopted this theory as Landmarkism: adopted this theory as hallmark of this movement that portrayed hallmark of this movement that portrayed Baptist church as only true denominationBaptist church as only true denomination

J.M. CarrollJ.M. Carroll (brother of B.H. Carroll, (brother of B.H. Carroll, founder of SWBTS): 1931, founder of SWBTS): 1931, Trail of BloodTrail of Blood popularized this theorypopularized this theory

Baptist SuccessionismBaptist Successionism ProblemsProblems

No evidence to support itNo evidence to support it Highly polemical; developed during Highly polemical; developed during

intense competition between intense competition between denominationsdenominations

Claimed succession from groups that Claimed succession from groups that advocated similar doctrines but differed advocated similar doctrines but differed in significant ways; some groups were in significant ways; some groups were hereticalheretical

No major contemporary historian No major contemporary historian supports this theorysupports this theory

Spiritual KinshipSpiritual Kinship

TheoryTheory There has been a continuity of Baptist There has been a continuity of Baptist

forms of faith through the centuriesforms of faith through the centuries Not an unbroken succession of organized Not an unbroken succession of organized

Baptist churches, but a continuity of Baptist churches, but a continuity of Baptist teachingsBaptist teachings

Dissenting groups outside the Roman Dissenting groups outside the Roman Catholic Church maintained teachings of Catholic Church maintained teachings of New Testament in an unbroken chainNew Testament in an unbroken chain

These teachings have always been similar These teachings have always been similar to modern Baptist faith and practiceto modern Baptist faith and practice

Spiritual KinshipSpiritual Kinship

AdvocatesAdvocates Thomas CrosbyThomas Crosby: 1738-40, : 1738-40, History of History of

the English Baptiststhe English Baptists, 4 vols., 4 vols. Traced Baptist lineage through Celtic Traced Baptist lineage through Celtic

church, John Wycliffe & Lollardschurch, John Wycliffe & Lollards Joseph IvimeyJoseph Ivimey in England; in England; David David

BenedictBenedict in America (both early 19 in America (both early 19thth century)century)

A.H. NewmanA.H. Newman of SWBTS of SWBTS

Spiritual KinshipSpiritual Kinship

CritiqueCritique These historians are on more solid These historians are on more solid

ground than successionists: Evangelicals ground than successionists: Evangelicals did arise intermittently through history of did arise intermittently through history of churchchurch

However, supporters of both organic & However, supporters of both organic & spiritual successionism “have wattled spiritual successionism “have wattled together twigs of any kind to fill up together twigs of any kind to fill up remote chasms” (Robert Robertson, remote chasms” (Robert Robertson, Ecclesiastical ResearchesEcclesiastical Researches, 1792), 1792)

The dissenting groups cited as Baptist The dissenting groups cited as Baptist churches demonstrate little or no churches demonstrate little or no connection to Baptist faith and practiceconnection to Baptist faith and practice

Outgrowth of English Outgrowth of English SeparatismSeparatism

TheoryTheory Modern Baptists emerged from English Modern Baptists emerged from English

Separatism in early 1600sSeparatism in early 1600s Separatists became Baptists as a result of Separatists became Baptists as a result of

reading the English Bible & taking reading the English Bible & taking Separatist views to their logical conclusionSeparatist views to their logical conclusion

Founders of both General & Particular Founders of both General & Particular Baptists (John Smyth & John Spilsbury) Baptists (John Smyth & John Spilsbury) came from Separatismcame from Separatism

Outgrowth of English Outgrowth of English SeparatismSeparatism

TheoryTheory This theory highlights differences with This theory highlights differences with

Anabaptists & minimizes their influenceAnabaptists & minimizes their influence Anabaptist influence/presence in England Anabaptist influence/presence in England

before 1600 was minimalbefore 1600 was minimal Early Baptist leaders denied that they were Early Baptist leaders denied that they were

Anabaptists, rejecting their pacifism, Anabaptists, rejecting their pacifism, opposition to government service & their opposition to government service & their ChristologyChristology

It can be acknowledged that there was a It can be acknowledged that there was a connection between Anabaptists & General connection between Anabaptists & General Baptists, but General Baptists did not Baptists, but General Baptists did not constitute majority of early English Baptistsconstitute majority of early English Baptists

Outgrowth of English Outgrowth of English SeparatismSeparatism

AdvocatesAdvocates W.H. WhitsittW.H. Whitsitt (1841-1911) stirred up (1841-1911) stirred up

“Whitsitt Controversy” with his “Whitsitt Controversy” with his discovery that English Baptists began discovery that English Baptists began immersion in 1641; was fired as immersion in 1641; was fired as president of Southern Seminarypresident of Southern Seminary

W.W. Whitley & Winthrop HudsonW.W. Whitley & Winthrop Hudson developed this theory furtherdeveloped this theory further

Barry R. White & Robert A. BakerBarry R. White & Robert A. Baker are more recent advocates are more recent advocates

Anabaptist Influence or Dual Anabaptist Influence or Dual AncestryAncestry

TheoryTheory Supporters agree that Baptists emerged Supporters agree that Baptists emerged

from English Separatismfrom English Separatism But they also believe that Anabaptism But they also believe that Anabaptism

prepared the way for Separatism both in prepared the way for Separatism both in England and on the continentEngland and on the continent

Anabaptist refugees settled in London as Anabaptist refugees settled in London as evidenced by persecution under Henry evidenced by persecution under Henry VIII & “Bloody Mary”VIII & “Bloody Mary”

Anabaptists influenced English Anabaptists influenced English Separatists by input into teachings of Separatists by input into teachings of Henry Barrow & Robert BrowneHenry Barrow & Robert Browne

Anabaptist Influence or Dual Anabaptist Influence or Dual AncestryAncestry

TheoryTheory John Smyth did not adopt believer’s John Smyth did not adopt believer’s

baptism until 1609, after he came into baptism until 1609, after he came into contact with Mennonites in Amsterdamcontact with Mennonites in Amsterdam

Richard Blunt went to Netherlands in Richard Blunt went to Netherlands in 1641 to recover baptism by immersion 1641 to recover baptism by immersion from Mennonitesfrom Mennonites

Mainly, Anabaptists influenced General Mainly, Anabaptists influenced General Baptists directly & Particular Baptists Baptists directly & Particular Baptists only indirectlyonly indirectly

Anabaptist Influence or Dual Anabaptist Influence or Dual AncestryAncestry

AdvocatesAdvocates A.C. UnderwoodA.C. Underwood: 1947, : 1947, A History of A History of

the English Baptiststhe English Baptists, said General , said General Baptists represent sober Mennonite Baptists represent sober Mennonite form of Anabaptismform of Anabaptism

Ernest A. PayneErnest A. Payne (1902-80), former (1902-80), former General Secretary of the Baptist Union General Secretary of the Baptist Union of Great Britainof Great Britain

William R. EstepWilliam R. Estep (1920-80), SWBTS (1920-80), SWBTS

Two Non-Succession Two Non-Succession TheoriesTheories

CritiqueCritique These two theories are very similar, These two theories are very similar,

disagreeing only on the extent of disagreeing only on the extent of Anabaptist influence on Baptist originsAnabaptist influence on Baptist origins

Barry White & William Estep agree that Barry White & William Estep agree that English Baptists descended from English Baptists descended from English SeparatismEnglish Separatism

They disagree on the extent of They disagree on the extent of Anabaptists’ presence & influence in Anabaptists’ presence & influence in England after the 16England after the 16thth century century