THE ORIGIN OF DENOMINATIONS
Lesson Thirteen
BAPTIST CHURCH
(1603)
I. IT'S BEGINNING:
There is a great amount of controversy as to the exact
beginning of the Baptist Church. Baptist historians themselves
are divided on the question.
"The first regularly organized Baptist Church of which we
possess any account is dated from 1607, and was formed in London
by a Mr. Smyth, who had been a clergyman of the Church of
England. It was formed on the principle of the 'General Baptist.'
In the year 1633, the first Particular Baptist Church was formed
in London under Mr. Spilsbury." (History of Baptists, David
Benedict, page 304.)
Thomas Armitage states that Smyth, "believed that the
Apostolical Church model was lost, and determined on its
recovery. He renounced the figment of a historical, apostolic
succession, insisting that where two or three organize according
to the teachings of the New Testament, they form as true a Church
of Christ as that of Jerusalem, though they stand alone in the
earth." (A History Of The Baptist, Thomas Armitage, page 2, 3.)
A group of separatists, under the leadership of John Smyth,
fled from England to Holland to escape the persecutions under
James I. It was here that they became convinced that infant
baptism was not authorized in God's Word. John Smyth, not being
satisfied with his own infant baptism, baptized himself. History
indicates he sprinkled water upon himself. His followers also
concluded that no one could be admitted into their fellowship who
would not, upon a personal confession of their faith, be
immersed. Thus, they rejected the sprinkling and/or pouring of
water for baptism. Because of this they were sometimes referred
to as Anabaptist (a term meaning re-baptism).
After the death of John Smyth, Thomas Helways and other
followers return to England and established the Baptist Church in
London in 1611 under the name of General Baptist.
The Particular Baptists began in 1633 and began the practice
of immersion as the only form of baptism in 1641. In 1689 the act
of Toleration passed by Parliament gave them religious liberty.
"It is generally agreed that the first Baptist Church in
America was organized by Roger Williams and Ezekiel Holliman in
Providence, R.I. The Baptist Encyclopedia says that Roger
Williams was publicly baptized -- immersed -- some time in the
month of March, 1639; thus what is commonly regarded as the
oldest Baptist church in America was founded at that time.
(Baptist Encyclopedia, Vol. II, P. 1252.)" (A Workbook of Some
Denominational Errors, Sam Binkley, Jr., p. 23.) Numerous
divisions have taken place among the Baptists. Today there are
many groups of Baptists wearing differing denominational titles
and practicing differing doctrines on some points. Throughout
their history there have no less than twelve major divisions.
"While the Baptists today, generally speaking, have no
confession of faith and are congregational in their form of
government, in their earlier history they followed human creeds
and required each congregation to subscribe to them. A confession
of faith was written in London in 1677 and was accepted by the
Particular Baptists in 1689. American Baptists also adopted it in
Philadelphia, Pa., in 1742, and it was from that time known as
the Philadelphia Confession of Faith. It is Calvinistic in its
teachings. In 1833, J. Newton Brown, of New Hampshire, wrote a
confession which was adopted by the New Hampshire Conference and
is known as the New Hampshire Confession of Faith. It is only
mildly Calvinistic. This the most popular confession among
Baptists." (Churches of Today, Tomlinson, page 68.)
Some Baptists Churches, though not accepting confessions of
faith, do make use of church manuals which set forth the
fundamental items of faith and rules of conduct in the work and
worship of the church. Two of the more widely used are: "The
Standard Manual For Baptist Churches," by Edward Hiscock, and
"Church Manual Designed For The Use Of Baptist Churches," by J.
M. Pendleton.
II. SOME OF THE MAJOR DOCTRINES OF THE BAPTIST CHURCH:
1. The doctrine that salvation is by faith alone.
2. That repentance precedes faith.
3. That baptism is not essential to salvation.
4. That obedience is not essential to salvation.
5. Infant baptism is opposed.
6. The doctrine of the impossibility of apostasy (or, the
perseverance of the saints). "One cannot fall from grace." "He
can lose the joy of his salvation and the effects of his
salvation through disobedience, but not his salvation."
7. The Lord's Super is partaken of periodically (monthly,
quarterly, or annually), but not every Lord's Day.
8. They practice "closed communion."
9. They teach the doctrine of original sin or that an infant is
born spiritually separated from God because of Adam's sin.
10. Congregational approval by voting on all candidates for
baptism.
11. They use mechanical instruments of music in worship.
12. Congregational government of A (singular) Pastor and deacons.
13. Government: "The belief in democratic voluntaryism operates in
every strata of Baptist life. There is no such thing as THE
Baptist church. It is always a Baptist church. Any fellowship
beyond the local church is always on a voluntary basis. No
organization has any authority over the local church. Local
churches may cooperate in associations that are usually
organized along county lines. Then there is the state
convention and finally the southern Baptist Convention. In
pioneer states, several states to form a convention." (Rev.
Roy Lambert, One Way, A Layman's Guide to Denominations, Lilla
Ross, Beaumont Enterprise, 1977, page 87.)
Return to Index
Home