Baptist History, Heritage and Distinctives – Connects Baptist with Waldenses – David Benedict, Historian: 1779-1884

Thomas E Kresal Admin · 2 hrs April 6, 2020

Baptist History, Heritage and Distinctives – Connects Baptist with Waldenses – David Benedict, Historian: 1779-1884

David Benedict, the Baptist historian, was born in Norwalk, Conn., October 10, 1779. His love for historical reading and investigation developed itself in early life. At twenty, he made a profession of his faith in Christ. Religion did for him what it has done for so many thousands of others, quickened his intellectual nature, and made him aspire after something elevating. He entered Brown University, where he graduated in 1806. Soon after, he was ordained as pastor of the Baptist church in Pawtucket, R.I., where he remained twenty-five years. During all this time he had been busy in gathering, from every part of the country, the materials out of which to form a comprehensive history of the Baptist denomination, and had sent to press several volumes relating to the subject of his investigations.

After retiring from his pastorate, he gave himself with great diligence to the work of completing the task he had undertaken. Among his published writings are the following: History of the Baptists, 1813; Abridgment of Robinsons’ History of Baptism, 1817; Fifty Years among the Baptist, 1860. He wrote also The History of the Donatists, which was completed just before he was ninety-five years of age, and which, since his death, has been printed.

He was remarkably favored with good eyesight, and his vision was unimpaired to the last. At the time of his death he had been the senior member of the board of trustees of Brown University for sixteen years, and had been in the corporation for fifty-six years. Dr. Benedict died at Pawtucket, December 5, 1874. (William Cathcart, Baptist Encyclopedia, P.39-40)

Benedict was one of the first American Baptist historians to connect the modern Baptists with the ancient Waldensians and Anabaptists. He took the suggestion of such a connection from Isaac Backus. (Page 5)

Presented by Thomas E. Kresal from: The Collegiate Baptist History Workbook by James R. Beller, pg. 5

Note from Tom: I encourage all Baptist folk’ to read and teach this history to the next generation. Lest we forget our Baptist history, heritage and distinctives. Ideal book for Jr. High/Senior High homeschoolers!