Baptist History, Heritage & Distinctives – German Baptists did not originate with the Munster Riot – Part FIVE of SEVEN

Thomas E Kresal Admin · April 29, 2020

April 29, 2020

Baptist History, Heritage & Distinctives – German Baptists did not originate with the Munster Riot – Part FIVE of SEVEN

But in no sense can it be stated that the Baptists originated with the Munster rebellion. It would be as legitimate for future historians to contend that the American Baptists originated with the Mormon movement as for one to affirm that the German Baptists started with the Munster movement. It will be seen that the German Baptists existed under the name of Anabaptists long before this unhappy affair. Mr. Brown, editor of the Religious Encyclopedia says: “It is but justice to observe, also, that the Baptists in Holland, England, and the United States, are to be considered as entirely distinct from those seditious and fanatical individuals above mentioned, as they profess an equal aversion to all principles of rebellion on the one hand, and of enthusiasm on the other. — Buck’s Theological Dictionary ; Milner’s Church History ; Robinson’s Eccl. Researches ; Encyclopedia America; Benedicts History of the Baptists These writers are too candid to associate the Baptists with the Munster riot.

D’Aubigne, an eminent Pedobaptist historian, says : “On one point it seems necessary to guard against misapprehension. Some persons imagine that the [Munster] Anabaptists of the times of the Reformation, and the Baptists of our day, are the same. But they are as different as possible.” This is the testimony of a learned historian, who declares that the Baptists are as different as possible from the Munster Anabaptists.

Point 6 Continues tomorrow

Presented by Thomas E. Kresal: Excerpt from 1870 Edition of “Baptist Succession” By D.B. Ray pg. 95-96