Different Ways of Looking at Baptist Origins

Baptist History and Heritage – Different Ways of Looking at Baptist Origins

Thomas E Kresal Baptist History, Heritage and Distinctives – December 8, 2018

1. Some believe Baptists came from English Separatism. This is sometimes called the English Descent Theory. (see Chapter 18) This view suggests the Baptists came simply from the seventeenth century Separatist movement, which advocated separation from the Church of England. The claim is that the earliest Baptist church is traced to 1609 in Amsterdam, with John Symthe, as pastor. Believer’s baptism in Amsterdam became the defining moment which led to the first Baptist church. Shortly thereafter, Smythe left the group, and Thomas Helwys took over leadership, leading the church back to England in 1611. However, evidence shows that Baptists were in England and Europe much earlier. This view insists that Baptists are simply another branch of Protestantism. Historians embracing this view include: William H. Whitsitt, Robert G. Torbet, Winthrop S. Hudson, Leon McBeth, William G. McLoughlin and Robert A. Baker.

2. Some believe Baptist descended from the Anabaptists of Europe. This outlook teaches that Baptist have their roots in the Anabaptist movement of the sixteenth century. This view would also teach that Baptist are another branch of Protestantism. However, history shows that he Anabaptist offspring from Europe were mostly Mennonite and the pacifist sects such as Hutterites and Amish. Very few Baptist hold to this explanation of Baptist origins. The historians A.C. Underwood and William R. Estep basically follow this line of reasoning.

3. There are those that hold to a Succession of Baptist churches. This viewpoint teaches that Baptist churches existed in an unbroken chain since the time of Christ and John the Baptist. Sometimes referred to as Landmarkism or the Trail of Blood theory, this view declares that those churches which stood outside the influence of the Roman Catholic church at various times in church history were, in actuality although not in name, Baptist churches. Historians who share this viewpoint include James R. Graves, D.B. Ray, J.M. Carroll, G.H. Orchard, J.M. Cramp, and S.H. Ford.

4. There is a group of Baptist historians who believe that Baptist faith and practice or, a Continuation of Biblical Teachings and distinctives have existed since the time of Christ. This view has a large number of adherents, including a number of early Baptist historians. Some of these are: Thomas Crosby, Isaac Backus, A.H. Newman, David Benedict, Thomas Armitage and William Cathcart.

The scriptures and history point to numbers 3 and 4 as being nearest the truth. We will demonstrate this
truth.

Prepared by Thomas E. Kresal: Excerpt from “The Collegiate Baptist History Workbook” by James R. Beller, Third Sprinting 2006, pg. 3-4

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