Baptist History

ANABAPTISTS

PART ONE – ANABAPTIST LEADERS

- Conrad Grebel (evangelist)

- George Blaurock (preacher)

- Felix Manz (OT Scholar)

- Balthasar Hubmaier (theologian)

- Michael Sattler (writer – Schleitheim

Confession)

- Menno Simmons (Father of Mennonites)

PART TWO – ANABAPTIST THEOLOGY

A. TWO METHODS OF REFORMATION

B. THEOLOGY OF VARIOUS MOVEMENTS

C. ANABAPTIST CONFESSIONS

D. EIGHT ESSENTIAL ANABAPTIST DISTINCTIONS

1. Believer’s baptism2. Separation of church and state3. NO swearing of oaths4. Clergy equal with laity5. Separation from world6. Believer’s church7. Missions and evangelism done by all8. Centrality of Preaching

E. ANABAPTISTS’ INFLUENCE ON BAPTISTS

1. Anabaptists and Separatists (Estep)

2. Anabaptists and Baptists (historically/theologically)

BAPTIST HISTORY

PART ONE: BACKGROUND

PART TWO: PURITANS

1. Corporation Act (1662) – Conformity to the Church of England required for those desiring to hold public office

2. Act of Uniformity (1662) – All ministers had to use the same liturgy

and conduct worship services in same manner (Anglican)

3. Conventicle Acts (1664) – No gatherings are allowed that involved

five or more or worship outside of Anglican gatherings.

4. Five Mile Acts (1665) – Ministers removed from their churches could

not preach, teach, or live within five miles of their former place of ministry.

PART THREE: SEPARATISTS

PART FOUR: BEGINNING OF GENERAL BAPTISTS (Smyth & Helwys)

GENERAL BAPTIST LEADERS

1. John Smyth (1570 – 1612)

2. Thomas Helwys (1550 – 1616)

a) Background

b) Personal

c) Theology

- Against other religious groups (Catholics, Anglicans, Puritans,

Separatists)

- Words back to Smyth’s group in Holland

- Short Declaration of the Mystery of

Iniquity

PART FIVE: ORIGIN OF PARTICULAR BAPTISTS

2 Veins of Baptists in England:

- General (Smyth and Helwys) – Arminian theologically

- Particular Baptists (JLJ, Kiffin, Knollys)

A.ORIGINS

A. Henry Jacob (J)B. John Lathrop (L)C. Henry Jessey (J)D. John Spillsbury (author of 1st London Confession)

B.LEADERS

BAPTIST HISTORY

RISE AND FALL OF A DENOMINATION

ENGLISH BAPTISTS AFTER THE GLORIOUS REVOLUTION

GENERAL BAPTISTS FALL TO BAD THEOLOGY

PARTICULAR BAPTISTS FALL TO IMPOTENT EVANGELISM

Summary: From a combination of no message (General) and no evangelism (Particular), the whole Baptist movement in England was in serious decline by the 1750’s.