1616thth-century Background-century Background

to Baptist Beginningsto Baptist Beginnings

Copyright 2007 NOBTS, Rex D. Butler and Lloyd A. Harsch

Global ContextGlobal Context 1492 – Columbus 1492 – Columbus

discovered the New World & discovered the New World & inspired global exploration inspired global exploration during the 16during the 16thth century century

1607 – England staked 1607 – England staked a claim in the New a claim in the New World with founding of World with founding of Jamestown Jamestown

Global ContextGlobal Context 1517 – Martin Luther sparked 1517 – Martin Luther sparked

Reformation with Reformation with 95 Theses95 Theses

1521 – Ulrich Zwingli, began Reform 1521 – Ulrich Zwingli, began Reform movement in Switzerlandmovement in Switzerland

1536 – John Calvin wrote first edition of 1536 – John Calvin wrote first edition of InstitutesInstitutes

Global ContextGlobal Context 1536 – William Tyndale was 1536 – William Tyndale was

martyred for translating martyred for translating Bible into English; prayed Bible into English; prayed ““Lord, open the King of Lord, open the King of England’s eyesEngland’s eyes!”!”

1539 – Henry VIII 1539 – Henry VIII ordered Great Bible ordered Great Bible to be placed in every to be placed in every church in Englandchurch in England

AnabaptistsAnabaptists 1525, in Zürich, Ulrich 1525, in Zürich, Ulrich

Zwingli’s students Zwingli’s students became convinced that became convinced that believer’s baptism was believer’s baptism was the correct NT practicethe correct NT practice

Zwingli & Zürich City Zwingli & Zürich City Council condemned & Council condemned & persecuted these persecuted these Anabaptists, or “Re-Anabaptists, or “Re-baptizers”baptizers”• Most leaders were dead Most leaders were dead

within 5 yearswithin 5 years

AnabaptistsAnabaptists Commonalities with early BaptistsCommonalities with early Baptists

• Authority of Scripture for faith and Authority of Scripture for faith and practicepractice

Scripture determines doctrine and Scripture determines doctrine and practicepractice

• Believer’s baptismBeliever’s baptism Baptism is a public declaration of one’s Baptism is a public declaration of one’s

faith, not a rite that brings one into the faith, not a rite that brings one into the ChurchChurch

• Lord’s Supper as symbolic memorial Lord’s Supper as symbolic memorial and witness to Christ’s sacrificeand witness to Christ’s sacrifice

AnabaptistsAnabaptists Commonalities with early BaptistsCommonalities with early Baptists

• Priesthood of the believerPriesthood of the believer Because of the Holy Spirit’s indwelling, Because of the Holy Spirit’s indwelling,

every believer has the ability to every believer has the ability to understand God’s Word and apply it understand God’s Word and apply it appropriatelyappropriately

Religious libertyReligious liberty • Belief cannot be coerced by the State which Belief cannot be coerced by the State which

should not prescribe an official beliefshould not prescribe an official belief Congregational polityCongregational polity

• Strong emphasis on church disciplineStrong emphasis on church discipline

AnabaptistsAnabaptists Differences with early BaptistsDifferences with early Baptists

• Forbade taking oaths of allegiance to Forbade taking oaths of allegiance to governmentgovernment

• Forbade participation in governmentForbade participation in government

• Forbade participation in the Forbade participation in the military (Balthasar Hubmaier military (Balthasar Hubmaier was an exception to these was an exception to these three prohibitions)three prohibitions)

The English ReformationThe English Reformation

Henry VIII (1491-1547)Henry VIII (1491-1547) Opposition to Luther Opposition to Luther

earned him title: earned him title: “Defender of Faith”“Defender of Faith”

But when Pope denied him But when Pope denied him divorce, he split from divorce, he split from Catholic Church & formed Catholic Church & formed Church of England with Church of England with Henry as its headHenry as its head•1534, “Act of Supremacy” 1534, “Act of Supremacy”

His children:His children:

Mary (by Catherine, 1Mary (by Catherine, 1stst wife) wife)Elizabeth (by Anne, 2Elizabeth (by Anne, 2ndnd wife) wife)Edward (by Jane, 3Edward (by Jane, 3rdrd wife) wife)

Edward VI (r.1547-53)Edward VI (r.1547-53)

Became king at 9 yrs.Became king at 9 yrs.

Protestant reform Protestant reform advanced under Thomas advanced under Thomas Cranmer, Archbishop of Cranmer, Archbishop of CanterburyCanterbury

Introduced Introduced Book of Book of Common PrayerCommon Prayer

Catholicism made illegalCatholicism made illegal

Mary Tudor (r.1553-58)Mary Tudor (r.1553-58) Returned England to Returned England to

CatholicismCatholicism

Executed over 300 Executed over 300 Protestants & AnabaptistsProtestants & Anabaptists

Including Archbishop Including Archbishop Thomas CranmerThomas Cranmer

Many exiles fled to GenevaMany exiles fled to Geneva

““Bloody Mary”Bloody Mary”

Elizabeth I (r.1558-1603)Elizabeth I (r.1558-1603) Returned England to Returned England to

ProtestantismProtestantism• 1559, Elizabethan Settlement: 1559, Elizabethan Settlement:

Acts of Uniformity & SupremacyActs of Uniformity & Supremacy

Balance between Catholics Balance between Catholics & Protestants: & Protestants: via mediavia media

Anglican Church: Catholic Anglican Church: Catholic rituals, Protestant theology, rituals, Protestant theology, Episcopal polityEpiscopal polity

Two dissenting sects arose:Two dissenting sects arose:• Puritans – advocated purification Puritans – advocated purification

& reform within Church of England& reform within Church of England

• Separatists – called for separation Separatists – called for separation of true church from Church of of true church from Church of EnglandEngland

English DissentersEnglish Dissenters

English DissentEnglish Dissent

Catholic resistance to Anglican ChurchCatholic resistance to Anglican Church

• Anglo-CatholicsAnglo-Catholics: Remained in Anglican : Remained in Anglican Church but preferred only Catholic views in Church but preferred only Catholic views in Prayer BookPrayer Book

• RecusantsRecusants: Refused to abide by the Prayer : Refused to abide by the Prayer Book & held illegal worship services using Book & held illegal worship services using Catholic liturgyCatholic liturgy

English DissentEnglish Dissent PuritansPuritans

• Wanted Anglican Church to follow theology, Wanted Anglican Church to follow theology, worship & polity of Reformed (Presbyterian) worship & polity of Reformed (Presbyterian) faith & practicefaith & practice

• Advocated purification & reform but remained Advocated purification & reform but remained within Anglican Churchwithin Anglican Church

• Majority favored rule by presbyteryMajority favored rule by presbytery

• Accepted Prayer Book but conducted worship Accepted Prayer Book but conducted worship as “church within the church”as “church within the church”

• Cambridge became a hotbed of PuritanismCambridge became a hotbed of Puritanism

English DissentEnglish Dissent SeparatistsSeparatists

• Started meeting during Mary’s reign & began Started meeting during Mary’s reign & began organizing during Elizabeth’s reignorganizing during Elizabeth’s reign

• Rejected state established Anglican Church; called Rejected state established Anglican Church; called for separation of true church – gathering of for separation of true church – gathering of professing believers joined together by covenantprofessing believers joined together by covenant

• Held illegal meetings & rejected use of Prayer Held illegal meetings & rejected use of Prayer BookBook

English DissentEnglish Dissent SeparatistsSeparatists

• Calvinistic on predestinationCalvinistic on predestination

• Retained infant baptism within the model of a Retained infant baptism within the model of a convenanted communityconvenanted community

• Congregational polityCongregational polity

No governance from outside congregation; No governance from outside congregation;

Each congregation decides matters of faith & order; Each congregation decides matters of faith & order;

Each congregation calls, ordains & supervises Each congregation calls, ordains & supervises ministers & church disciplineministers & church discipline

Founding ChurchFounding Church • Robert Browne (1550-1633) Robert Browne (1550-1633)

believed congregation, not the believed congregation, not the bishop, should choose the pastorbishop, should choose the pastor Formed Separatist church in 1581 at Formed Separatist church in 1581 at

Norwich (an area with a sizable Dutch Norwich (an area with a sizable Dutch community)community)

After his imprisonment, most went to After his imprisonment, most went to Holland and eventually dissolvedHolland and eventually dissolved

Browne withdrew from Separatism & Browne withdrew from Separatism & conformed to Anglican Churchconformed to Anglican Church

SeparatistsSeparatists

SeparatistsSeparatists Second Separatist Congregation in Second Separatist Congregation in

LondonLondon• Henry Barrow and John Greenwood Henry Barrow and John Greenwood

carried on in Londoncarried on in London Staunch, often belligerent advocates Staunch, often belligerent advocates

of reformof reform Both executed in 1593Both executed in 1593

SeparatistsSeparatists Ancient ChurchAncient Church

• 1592 - Francis Johnson (1562-1617) 1592 - Francis Johnson (1562-1617) became pastor of what became known became pastor of what became known as the “Ancient Church”; he was as the “Ancient Church”; he was imprisoned imprisoned

• 1593 - Conventicle Act placed penalties 1593 - Conventicle Act placed penalties on those meeting outside churchon those meeting outside church

Church moved to Amsterdam (Johnson Church moved to Amsterdam (Johnson joined them in 1597)joined them in 1597)

Often fought over minor details (jewelry, Often fought over minor details (jewelry, dresses)dresses)

• 1595 - called Henry Ainsworth as 1595 - called Henry Ainsworth as pastor pastor Later split between Johnson and Later split between Johnson and

AinsworthAinsworth Johnson advocated ministerial control Johnson advocated ministerial control

over the congregation over the congregation Ainsworth wanted congregational controlAinsworth wanted congregational control

• 1617 - Johnson died and church 1617 - Johnson died and church declineddeclined

SeparatistsSeparatists

1596, Ancient Church issued a 1596, Ancient Church issued a confession of faith with 45 confession of faith with 45 articles called “True Confession”articles called “True Confession”• Reformed in theologyReformed in theology• Written in defense of church’s Written in defense of church’s

doctrine and politydoctrine and polity

SeparatistsSeparatists

• Double predestination (art. 3)Double predestination (art. 3)• Sacrificial atonement (art. 14)Sacrificial atonement (art. 14)• 5 offices: pastor, teacher, elder, 5 offices: pastor, teacher, elder,

deacon, helper (art. 19)deacon, helper (art. 19)• Congregational rule over pastors Congregational rule over pastors

and discipline (art. 23-24)and discipline (art. 23-24) Attacked episcopacy (art. 28-31)Attacked episcopacy (art. 28-31)

SeparatistsSeparatists

•SacramentsSacraments Given only by chosen and Given only by chosen and ordained leaders (art. 34)ordained leaders (art. 34)

Infant baptism used as sign of Infant baptism used as sign of God’s covenant (art. 35)God’s covenant (art. 35)

Receive wine and bread which Receive wine and bread which are a sign, neither Roman are a sign, neither Roman Catholic nor Lutheran (art. 35)Catholic nor Lutheran (art. 35)

SeparatistsSeparatists

•Congregations should follow Congregations should follow same rule of faith (art. 38) same rule of faith (art. 38)

•King has authority to enforce King has authority to enforce correct doctrine and practice correct doctrine and practice (art. 39)(art. 39)

SeparatistsSeparatists