List and summarize the 4 views of Baptist origin.
Throughout history, they have been for prevailing views about the origin. Those views are “Outgrowth
English Separatism, Influence of biblical Anabaptist, Continuation of biblical teaching throughout the
ages, and Succession of organized Baptist churches throughout the ages” (Macbeth 1987, 48-49).
The “Outgrowth of English Separatism” view states that all Baptist ideologies and assays are idiosyncratic
and are a part of Puritanism or Separatism (Macbeth 1987, 49). This view rejects any considerable
impact of the Anabaptist and observes the contrast between Anabaptist and Baptist. Those who
promote this view suggest that the “earliest Baptists recognized their separatist background and
discount at the influence of Anabaptist per the scholarship of W. H. Whitsitt (1880’,) Henry M. Dexter
(1881), and William T. Whitley all of which “edited early Baptist source materials, including minutes of
the General Assembly of the General Baptist Churches in England, and The Works of John Smyth
(Macbeth 1987, 49). Furthermore, Winthrop S. Hudson (1953) stated that the majority of early Baptist
leadership and their beliefs began as Separatists and rejected the ideas of others stating that they had an
origin as Anabaptists; they stated that Anabaptist was “a name of reproach unjustly cast upon them”
(McBeth 1987, 49). Hudson also stated that “Baptists firmly rejected the distinctive features of
Anabaptist life, such as opposition to civil magistracy, holding public office, military service, going to
court, soul sleep, Hofmanite Christology, and Anabaptist ‘confidence in the essential goodness of man
and their consequent rejection of originally sin;’ “this established that anabaptist was a distinct and
separate entity” (Mcbeth 1987, 21).
Next, those who follow “the influence of biblical Anabaptist” view state that a variety of general Baptists
were impacted by Anabaptist (Dutch Mennonites)” in preparing the way for Separatism and by leading
some to go beyond Separatism to believer’s baptism (Macbeth 1987, 52). This notion is backed by the
idea that believer’s baptism, religious liberty, separation of church and state, and Arminian view of
salvation, predestination and original sin, objected to swearing oaths, preferred a threefold ministry, and
held that Christ did not take his human flesh from Mary (McBeth 1987, 53). Although this was the case,
particular Baptists were more aggrandized than general Baptist and had a greater impact on Baptists
than any other group (McBeth 1987, 21-22). Also, the difference between the Anabaptist and the
general Baptist are more substantial than the aforementioned similarities.
Third the “Continuation of Biblical Teachings Throughout the Ages” view states that Baptist-like faith and
practice never completely died out because there are close similarities between Baptist doctrine and the
teachings of the New Testament church, thus concluding that the origins of the Baptist Church can be
closely tied to Jesus Christ himself (McBeth 1987, 56). This view shuns the impact the Reformation had
on the Protestant movement including the Baptists who were one of the largest entities that arose but
was not the only group that held to the New Testament doctrine in their belief systems.
Lastly, the “Succession of Organize Baptist Churches Throughout the Ages” view is greatly supported by
the Organic Successionists school of thought (a group that does not except the derivation of English
separatism view and the views of the continuity of principles). This group holds to the idea that Baptist
arose from “John the Baptist, Jesus, and the baptisms in the Jordan and has held firm to this belief;
however, other scholars feel as if this belief is ridiculous stating that there is no concrete evidence
available to support this thought (McBeth 1987, 56-60).
Which view is most convincing? Why? Give specific reasons in your response.
After reviewing the 4 views of Baptist origin, I definitely believe that the influence of biblical Anabaptist
is the most convincing. I concur with McBeth in his observation that in the 17th century, the modern
Baptist Church has based its doctrine on all of the above views (McBeth 1987, 21). However, a
comparison with anabaptist shows that Anabaptists and Baptists of today have striking similarities.
Bibliography
McBeth, Leon. The Baptist Heritage: Four Centuries of Baptist Witness. Nashville: Broadman and
Holman, 1987.
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