Outline Studies In Conservative Baptist History -- By: Donald M. Smith

Journal: Central Bible Quarterly
Volume: CENQ 05:2 (Summer 1962)
Article: Outline Studies In Conservative Baptist History
Author: Donald M. Smith


Outline Studies In Conservative Baptist History

Donald M. Smith

INTRODUCTION: This is the student paper submitted following an assignment to prepare twelve lessons for the training hour or for prayer meetings. The teacher must use books and materials for much information not included in the outline. In other states, the study of Minnesota would not be appropriate. This is printed as a challenge to pastors to present such lessons. “The strength of any democracy is an informed constituency.”

Lesson I. The Baptist Church In America To 1800.

A. Roger Williams founded the first Baptist church.

1. He had come from England and served in a Puritan church in Salem.

2. He was banished from the Bay Colony for propounding some strong Baptist principles.

a) He believed in the soul liberty of the believer.

b) He advocated the separation of church and state.

c) He and about sixty followers fled to establish “Plymouth plantations” on Nargansett Bay. A charter was received in 1644.

d) He founded the First Baptist Church of Providence in 1638 or 1639.

B. The Baptists expand.

1. The first Baptist association was formed in 1707, comprised of the twenty Baptist churches in America and composed of about 500 members.

2. The Baptists founded educational institutions.

a) Hopewell Academy was the first educational institution established by Baptists, 1756.

b) Brown University was chartered in 1764 and was at the time called Rhode Island College.

3. Foreign missionary work was initiated by the move to support William Carey in India.

C. The divergent Baptist groups.

1, From the British church there persisted two groups; the Particular Baptists (called Regular Baptists in America), who were Calvinistic, and the General Baptists who were Arminian.

2. After the second “Great Awakening” in 1739. the Separate Baptists were in strong opposition until 1777, at which time they began to resolve their differences on a state level. The Separate Baptists became more Calvinistic due to their contact with Regular Baptists after this time.

D. The condition of the Baptists at 1800 is stated by Vedder

“…the fact that the New England Baptists stood as a chief bulwark against the heresy. In 1800 two of the six orthodox churches left in Boston were Baptist, while eight Congregational churches and one Episcopal church had gone over bodily to Unitarianism…Indeed throughout New England it is said that not one Baptist church forsook th...

You must have a subscription and be logged in to read the entire article.
Click here to subscribe
visitor : : uid: ()