Journal: Southeastern Theological Review
Volume: STR 14:2 (Fall 2023)
Article: The Possibility Of Baptismal Baptist Theology: Retrieving Irenaeus For Contemporary Baptists
Author: Christine E. Thornton

STR 14:2 (Fall 2023) p. 97

The Possibility Of Baptismal Baptist Theology: Retrieving Irenaeus For Contemporary Baptists

Christine E. Thornton

Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary, Wake Forest, NC

Abstract: This article delves into the intricate relationship between believer’s baptism and the interpretation of the Bible within Baptist theology. Acknowledging that this connection is more intricate than a straightforward progression from biblical interpretation to church practice, the study draws upon the insights of early Church Father Irenaeus of Lyons to elaborate on the profound significance of baptism as a guiding framework for Christian faith and Bible interpretation. Irenaeus’s perspective highlights that baptism provides not only an ontological foundation but also a conceptual framework for comprehending the Christian faith. This perspective resonates with Baptists, whose emphasis on regenerate church membership and believer’s baptism aligns with Irenaeus’s focus on the ontological reality of baptism and its shaping influence on Christian thought. By adopting Irenaeus’s approach, Baptists can expand their understanding of baptism from a micro-church practice to a macro-theological category, enriching their theological outlook and the interpretive lens through which they engage with Scripture. This approach does not require creedal authority but enables Baptists to embrace their distinctive theological identity while deepening their understanding of the ontological underpinnings of faith.

Key Words: baptism, Baptist theology, dogmatics, dogmatic theology, Irenaeus of Lyons, St. Irenaeus

Believer’s baptism defines Baptists both in name and in practice. While there are additional distinctive marks of Baptist churches, it would be difficult to overstate the significance of believer’s baptism in defining this tradition. At the same time, in many contemporary Baptist texts, believer’s baptism is relegated to a mere church ordinance. Baptists treat baptism as a biblical and ecclesial necessity central in the life of the local church. Believer’s baptism is what Baptists do, but Baptists have not often developed its impact on the way they think.

STR 14:2 (Fall 2023) p. 98

If the relationship between baptism and Baptist thought1 is considered at all, it is oft treated in a linear manner, moving from a right reading of the Bible to church practice. Baptists of the past and present read the Bible to hear its intent and conclude that the church should baptize only the regenerate. Without question, Baptists should move from Bible interpretation to drawing conclusions of church practice. However, the interplay between baptism and Bible ...