th 16 century Background to Baptist Beginnings Copyright

Global Context n 1492 – Columbus discovered the New World & inspired global exploration during the 16 th century n 1607 – England staked a claim in the New World with founding of Jamestown

Global Context n n n 1517 – Martin Luther sparked Reformation with 95 Theses 1521 – Ulrich Zwingli, began Reform movement in Switzerland 1536 – John Calvin wrote first edition of Institutes

Global Context n n 1536 – William Tyndale was martyred for translating Bible into English; prayed “Lord, open the King of England’s eyes!” 1539 – Henry VIII ordered Great Bible to be placed in every church in England

Anabaptists n n 1525, in Zürich, Ulrich Zwingli’s students became convinced that believer’s baptism was the correct NT practice Zwingli & Zürich City Council condemned & persecuted these Anabaptists, or “Rebaptizers” • Most leaders were dead within 5 years

Anabaptists n Commonalities with early Baptists • Authority of Scripture for faith and practice n Scripture determines doctrine and practice • Believer’s baptism n Baptism is a public declaration of one’s faith, not a rite that brings one into the Church • Lord’s Supper as symbolic memorial and witness to Christ’s sacrifice

Anabaptists n Commonalities with early Baptists • Priesthood of the believer Because of the Holy Spirit’s indwelling, every believer has the ability to understand God’s Word and apply it appropriately n Religious liberty n • Belief cannot be coerced by the State which should not prescribe an official belief n Congregational polity • Strong emphasis on church discipline

Anabaptists n Differences with early Baptists • Forbade taking oaths of allegiance to government • Forbade participation in the military (Balthasar Hubmaier was an exception to these three prohibitions)

The English Reformation

Henry VIII (1491 -1547) n n Opposition to Luther earned him title: “Defender of Faith” But when Pope denied him divorce, he split from Catholic Church & formed Church of England with Henry as its head • 1534, “Act of Supremacy” n His children: Mary (by Catherine, 1 st wife) Elizabeth (by Anne, 2 nd wife) Edward (by Jane, 3 rd wife)

Edward VI (r. 1547 -53) n n Became king at 9 yrs. Protestant reform advanced under Thomas Cranmer, Archbishop of Canterbury Introduced Book of Common Prayer Catholicism made illegal

Mary Tudor (r. 1553 -58) n n n Returned England to Catholicism Executed over 300 Protestants & Anabaptists Including Archbishop Thomas Cranmer n Many exiles fled to Geneva n “Bloody Mary”

Elizabeth I (r. 1558 -1603) n Returned England to Protestantism • 1559, Elizabethan Settlement: Acts of Uniformity & Supremacy n n n Balance between Catholics & Protestants: via media Anglican Church: Catholic rituals, Protestant theology, Episcopal polity Two dissenting sects arose: • Puritans – advocated purification & reform within Church of England • Separatists – called for separation of true church from Church of England

English Dissenters

English Dissent n Catholic resistance to Anglican Church • Anglo-Catholics: Remained in Anglican Church but preferred only Catholic views in Prayer Book • Recusants: Refused to abide by the Prayer Book & held illegal worship services using Catholic liturgy

English Dissent n Puritans • Wanted Anglican Church to follow theology, worship & polity of Reformed (Presbyterian) faith & practice • Advocated purification & reform but remained within Anglican Church • Majority favored rule by presbytery • Accepted Prayer Book but conducted worship as “church within the church” • Cambridge became a hotbed of Puritanism

English Dissent n Separatists • Started meeting during Mary’s reign & began organizing during Elizabeth’s reign • Rejected state established Anglican Church; called for separation of true church – gathering of professing believers joined together by covenant • Held illegal meetings & rejected use of Prayer Book

English Dissent n Separatists • Calvinistic on predestination • Retained infant baptism within the model of a convenanted community • Congregational polity n No governance from outside congregation; n Each congregation decides matters of faith & order; n Each congregation calls, ordains & supervises ministers & church discipline

Separatists n Founding Church • Robert Browne (1550 -1633) believed congregation, not the bishop, should choose the pastor Formed Separatist church in 1581 at Norwich (an area with a sizable Dutch community) n After his imprisonment, most went to Holland eventually dissolved n Browne withdrew from Separatism & conformed to Anglican Church n

Separatists n Second Separatist Congregation in London • Henry Barrow and John Greenwood carried on in London Staunch, often belligerent advocates of reform n Both executed in 1593 n

Separatists n Ancient Church • 1592 - Francis Johnson (1562 -1617) became pastor of what became known as the “Ancient Church”; he was imprisoned • 1593 - Conventicle Act placed penalties on those meeting outside church Church moved to Amsterdam (Johnson joined them in 1597) n Often fought over minor details (jewelry, dresses) n

Separatists • 1595 - called Henry Ainsworth as pastor Later split between Johnson and Ainsworth n Johnson advocated ministerial control over the congregation n Ainsworth wanted congregational control n • 1617 - Johnson died and church declined

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

Separatists • Double predestination (art. 3) • Sacrificial atonement (art. 14) • 5 offices: pastor, teacher, elder, deacon, helper (art. 19) • Congregational rule over pastors and discipline (art. 23 -24) n Attacked episcopacy (art. 28 -31)

Separatists • Sacraments Given only by chosen and ordained leaders (art. 34) n Infant baptism used as sign of God’s covenant (art. 35) n Receive wine and bread which are a sign, neither Roman Catholic nor Lutheran (art. 35) n

Separatists • Congregations should follow same rule of faith (art. 38) • King has authority to enforce correct doctrine and practice (art. 39)