This document discusses the historiography of Baptist origins and provides an overview of church history. It outlines four basic views of Baptist origins: 1) Successionism, 2) Continuation of biblical teaching, 3) Spiritual kinship with Anabaptists, and 4) English Separatism. The professor takes a position between views 3 and 4, finding some connection between early English Baptists and the Swiss Brethren but that Baptists truly emerged from the English Separatist movement. The document also outlines seven eras of church history and six waves of reform from the German Reformation to the present.

1. Baptist History Notes
BAPTIST ORIGINS:
HISTORIOGRAPHY
(lecture 2)

2. Preliminary
Observation: the 19th
For the most part Baptist historians were (until
century) preachers, pastors, theologians—not trained
historians, although there were some good historians
among them, e.g. Thomas Crosby, Morgan Edwards,
and Isaac Backus. As a consequence some writers of
Baptist history have not carefully handled the sources
of history as historians, but have attempted to prove a
theological, or “spiritual” point of view.
Four Basic Views:
1) Successionism (always been Baptists)
2) Continuation of biblical teaching through all ages (regardless
of name)
3) Spiritual Kinship with biblical Anabaptists
4) English Separatism

3. SUCCESSIONISM
This view holds that there have been Baptist churches throughout the ages from
the first century to the present, although some of them may not have borne the
name “Baptist.”
CONTINUATION OF BIBLICAL TEACHING
This view goes back into ancient church history (beyond the Reformation) to trace
the “continuity of Baptist forms of faith through the centuries.” This view does
not claim an unbroken chain of baptistic beliefs back to the apostles.
SPIRITUAL KINSHIP w/ ANABAPTISTS
This view holds that biblical Anabaptists of the 16th century had an unavoidable
impact on the early separatist English Baptists (e.g. John Smyth, Thomas
Helwys) that led forward to the modern Baptist movement.
ENGLISH SEPARATISM
This view holds that the first appearance of the name “Baptist,” both the name and
the doctrinal truths that Baptists hold, came from the struggles within the
Puritan/Separatist movement in 17th century England. They “popped out of the
ground.” 

4. Mr. Hogan’s View
 Your professor takes a moderating position between 3 & 4.
 There are few (if any) historically verifiable links between
contemporary Baptists and the several ancient churches known to
have been “free church,” dissenting, or in some ways similar to
Baptists.
 But it is also clear that, especially with the Swiss Brethren and
biblical Anabaptists of the Reformation era, there is a distinct , and
even historically, apparent connection and kinship with the English
Baptists - from which sprang all other Baptist groups.
 This connection is particularly clear regarding John Smyth and
Thomas Helwys (the first General Baptist and the planter of the
first Baptist church on English soil).

5. Baptist History Notes
CHURCH HISTORY
OVERVIEW
(lecture 3)

6. 7 Eras of Church history
 The Paternal Church (AD 30-325)
 Apostle’s Church
 Age of Church Fathers
 The Protected Church (AD 325-600)
 Constantine
 Church Creeds
 Augustine
 The Roman Church (AD 600-1300)

7. Six Waves of Reform (AD 1517 – 1648)
 German Reformation (Luther)
 German-Swiss Reformation (Zwingli)
 The Swiss Brethren (Balthasar Hubmaier)
 French-Swiss Reformation (Calvin)
 The English Reformation (Henry VIII)
 Catholic Counter-Reformation (Council of Trent)

8. 7 Eras of Church History
(continued)
 Age of Rationalism (AD 1648-1789)
 Age of Modernity (AD 1789-1989)
 Age of Post-Modernity (AD 1989 to present)