Baptist successionism

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Baptist successionism (or Baptist perpetuity) is one of several theories on the origin and continuation of Baptist churches. The theory postulates an unbroken lineage of churches (since the days of John the Baptist, who baptized Christ) which have held beliefs similar to those of current Baptists. Groups often included in this lineage include the Montanists, Paulicians, Cathari, Waldenses, Albigenses, Lollards, and Anabaptists. [1] However most scholars agree that the Baptists originated within 17th-century puritanism. [2]

Contents

Theory

Diagram representing The Trail of Blood as presented by James Milton Carroll The Trail of Blood.jpg
Diagram representing The Trail of Blood as presented by James Milton Carroll

The theory proposes that Baptists have an unbroken lineage from the early church, while claiming that over time bishops or pastors started to assume more authority which led to the Catholic church being born and which led to errors.

Groups often included in the succession line are Montanists, Novationists, Donatists, Paulicians, Albigenses, Waldenses, Petro-Brussians, Arnoldists, Henricians, Hussites (partly), Lollards [3] and Ana-Baptists. [4]

Supporters of the theory argue that groups such as Bogomils or Paulicians were Baptist in doctrine instead of Gnostic, for example Berlin Hisel argued that many charges put towards Bogomils were false. [5]

Novatians

Hisel Berlin claimed that the Novatians were credobaptists and accepted rebaptism. [6]

Though Augustine mentions that the Novatians rebaptized converts, the evidence for them being credobaptist has been called "weak". [7] [8]

Paulicians

In Berlin Hisel's book Baptist History Notebook it was argued against the accusations put towards the Paulicians, such as rejection of the writings of Peter the apostle and the Old Testament, and argued that the Paulicians held to the orthodox view of the Trinity, a reason for the denial of many charges towards Paulicians was that the sources we have were made by their opponents. It was also put forward, that the Paulicians believed in Believer's baptism along with the Bogomils. [6]

Bogomils

In the book Baptist History Notebook it was put forward; that the charges of rejecting baptism likely meant a rejection of infant baptism and trine-immersion, which could have been taken as rejection of baptism itself, since the sources that exist about Bogomilism are from people who opposed them, and thus it was argued that these sources should be taken with suspicion. [9]

Baptist successionism Baptist successionism.png
Baptist successionism

Albigenses

In the book Baptist History Notebook it was argued that the claim of the Albigenses rejecting marriage likely only meant rejecting marriage as a sacrament.

It was also argued that they rejected infant baptism and baptismal regeneration. [10]

Waldensians

Hisel Berlin argued in his book that; the Albigenses and Waldensians are connected directly in origin, and thus followed similar doctrine. [11]

Arnoldists

It was argued that the Arnoldists were baptist in doctrine, as evidence the Lateran council is quoted where Arnold of Brescia was condemned for rejecting infant baptism and for the rejection of transubstantiaton. A direct connection with Arnoldists and Waldensians was also claimed to support succession, a direct link was also argued with Arnoldists and Petro-Brussians. [12]

Anabaptists

In the book Baptist History Notebook, to support a succession, Mosheim (a lutheran historian) is quoted as saying; "The true origin of that sect which acquired the denomination of Anabaptists by their administering anew the rite of baptism to those who came over to their communion, and derived that of Mennonites from the famous man to whom they owe the greatest part of their present felicity, is hidden in the depths of antiquity, and is, of consequence, extremely difficult to be ascertained". It was thus argued that the anabaptists have a succession from earlier groups such as Waldenses. [13]

Perpetuity

The perpetuity view is often identified with The Trail of Blood , a pamphlet by James Milton Carroll published in 1931. [14] Other Baptist writers who held the perpetuity view are John T. Christian, Thomas Crosby, G. H. Orchard, J. M. Cramp, William Cathcart, Adam Taylor and D. B. Ray. [15]

This view was once commonly held among Baptists. [16] Since the end of the 19th century, however, the theory has increasingly come under attack and today has been largely discredited. [17] [ page needed ] Nonetheless, the view continued to be the prevailing view among Baptists of the Southern United States into the latter 20th century. [18] It is now identified primarily with Landmarkism, which is upheld by the Independent Fundamental Baptist movement, though not exclusively so. [19] The concept attempts to parallel the Roman Catholic, Eastern Orthodox, and Anglican doctrine of apostolic succession and stands in contrast to the restorationist views of Latter Day Saints and the Stone-Campbell Restoration Movement. [20]

Contemporary view

Since the end of the 19th century the trend in academic Baptist historiography has been away from the successionist viewpoint to the view that modern day Baptists are an outgrowth of 17th-century English Separatism. [21] This shift precipitated a controversy among Southern Baptists which occasioned the forced resignation of William H. Whitsitt, a professor at Southern Baptist Seminary, in 1898 from the seminary for advocating the new view, though his views continued to be taught in the seminary after his departure. [22]

See also

Related Research Articles

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Arminianism is a branch of Protestantism based on the theological ideas of the Dutch Reformed theologian Jacobus Arminius (1560–1609) and his historic supporters known as Remonstrants. Dutch Arminianism was originally articulated in the Remonstrance (1610), a theological statement submitted to the States General of the Netherlands. This expressed an attempt to moderate the doctrines of Calvinism related to its interpretation of predestination. The Synod of Dort (1618–19) was called by the States General to consider the Five Articles of Remonstrance.

Anabaptism Non-conformist Christian movement

Anabaptism is a Protestant Christian movement which traces its origins to the Radical Reformation.

Baptists Denomination of Protestant Christianity

Baptists form a major branch of Protestantism distinguished by baptizing professing Christian believers only, and doing so by complete immersion. Baptist churches also generally subscribe to the doctrines of soul competency, sola fide, sola scriptura and congregationalist church government. Baptists generally recognize two ordinances: baptism and communion.

Catharism was a Christian dualist or Gnostic movement between the 12th and 14th centuries which thrived in Southern Europe, particularly in northern Italy and southern France. Followers were described as Cathars and referred to themselves as Good Christians, and are now mainly remembered for a prolonged period of religious persecution by the Catholic Church, which did not recognize their unorthodox Christianity. Catharism arrived in Western Europe in the Languedoc region of France in the 11th century. The adherents were sometimes referred to as Albigensians, after the city Albi in southern France where the movement first took hold. The belief may have originated in the Byzantine Empire. Catharism was initially taught by ascetic leaders who set few guidelines and so some Catharist practices and beliefs varied by region and over time. The Catholic Church denounced its practices, including the consolamentum ritual by which Cathar individuals were baptised and raised to the status of "Perfect".

Montanism Second century Christian movement

Montanism, known by its adherents as the New Prophecy, was an early Christian movement of the late 2nd century, later referred to by the name of its founder, Montanus. Montanism held views about the basic tenets of Christian theology similar to those of the wider Christian Church, but it was labelled a heresy for its belief in new prophetic revelations. The prophetic movement called for a reliance on the spontaneity of the Holy Spirit and a more conservative personal ethic. Parallels have been drawn between Montanism and modern-day movements such as Pentecostalism and the Charismatic movement.

Waldensians Christian movement

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Bogomilism was a Christian neo-Gnostic or dualist sect founded in the First Bulgarian Empire by the priest Bogomil during the reign of Tsar Peter I in the 10th century. It most probably arose in what is today the region of Macedonia.

Menno Simons Dutch theologian, namesake for the Mennonites (1496–1561)

Menno Simons was a Roman Catholic priest from the Friesland region of the Low Countries who became an influential Anabaptist religious leader. Simons was a contemporary of the Protestant Reformers and it is from his name that his followers became known as Mennonites.

Anabaptist theology

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Arnoldists

Arnoldists were a Proto-Protestant Christian movement in the 12th century, named after Arnold of Brescia, an advocate of ecclesiastical reform who criticized the great wealth and possessions of the Roman Catholic Church, while preaching against infant baptism and the Eucharist. His disciples were also called "Publicans" or "Poplecans", a name probably deriving from Paulicians. The Arnoldists were condemned as heretics by Pope Lucius III in the Ad abolendam during the Synod of Verona in 1184.

Baptist beliefs Beliefs of Baptist Christians.

Baptist beliefs are not completely consistent from one church to another, as Baptists do not have a central governing authority. However, Baptists do hold some common beliefs among almost all Baptist churches.

Theology of Huldrych Zwingli Theological view that considered scripture a higher authority then the church fathers

The theology of Ulrich Zwingli was based on an interpretation of the Bible, taking scripture as the inspired word of God and placing its authority higher than what he saw as human sources such as the ecumenical councils and the church fathers. He also recognised the human element within the inspiration, noting the differences in the canonical gospels. Zwinglianism is the Reformed confession based on the Second Helvetic Confession promulgated by Zwingli's successor Heinrich Bullinger in the 1560s.

The expression "one true church" refers to an ecclesiological position asserting that Jesus gave his authority in the Great Commission solely to a particular visible Christian institutional church— what is commonly called a denomination. This view is maintained by the Catholic Church, the Eastern Orthodox Church, the Oriental Orthodox communion, the Assyrian Church of the East, the Ancient Church of the East, the Churches of Christ, and the Lutheran Churches, as well as certain Baptists. Each of them maintains that their own specific institutional church (denomination) exclusively represents the one and only original church. The claim to the title of the "one true church" relates to the first of the Four Marks of the Church mentioned in the Nicene Creed: "one, holy, catholic, and apostolic church". As such, it also relates to claims of both catholicity and apostolic succession: asserting inheritance of the spiritual, ecclesiastical and sacramental authority and responsibility that Jesus Christ gave to the apostles.

Believers baptism Person is baptized on the basis of their profession of faith in Jesus Christ

Believer's baptism or adult baptism is the practice of baptizing those who are able to make a conscious profession of faith, as contrasted to the practice of baptizing infants. Credobaptists believe that infants incapable of consciously believing should not be baptized.

Protestantism Form of Christianity

Protestantism is a form of Christianity that originated with the 16th-century Reformation, a movement against what its followers perceived to be errors in the Catholic Church. Protestants originating in the Reformation reject the Catholic doctrine of papal supremacy, but disagree among themselves regarding the number of sacraments, the real presence of Christ in the Eucharist, and matters of ecclesiastical polity and apostolic succession. They emphasize the priesthood of all believers; justification by faith alone rather than by faith with good works; the teaching that salvation comes by divine grace or "unmerited favor" only, not as something merited ; and either affirm the Bible as being the sole highest authority or primary authority for Christian doctrine, rather than being on parity with sacred tradition. The five solae of Lutheran and Reformed Christianity summarise basic theological differences in opposition to the Catholic Church.

Proto-Protestantism Precursors to the Protestant Reformation

Proto-Protestantism, also called pre-Protestantism, refers to individuals and movements that propagated ideas similar to Protestantism before 1517, which historians usually regard as the starting year for the Reformation era. The relationship between medieval sects and Protestantism is an issue that has been debated by historians.

Comparison of Catharism and Protestantism

The Cathars or Albigenses have been identified as proto-Protestant by people such as: Jean Duvernoy, John Foxe among others. The debate over the relationship with Albigenses and Protestants has been a matter of theological interest and controversy in history. The comparison of Protestantism and Albigensianism was mainly important among French Protestants while German Protestants rarely discussed the Cathars. affiliations with Catharism and Protestantism have been criticized by many historians.

References

Citations

  1. ↑ Patterson 1969, p. 9.
  2. ↑ Baptist | History, Beliefs, Denominations, & Facts | Britannica
  3. ↑ Hisel, Berlin (2017). Baptist History Notebook.
  4. ↑ Milton, James. The Trail of Blood.
  5. ↑ Hisel, Berlin. Baptist History Notebook. Their historians claimed for them the greatest antiquity. Dr. L. P. Brockett, who wrote a history of them says: 'Among these (historians of the Bulgarians) I have found, often in unexpected quarters, the most conclusive evidence that these sects were all, during their early history, Baptists
  6. 1 2 Hisel, Berlin (2017). Baptist History Notebook. pp. 91–99.
  7. ↑ Hodges, William (1844). Infant Baptism Tested by Scripture and History: Or, The Infants Claim to Church Membership Defended and Established, on Testimony Scriptural and Historical. Stavely and M'Calla ; New York : Stanford and Swords ; Alexandria : Bell and Entwisle.
  8. ↑ "CHURCH FATHERS: On Baptism, Book III (Augustine)". www.newadvent.org. Retrieved 2021-11-30.
  9. ↑ Hisel, Berlin (2017). Baptist History Notebook. pp. 173–178.
  10. ↑ Hisel, Berlin (2017). Baptist History Notebook. pp. 157–165.
  11. ↑ Hisel, Berlin (2017). Baptist History Notebook. p. 134.
  12. ↑ Hisel, Berlin (2017). Baptist History Notebook. pp. 128–133.
  13. ↑ Hisel, Berlin (2017). Baptist History Notebook. pp. 166–172.
  14. ↑ McBeth 1987, pp. 59–60.
  15. ↑ McBeth 1987, pp. 59–60; Torbet 1975, p. 18.
  16. ↑ Torbet 1975, p. 18.
  17. ↑ Brackney 2004; McGoldrick 2000.
  18. ↑ Patterson 1969, p. 6.
  19. ↑ McBeth 1987, p. 58; Patterson 1969, p. 6.
  20. ↑ Torbet 1975, p. 19.
  21. ↑ Cross 1990, p. 174.
  22. ↑ McBeth 1987, pp. 457–458.

Works cited

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