I. Apostolic origins (continuation theories)
a.
Continuation of biblical teachings (spiritual
succession)
b.
Succession of Baptist churches
i. Church
perpetuity
ii. Chain-link
succession
1.
Church succession (succession of church
organizations)
2.
Apostolic succession (succession of valid
ordinations)
3.
Baptismal succession (succession of valid
baptisms)
II. Post-apostolic origins (restoration or
non-continuation theories)
a.
Converging streams/Multiple origins
b.
Spontaneous origination
i. Influence
of Anabaptists
ii. Outgrowth of English Separatism
See also:
- The study of Baptist origins
- Classifications of Baptist Historians
- Spontaneous origination of Baptists
- Restoration views of Baptist origins
- Continuation of Baptist churches or baptistic principles
- Why are Baptists still discussing their origins?
- My opinion on continuation/succession
These thoughts were written almost 20 years ago now. I might change a few things if I were writing them today (hopefully I have learned a little something in 18 years). However, I think they are still substantially accurate and representative of my thoughts.
4 comments:
I would definitely be interested in an updated version of your views. From reading your 2007 statement, it seems you would take a spiritual successor/ spiritual kinship/ multiple lines merging kind of view? Is that correct?
Adam, sorry I have not replied previously. I have been out of town a good bit. Hopefully will get back to this tomorrow.
Hi, Adam. I apologize that I forgot to come back to this before now. I got distracted by other things. I think I become more and more easily distracted. :-D
I would define myself broadly in the church perpetuity camp. I can still affirm these statements that I made then:
I believe in a continuation of the New Testament faith from the life of Christ to the present.
I believe that at present such as view is not historically demonstrable.
I believe in said continuation based on my interpretation of certain Scriptures (e.g. Dan. 2:44; Matt. 16:18; 28:18-20; Eph. 3:21) and not based on history.
I believe that attempts to force the promise into an ecclesiological system -- such as chain-link succession -- can be detrimental to the churches holding the New Testament faith. I believe the Scriptures present the promise of continuation but not exactly how God would do it. To become dogmatic on the how is to go beyond the Scriptures.
I would however add and explain that I believe that this continuation would take the form of some kind of gathered believers continuing outside and apart from the heretical forms of the Roman Catholics and Greek Orthodox.
Hope this helps. God bless.
Thank you for the clarification.
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