Baptist successionism
Encyclopedia
Baptist successionism is one of several theories on the origin and continuation of Baptist
churches – also known as "Baptist perpetuity" or "The Trail of Blood
". It is the theory that there has been an unbroken chain of churches since the days of Christ which have held similar beliefs (though not always the name) of the current Baptist
churches. Ancient anti-paedobaptist
groups, such as the Montanists, Paulicians, Cathari, Waldenses, Albigenses, and Anabaptist
s, have been among those viewed by Baptist successionists as the predecessors of modern day Baptists. Their history is documented in books such as the Martyrs Mirror
.
This view was once commonly held among Baptists. Since the end of the 19th Century, however, the theory has increasingly come under attack and today has been largely discredited, and yet continued to be the prevailing view among Baptists of the South into the latter 20th century. It is now identified primarily with Landmarkism
though not exclusively so. The concept finds its parallels in the Roman Catholic, Eastern Orthodox, and Anglican doctrine of apostolic succession
and stands in contrast to the restorationist views of Mormons
and the Stone/Campbell Restoration Movement
.
Baptist sucessionist historians have relied chiefly on the statements of Roman Catholic and Protestant historians and apologists as to the antiquity of the Anabaptists. One such statement, cited by William Willams (one of the charter professors of the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary
) in his Lectures on Baptist History, is that of Dutch Reformed scholars Annaeus Ypeij and Izaak Johannes Dermout who wrote (in their work "Geschiedenis der Nederlandsche Hervornude Kerk", Breda, 1819):
's History of the Baptists is a general Baptist history written from a successionist perspective. J. M. Carroll's
The Trail of Blood
, a popular pamphlet originally published in 1931 and which is still being published, is based on lectures delivered by Carroll on the subject of Baptist perpetuity and persecution. Other Baptist writers who have advocated the perpetuity view are Thomas Crosby, G.H. Orchard, J.M. Cramp, William Cathcart, Adam Taylor and D.B. Ray
Jesse Mercer
, namesake of Mercer University
, wrote a circular letter for the Georgia Baptist Association in 1811 in which he defended the Baptist rejection of alien immersion on the basis of Baptist succession. He wrote:
Baptist perpetuity was also held by the renowned English Baptist preacher Charles Spurgeon
who said,
. This shift precipitated a controversy among Southern Baptists which occasioned the forced resignation of Whitsitt in 1898 from the Southern Baptist Seminary for advocating the new view, though his views continued to be taught in the seminary after his departure.
Baptist
Baptists comprise a group of Christian denominations and churches that subscribe to a doctrine that baptism should be performed only for professing believers , and that it must be done by immersion...
churches – also known as "Baptist perpetuity" or "The Trail of Blood
The Trail of Blood
The Trail of Blood is a booklet by the Baptist minister, Dr. James Milton Carroll. It is a collection of five lectures he gave on the history of Baptist churches, which he presented as a succession from the first Christians....
". It is the theory that there has been an unbroken chain of churches since the days of Christ which have held similar beliefs (though not always the name) of the current Baptist
Baptist
Baptists comprise a group of Christian denominations and churches that subscribe to a doctrine that baptism should be performed only for professing believers , and that it must be done by immersion...
churches. Ancient anti-paedobaptist
Infant baptism
Infant baptism is the practice of baptising infants or young children. In theological discussions, the practice is sometimes referred to as paedobaptism or pedobaptism from the Greek pais meaning "child." The practice is sometimes contrasted with what is called "believer's baptism", or...
groups, such as the Montanists, Paulicians, Cathari, Waldenses, Albigenses, and Anabaptist
Anabaptist
Anabaptists are Protestant Christians of the Radical Reformation of 16th-century Europe, and their direct descendants, particularly the Amish, Brethren, Hutterites, and Mennonites....
s, have been among those viewed by Baptist successionists as the predecessors of modern day Baptists. Their history is documented in books such as the Martyrs Mirror
Martyrs Mirror
The Martyrs Mirror or The Bloody Theater, first published in 1660 in Dutch by Thieleman J. van Braght, documents the stories and testimonies of Christian martyrs, especially Anabaptists...
.
This view was once commonly held among Baptists. Since the end of the 19th Century, however, the theory has increasingly come under attack and today has been largely discredited, and yet continued to be the prevailing view among Baptists of the South into the latter 20th century. It is now identified primarily with Landmarkism
Landmarkism
Landmarkism is a type of Baptist ecclesiology--it may also appear as Old Landmarkism in some works. Adherents are normally styled Landmark Baptists or simply Landmarkers within the United States, but are known as Landmarkists in the United Kingdom. The term Landmarkism originates in : "Remove not...
though not exclusively so. The concept finds its parallels in the Roman Catholic, Eastern Orthodox, and Anglican doctrine of apostolic succession
Apostolic Succession
Apostolic succession is a doctrine, held by some Christian denominations, which asserts that the chosen successors of the Twelve Apostles, from the first century to the present day, have inherited the spiritual, ecclesiastical and sacramental authority, power, and responsibility that were...
and stands in contrast to the restorationist views of Mormons
Latter Day Saint movement
The Latter Day Saint movement is a group of independent churches tracing their origin to a Christian primitivist movement founded by Joseph Smith, Jr. in the late 1820s. Collectively, these churches have over 14 million members...
and the Stone/Campbell Restoration Movement
Restoration Movement
The Restoration Movement is a Christian movement that began on the American frontier during the Second Great Awakening of the early 19th century...
.
Early articulation of the theory
Baptist successionsim was advocated as early as 1652 by an English Baptist named John Spittlehouse in a book entitled A Vindication of the Continued Succession of the Primitive Church of Jesus Christ (Now Scandalously Termed Anabaptists) from the Apostles Unto This Present Time.Baptist sucessionist historians have relied chiefly on the statements of Roman Catholic and Protestant historians and apologists as to the antiquity of the Anabaptists. One such statement, cited by William Willams (one of the charter professors of the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary
Southern Baptist Theological Seminary
The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary , located in Louisville, Kentucky, is the oldest of the six seminaries affiliated with the Southern Baptist Convention . The seminary was founded in 1859, at Greenville, South Carolina. After being closed during the Civil War, it moved in 1877 to Louisville...
) in his Lectures on Baptist History, is that of Dutch Reformed scholars Annaeus Ypeij and Izaak Johannes Dermout who wrote (in their work "Geschiedenis der Nederlandsche Hervornude Kerk", Breda, 1819):
- "We have already seen that the Baptists—those who in former times were named Anabaptists, and in later days Mennonites—were originally Waldensians, the men who, in the history of the church, in times so far back, have obtained a well-deserved renown. In consequence, the Baptists may be regarded as being from of old the only religious denomination that have continued from the times of the apostles, as a Christian society who have kept the evangelical faith pure through all the ages hitherto. The constitution, never perverted internally or externally, of the society of the Baptists, serves them as a proof of that truth, contested by the Romish Church, that the reformation of religion, such as was brought about in the sixteenth century, was necessary, was indispensable, and serves, too, as the refutation, at the same time, of the Roman Catholic delusive fancy, that their own is the oldest church society."
Advocates of Baptist Successionism
John T. ChristianJohn T. Christian
John Tyler Christian was a Baptist preacher, author and educator. He was born December 14, 1854, near Lexington, Kentucky. His family moved to Henry County, Kentucky, when he was six years old...
's History of the Baptists is a general Baptist history written from a successionist perspective. J. M. Carroll's
James Milton Carroll
James Milton Carroll was an American Baptist pastor, leader, historian, author, and educator.- Early life and education :...
The Trail of Blood
The Trail of Blood
The Trail of Blood is a booklet by the Baptist minister, Dr. James Milton Carroll. It is a collection of five lectures he gave on the history of Baptist churches, which he presented as a succession from the first Christians....
, a popular pamphlet originally published in 1931 and which is still being published, is based on lectures delivered by Carroll on the subject of Baptist perpetuity and persecution. Other Baptist writers who have advocated the perpetuity view are Thomas Crosby, G.H. Orchard, J.M. Cramp, William Cathcart, Adam Taylor and D.B. Ray
Jesse Mercer
Jesse Mercer
Jesse Mercer was a prominent Baptist minister and a founder of Mercer University in the U.S. state of Georgia. Born in North Carolina on December 16, 1769, he was the son of Silas Mercer, a Baptist minister who moved his family to Wilkes County, Georgia in the early 1770s...
, namesake of Mercer University
Mercer University
Mercer University is an independent, private, coeducational university with a Baptist heritage located in the U.S. state of Georgia. Mercer is the only university of its size in the United States that offers programs in eleven diversified fields of study: liberal arts, business, education, music,...
, wrote a circular letter for the Georgia Baptist Association in 1811 in which he defended the Baptist rejection of alien immersion on the basis of Baptist succession. He wrote:
Baptist perpetuity was also held by the renowned English Baptist preacher Charles Spurgeon
Charles Spurgeon
Charles Haddon Spurgeon was a large British Particular Baptist preacher who remains highly influential among Christians of different denominations, among whom he is still known as the "Prince of Preachers"...
who said,
Modern movement away from the theory
Since the end of the 19th century the trend in academic Baptist historiography, spearheaded by William Heth Whitsitt, has been away from the successionist viewpoint to the view that modern day Baptists are an outgrowth of 17th century English SeparatismSeparatism
Separatism is the advocacy of a state of cultural, ethnic, tribal, religious, racial, governmental or gender separation from the larger group. While it often refers to full political secession, separatist groups may seek nothing more than greater autonomy...
. This shift precipitated a controversy among Southern Baptists which occasioned the forced resignation of Whitsitt in 1898 from the Southern Baptist Seminary for advocating the new view, though his views continued to be taught in the seminary after his departure.