Baptist Confession Paper Comparison
CONFESSION PAPER
New Hampshire Baptist Confession of Faith vs. Treatise of the Faith and Practice of the Free Will Baptists
___________________
Presented to
Dr. Jerry Sutton
Liberty Baptist Theological Seminary
___________________
In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Course
CHHI 694-B04 History of Baptists
___________________
by
Stephanie Byers
February 24, 2013
Introduction
When comparing the New Hampshire Baptist Confession of Faith (NHBCF) to the Treatise on Faith and Practice of the Free Will Baptists (TFPFWB) the most significant observation is that the New Hampshire Baptists were Calvinists and the Free Will Baptists derive from the Arminian faith. The analysis of these two movements which are so closely related in time and foundational beliefs is enough to make one wonder what diverging ideas would distinguish one from the other and how are those differences are expressed in their Confession of Faith statements respectively.
The New Hampshire Baptist Confession of Faith represents a diluted Calvinism version of the Baptists beliefs taken from the Baptist Church Manual. John Newton Brown credited with authoring The New Hampshire Baptist Confession was an ordained minister, teacher, publisher and influential Baptist in the nineteenth century. The 1833 statement of doctrine was adopted by the New Hampshire Convention and was broadly received by Baptists in the North, East and West. It has been characterized as being clear, concise and in sync with previous predated confessions but stated much more sedately.
Benjamin Randall founded of the Free Will Baptist church having broken from the Calvinistic Baptists who became quite disapproving of his theological views. Essentially he denounced their views on predestination which is the theological doctrine belief that all events have been “willed” by God. At the core of this debate is the belief that God willed eternal damnation for some and salvation for
New Hampshire Baptist Confession of Faith vs. Treatise of the Faith and Practice of the Free Will Baptists
___________________
Presented to
Dr. Jerry Sutton
Liberty Baptist Theological Seminary
___________________
In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Course
CHHI 694-B04 History of Baptists
___________________
by
Stephanie Byers
February 24, 2013
Introduction
When comparing the New Hampshire Baptist Confession of Faith (NHBCF) to the Treatise on Faith and Practice of the Free Will Baptists (TFPFWB) the most significant observation is that the New Hampshire Baptists were Calvinists and the Free Will Baptists derive from the Arminian faith. The analysis of these two movements which are so closely related in time and foundational beliefs is enough to make one wonder what diverging ideas would distinguish one from the other and how are those differences are expressed in their Confession of Faith statements respectively.
The New Hampshire Baptist Confession of Faith represents a diluted Calvinism version of the Baptists beliefs taken from the Baptist Church Manual. John Newton Brown credited with authoring The New Hampshire Baptist Confession was an ordained minister, teacher, publisher and influential Baptist in the nineteenth century. The 1833 statement of doctrine was adopted by the New Hampshire Convention and was broadly received by Baptists in the North, East and West. It has been characterized as being clear, concise and in sync with previous predated confessions but stated much more sedately.
Benjamin Randall founded of the Free Will Baptist church having broken from the Calvinistic Baptists who became quite disapproving of his theological views. Essentially he denounced their views on predestination which is the theological doctrine belief that all events have been “willed” by God. At the core of this debate is the belief that God willed eternal damnation for some and salvation for