Soul Competency Amongst 19th Century American Baptists

A friend of mine recently procured a first edition copy of Thomas Armitage’s, A history of the Baptists : traced by their vital principles and practices : from the time of Our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ to the year 1886 (BX6231 .A7 1887).

Apparently, the vital principle is “Soul-liberty” which neatly summarizes all the Baptist practices and distinctives. Granted, he does not use the word “Soul-competency”, but the idea is still here. But how could it be here? E.Y. Mullins was not around to invent this doctrine out of the ether.

Yes, despite the current academic atmosphere of Baptist Revisionism, the evidence continues to “suggest” otherwise. Indeed, Soul-competency continues to be the overriding Baptist principle and distinctive.

Dr. So-and-so, it doesn’t matter how much you want it or how much you repeat it, Soul-competency will continue to be the historical and over-arching theme of being a Baptist.

Now the Conservative Resurgence has done a very good job of revising Baptist History and denominational knowledge away from those particular doctrines that did not conform to the goals and principles of the Resurgence.

Freedom of Religion
Separation of Church and State
Believer’s Baptism
Priesthood of the Believer
Local Church Autonomy

Sorry to burst your bubble guys. That goes for you Calvinists as well.

Sorry, Dr. Mohler. Keep studying.



Soul Competency, Baptist Revisionism, and Inerrancy