History of the Baptists

by Robert G. Torbet

This book has won wide acceptance as a standard reference work in Baptist history. No Baptist pastor’s bookshelf, no church or seminary library, is complete without it. Since the original publication in 1950, the book has seen several new editions, adding findings and interpretations of scholarship and events through the 1970’s.

Genres: History, Church History, Theology

585 pages, Hardcover

First published October 1, 1973

About the author

Robert George Torbet (PhD, University of Pennsylvania) was a seminary dean, professor, and historian. He served on the faculty of the Eastern Baptist Theological Seminary (1934-1951), and on the American Baptist Board of Education and Publications (editor and department director, 1951-1958), and on the faculty of Central Baptist Theological Seminary (Professor of Church History and Dean, 1958-1966). Besides serving on the Board of Education and Publications, he also served as President of the American Baptist Convention (1965-1966).

Reviews

[Paul · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is a lengthy and well documented book on the history of Baptists. However, with all that has happened in the last 50 years, someone needs to write an update, or a separate book with the history of the Baptists from 1970-2020.

The book is divided into three parts, followed by several appendices.
Part 1: Baptist beginnings
Part 2: British and European Baptists
Part 3: American Baptists

My biggest problem with the book is that the author thinks it is a mark of maturity for Baptists to engage in social action. Sorry, but that's not in the great commission, nor is it implied. The mission of Baptists, and all Christians, is to make disciples.

[Victor Gamma · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is considered an extremely helpful reference work on Baptist History. The book was originally published in 1950, successive editions have included new scholarship and interpretations of that scholarship. Torbet holds the view that the Baptist Church originated in English Separatism in the Seventeenth Century. A sober examination of Baptist history, Torbet's fine work relies solidly on documentary evidence and classical norms of historical reasoning and avoid the prevalent but shaky origins theories that contend for the hearts and minds of Baptists. Geared more for the serious students rather than the general reader.

[David · Rating 4 out of 5]

Torbet’s 533 page History of the Baptists is a worthy work. Indeed, I would suggest that every Baptist minister ought to read this text. The text begins the discussion of the approach to Baptist History. Baptists primarily are a product of the reformation, having taken many of the beliefs of the reformation courageously to their ultimate conclusions (last chapter).

This book is generally considered the standard text for the study of Baptist History.

The book details the development of Baptists in Britain in the 1600’s to approximately the 1970’s. I would love to see some additional material to update situations, but Torbet, as I understand it, passed away in 1995.

Torbet discusses what many Baptist distinctives are as he develops his history. The main singularly identifiable DISTINCTIVE of Baptists is regenerate church membership and baptism (almost always by immersion) after conversion.

Several highlights are evident. Baptists have always believed in independent churches, but also believed in fellowshipping and associating with other Baptists of like faith. Baptists have always been missionary minded, indeed William Cary was a Baptist and considered the father of modern missions. Another correct area of focus is on Baptists and religious freedom. Indeed they played a primary role in religious freedom in the USA.
Baptists in other parts of the world are discussed, but the major focus is on early British and later American Baptists.
Much of the book that focuses on Baptists in America focuses on The Northern and Southern Baptist Conventions, once they separate in 1845. While that makes sense, (numerically Northern and Southern Baptists were by far the largest groups) there is little room in American Baptist discussion for any other groups.

In America in the 21st Century, it seems that there is a move from denominationalism, at least putting one’s denomination in the name of one’s church if not abandoning denominational distinctives altogether. I understand that this move is generally considered a way to get marginal or unchurched people into one’s church, especially if they have had a bad experience with a particular denomination. While this may make it easier to grow a church in the post-modern times, I for one think it may prove, in time, to be the removing of an anchor for some churches who do so. The generation who removes the denomination from the name likely stays reasonably firm to the major convictions of the denomination. The challenge is for the generations that follow to drift from the doctrines and convictions of the denomination. Books like this can help establish denominational convictions and an appreciation for denominational heroes.

[Mark Nenadov · Rating 3 out of 5]

Though I would have some beefs, in many ways this was a helpful read.