This series reviews Baptist Doctrines: Being an exposition, in a series of essays by representative Baptist Ministers, of the distinctive points of Baptist Faith and Practice, C.A. Jenkens, ed., St. Louis: Chancy R. Barns, 1882. Being unaware of the history behind Baptist Doctrines, and given the independent nature of Baptists generally, I cannot say how widely received it was when published. However, because the contributors were well-known Baptist leaders in their day, I expect that the doctrines espoused were widely accepted among late 19th century conservative, evangelical Baptists.

When possible, I will provide provide brief biographical information for the authors. See other posts in the Baptist Doctrines series here.



Despite being 38 years removed from the event, I don’t think I’ll ever forget an afternoon visit to a used book shop in Halifax, Nova Scotia. The owner, looking as if he’d just rolled out of bed, warmly welcomed us to his shop – a hole-in-the-wall storefront jammed with dusty, sagging shelves spewing books of every imaginable genre. How anyone ever found what he or she was looking for remains a mystery to me.

My colleague and I were not long in the store before mentioning that we were planting a Baptist church across the harbour in Dartmouth.

Hearing that, he said, “I have just the book for you.” Walking to the back of the store, climbing a stepladder and reaching behind a stack of books, he produced an old, falling-apart volume entitled Baptist Doctrines. How did he know that book was hiding in that upper corner?

That $5.00 purchase has traveled with me throughout the remainder of my pastoral ministry. The pictures below offer an overview of its purpose and content.

This book has taken on new interest for me in light of recent discussions within The Fellowship of Evangelical Baptist Churches in Canada, the family of churches in which I have served since 1982. Of particular concern is the growing desire among some of our pastors and leaders to loosen our grip on the doctrine of believers baptism by immersion in its relationship to church membership.

It seems these kinds of questions concerned our Baptist forbears, as the essay (VI) by Rev. H.S. Burrage shows: “Immersion Essential to Christian Baptism“. Earlier Baptists understood that the mode of baptism was critical to understanding, and practicing, authentic baptism.

I plan to post brief reviews and commentary on some (perhaps all) of the essays in this book. Hopefully they will be received in the spirit they are given – not to engender strife, but to encourage faithfulness to what evangelical Baptists have historically held to be truth.

As C.A. Jenkins wrote in the Preface to this volume:

In no spirit of controversy is this volume sent forth. Its aim is not to kindle strife, but to impart truth. … As to the desirability of such a work, there can be but one opinion among those who love the coming of their Lord, and believe the Gospel of Christ to be the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth. The tendency to ignore doctrinal teaching is too sadly prevalent; and hence, the rich instruction contained in the doctrines is lost to many.