Deep-Dive Study Guide: Believer’s Baptism in the Reformed Baptist Tradition

This study guide traces the theology, defense, and development of Believer’s Baptism (Credobaptism), beginning with its foundational confessional articulation in the 1689 Second London Baptist Confession of Faith (2LBCF) and expanding through historical and contemporary Reformed Baptist (and "Reformed Baptist-friendly") scholars.

I. Confessional Foundation: 1689 Second London Baptist Confession (2LBCF)

The 1689 Confession models its chapter on baptism after the Westminster Confession of Faith (WCF 28) and the Savoy Declaration (29), but intentionally diverges on the subjects and mode of the ordinance.

Key Chapter: Chapter 29 – Of Baptism

• Paragraph 1: Institution and Authority

  "Baptism is an ordinance of the New Testament, ordained by Jesus Christ, to be unto the party baptized, a sign of his fellowship with him, in his death and resurrection; of his being engrafted into him; of remission of sins; and of giving up unto God, through Jesus Christ, to live and walk in newness of life."

  • Core Concept: Baptism is a Covenant Sign strictly for those who have experienced inward grace (engrafting into Christ, remission of sins).

• Paragraph 2: Proper Subjects

  "Those who do actually profess repentance towards God, faith in, and obedience to, our Lord Jesus Christ, are the only proper subjects of this ordinance."

  • Core Concept: Credobaptism. Faith and repentance must precede the sign.

• Paragraph 3: Mode

  "Outward element to be used in this ordinance is water, wherein the party is to be baptized, in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit."

• Paragraph 4: Immersion

  "Immersion, or dipping of the person in water, is necessary to the due administration of this ordinance."

  • Core Concept: The Greek baptizo strictly denotes immersion, which symbolically matches Romans 6:3–4 (burial and resurrection).

II. Hermeneutical Framework: Covenant Theology (Federalism)

Reformed Baptists differ from Paedobaptists (Presbyterian/Reformed) not on whether to use Covenant Theology, but on how Covenant Theology is constructed (1689 Federalism vs. 17th-century Westminster Federalism).

III. Historical & Contemporary Voice Matrix

1. The Early Particular Baptists (17th–18th Century)

• Nehemiah Coxe (d. 1689)
  • Key Work: A Discourse of the Covenants that God made with Men before the Law (1681).
  • Contribution: Known as the co-editor or primary contributor to the 2LBCF. Established the covenantal framework for Credobaptism, showing that the New Covenant is distinct from and superior to the Abrahamic Covenant.
• Benjamin Keach (1640–1704)
  • Key Work: The Ax Laid to the Root (1693).
  • Contribution: Defended believer's immersion against Paedobaptist contemporaries (like Richard Baxter), focusing heavily on the distinction between physical seed and spiritual seed.
• John Gill (1697–1771)
  • Key Work: A Body of Doctrinal Divinity (Book 7, Ch. 3) & A Argument for Infant Baptism Considered.
  • Contribution: Provided exhaustive exegetical defenses of immersion and credobaptism, offering detailed refutations of Paedobaptist covenant arguments.

2. Modern 20th-Century & Confessional Resurgence Scholars

• Fred A. Malone
  • Key Work: The Baptism of Disciples Alone (Founders Press).
  • Contribution: A classic "journey paper turned book"—Malone was a Presbyterian pastor who converted to Reformed Baptist convictions through an in-depth study of covenant theology.
• Pascal Denault
  • Key Work: The Distinctiveness of Baptist Covenant Theology (IRBS).
  • Contribution: The definitive modern work contrasting 17th-century Paedobaptist covenant theology with 17th-century Particular Baptist covenant theology (1689 Federalism).