Start of Denominations
- Luther, a catholic monk and a teacher in a catholic university at Wittenberg, Germany.
- Oct. 31, 1517 - 95 propositions for debate nailed to church door.
- Followers assumed his name (over his objections) and adopted the Augsberg confession of faith, 1530.
- an outgrowth of Calvin's teachings.
- John Knox took Calvin's teachings to Scotland, gathered following.
- By 1592 was the established religion of Scotland.
- 1643-1649, Westminister Confession of Faith written and adopted by them.
Church of England - (Episcopal) - 1530 to 1534
- Many problems with Roman Pope and 'authority'.
- Final straw - divorce to remarry.
- Assumed control of church in England, most catholic ideas maintained.
Baptist church - 1607 - 1611
- Originally known as 'anti-baptists' because they did NOT acknowledge the 'baptism' (sprinkling) of others.
- John Smythe, objected to sprinkling for baptism.
- His followers adopted the title of 'General Baptists".
- The use of the term 'baptist' as a denominational designation is of comparatively recent origin, first appearing about the year 1644. (The New Schaff-Herzog Enc. of Religious Knowledge, Vol. 1; pg. 456).
- "Baptist" is a name first given in 1644, to certain congregations of English Separatists, who had recently restored the ancient practice of immersion." (The New International Ency. Vol. 2, pg. 646)
- "Smythe believed that the apostolic church model was lost, and determined on its recovery. He renounced the figment of a historical, apostolic succession, insisting that where two or three organize according to the teachings of the New Testament, they form as true a church of Christ as that of Jerusalem, though they stand alone in the earth." (Thomas Armitage, A HISTORY OF THE BAPTISTS, pg. 2-3)
- He graduated from Christ Church College, Oxford, 1724.
- He was ordained a priest in the church of England.
- 1739, associated with a group that wanted 'revival' of right living - he only wanted to reform the church of England.
- In 1739, he formed "THE METHODIST SOCIETY"in Kingswood, England.
- Later wrote and adopted the Methodist Discipline.
Authority or back to Contents