John Smyth
John Smyth ( 1570 - 28 August 1612 ) was the first English clergyman Baptist and a defender of the principle of religious freedom. Many historians consider John Smyth as the founder of baptism (see Baptists ).
Summary |
Ordination
Smyth was ordained as an Anglican priest in 1594 in England. Shortly after his ordination, he broke with the Church of England and became a dissident.
The baptism of believers
In 1609, Smyth left for Holland with a group, began to believe in the baptism of believers (as opposed to infant baptism ) and he founded with his band the first church Baptist.
Evolution of perspective
At first, Smyth aligned itself firmly on the Anglican heritage. Over time, his views evolved.
First, Smyth insisted that true worship from the heart and that any type of reading a book in worship was the invention of the fisherman. This rejection of liturgy can still be misunderstood by the Baptists of today. Praying, singing and preaching should only be spontaneous. It leads to the idea that it would admit more than reading the Bible during worship "since he considered the English translations of Scripture as something less important than the direct word of God."
Secondly, Smyth introduced a twofold direction to church with the pastor and deacon. This was in contrast with the classic executive Reformed Pastor elder, a lay elder and deacon.
Third, with his new position on baptism, a new dilemma arose among the Baptists. Having been baptized children, they realized all they had to be renamed. As there were no other ministers to administer baptism, Smyth baptized himself and he named his flock.
The influence Mennonite
Before his death, Smyth went down from his Baptist views and began to lead his followers to church Mennonite. Although he died before it happens, much of the community joined with the church itself Mennonite after his death.
This caused a division between Smyth and a group led by Thomas Helwys. The Church is descended from Smyth and Helwys is the name of the General Baptist.
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