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Elect Infants by J. B. Searcy as Published in The Baptist--Memphis, May 3, 1878

Dr. Thomas O. Summers, in his paper of March 29th, crowds his Presbyterian friends very closely on the subject of "Elect Infants" and infant damnation; and copies the following to show that they are guilty: "Every theologian knows that not only Calvin, but also the divines who constructed the original doctrinal standards of the Calvinistic churches, held and taught that only a part of those dying in infancy are saved. Some, like Paraeis and Zanchius, held that only a portion, even of the children of believing parents, so dying, are... Read more →

Ron Vietti and Jim Crews' critics on Exposing Calvinism

Ron Vietti and Jim Crews (Vegas Campus) are co-pastors at Valley Bible Fellowship in Bakersfield, CA. Being the largest church in town, their recent exposé on Calvinism caused some Calvinists to experience complete meltdown. Vietti predicted with amazing accuracy the chatter splatter he would personally receive because of the stance he would take. But rather than focus on what some of the more hackneyed critics had to say, I'd like to turn our attention to an open letter written by Chad Vegas,1 Lead and Founding Pastor of Sovereign Grace Church... Read more →

The Baptist General Tract Society (1835)-- 'infants dying in infancy saved by the blood of Jesus’

In 1835, the Baptist General Tract Society compiled various pamphlets it had published into a single volume entitled The Baptist Manual: A selection from the Series of Publications of the Baptist General Tract Society.1 In tract number 45, “The Scripture Guide to Baptism,” a series of questions are posed concerning infant baptism to which the tract gives its Baptist answer. Question number 8 asks, “But if you refuse to bring children to baptism, do you not keep them away from Christ, and in case of their dying in infancy, endanger... Read more →

Former Swedish Lutheran Divine turned American Baptist- 'all infants dying in infancy covered by the blood'

Swedish Baptists can be traced back to the mid-nineteenth century in America. According to Baptist historian C. Douglas Weaver, the first Swedish Baptist church started in the United States was in 1852 at Rock Island, Illinois organized by a Swedish immigrant named Gustaf Palmquist.1 Palmquist came to America presumably a Lutheran but after attending a Baptist revival, became a Baptist. Afterwards, he organized the first Swedish Baptist Church, an organization of which, according to Weaver, marks the founding date of the Swedish Baptist General Convention in America—at least until 1945... Read more →

Popular 19th Century Baptist scholar George Clark on infant salvation

According to William Cathcart, George Whitefield Clark was born at South Orange, N.J., in 1831. He was converted and baptized at twelve years of age, joining the Northfield Baptist church. Graduating from Amherst College in 1853, Clark completed his theological course at Rochester in 1855 and was ordained pastor of the Baptist church at New Market in 1855. Four years later, Clark became pastor of the First Baptist church in Elizabeth until 1868 and then went to the Baptist church at Ballston, N.Y. In 1872 Rochester University conferred upon him... Read more →

19th century Baptist scholars Albert Arnold and David Ford on infants dying in infancy--'grace in Christ secures salvation of all with no personal sins to answer for'

In their commentary on Romans 5:18, 19th century Baptist New Testament scholars Albert Arnold and D.B. Ford write: “A few words in regard to the future condition of those dying in infancy. We scarcely need an apostle to tell us that a condemnation and death has been visited upon them on account of sin not their own; hence on account of Adam's transgression. A part of this penalty they, in common with us all, must suffer. The great trouble respecting their case has reference to the evil that is in... Read more →

Baptist theologian Alvah Hovey -- 'all infants dying in infancy regenerated'

“At this point it may be proper to notice the relation of the propitiatory death of Christ to children who die in infancy. So far as now appears, such children are put in no practical relation to the atonement, unless it be by the secret and renewing work of the Spirit. Assuming, as we must, that this life is the only period of grace for mankind as sinners, and that the death of Christ was in some way for all our race, it follows that dying infants are regenerated by... Read more →

Baptist theologian E. H. Johnson--'Scripture does not state dying infants are saved but justifies such an inference'

E. H. Johnson was a well-known Baptist pastor and theologian in the latter quarter of the 19th century. According to one archived newspaper report, Johnson pastored churches in Minnesota, Pennsylvania, and Rhode Island. He also served successfully as interim pastor, once following his friend and colleague, James M. Pendleton at the historic Upland Baptist Church in Upland, Pa. In 1882, Johnson became professor of systematic theology at Crozer Theological Seminary, Chester, Pa. While teaching at Crozer, he wrote his An Outline of Systematic Theology which went through five editions (1895).... Read more →

Influential 19th Century Baptist Andrew Broaddus--'infants saved by virtue of the death of Christ'

According to Baptist Calvinist, J.B. Jeter, Andrew Broaddus (1770-1848) remained a Baptist legend in 19th century Virginia. Broaddus’ rhetorical skills and keen intellect apparently made him a theological "genius" of sorts (p.45). Jeter's description of Broaddus surely places him in the position of being one of the most influential Baptists during the first half of the 19th century. In his Sermons and Other Writings, Broaddus indicated concerning infant baptism and infant salvation: “If there were no other way of saving infants but by the gospel and its ordinances, they would... Read more →

Baptist scholar Alexander Carson--'by the Gospel no infant can be saved'

Certainly; if there were no way of saving children but by the Gospel, this conclusion [i.e. that infant salvation would be impossible] would be inevitable. The Gospel saves none but by faith. But the Gospel has nothing to do with infants, nor have Gospel ordinances any respect to them. The Gospel has to do with those who hear it. It is good news; but to infants it is not news at all. They know nothing of it. The salvation of the Gospel is as much confined to believers, as the... Read more →

19th Century Southern Baptist theologian James Petigru Boyce--'infants dying in infancy are regenerate'

“It follows from the facts in these last two statements, that a corrupt nature makes a condition as truly sinful, and guilty, and liable to punishment, as actual transgressions. Consequently, at the very moment of birth, the presence and possession of such a nature shows that even the infant sons of Adam are born under all the penalties which befell their ancestor in the day of his sin. Actual transgression subsequently adds new guilt to guilt already existing, but does not substitute a state of guilt for one of innocence”... Read more →

19th Century Southern Baptist scholar P. H. Mell--'infants are saved but not by the Gospel'

Patrick Hues Mell (1814-1888) is said to have "held more official positions in Baptist life at every level than any other Southern Baptist in history," holding the presidency of the Southern Baptist Convention a staggering 26 terms. Mell is considered a strict Calvinist on virtually anybody's terms and by some an "original founder" of the Southern Baptist Convention. Below is a selection from Mell's book, Baptism In Its Mode and Subjects published by the Southern Baptist Publication Society, Memphis Tennessee (1854). Speaking of the nature of the Great Commission being... Read more →

Southern Baptist Publication Society--‘The human being that dies in infancy will be saved but not through faith’

“Through Abraham the blessing descends upon all who have Abraham's faith, and upon no others. All who die in infancy, we have reason to believe, are saved; but as infants have no faith, they are not entitled to membership in visible churches” (italics original here and below p.22) “If one asks, Who are the children of the covenant, the true reply is, The children of Abraham. If it is asked, Who are the children of Abraham, the true reply is, They that have Abraham's faith. As infants cannot believe, they... Read more →

Southern Baptist historian George W. Purefoy--'that infants are incapable must be obvious to every unprejudiced and reflecting mind'

Reflecting upon the Great Commission from our Lord in Mark 16:15-16 and Matthew 28:19-20, Baptist pastor and historian George W. Purefoy wrote: “Go ye into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved,” &c. Here the baptism of none is recognized but of those that are taught and believe. Infants are incapable of being taught, of believing, or of observing the things that Christ had commanded; consequently, by the Savior’s commission, they are excluded from baptism. This must be... Read more →

Georgia Baptist Association--'not principally held and preached among us that God damns infants'

At the request of the Georgia Baptist Association, one of the leading Baptists in the south, Jesse Mercer, compiled a History of the Georgia Baptist Association first published in 1838. In Part 2 entitled "Queries Propounded and Answered" Mercer qualifies the sources for the section from which the question below is taken stating the "Queries and Answers [were found] upon an old sheet of paper, which appears to be a part of the Minutes of some of the first Sessions of the Association; but as this document has no date,... Read more →

19th Century Baptist theologian J.M. Pendleton on infant salvation--'unaccountable infants saved without faith not by faith'

"It will be said by those who oppose the views of Baptists—for it has been said a thousand times—that if infants are not to be baptized because they cannot believe, they will not be saved because they cannot believe. If the salvation of infants depends on their faith, they cannot be saved. They are incapable of faith. They are doubtless saved through the mediation of Christ, but it is not by faith. Our opponents fail egregiously to accomplish their object in urging this objection to our views. They must intend... Read more →

Baptist theologian Millard Erickson on infants dying in infancy--'difficult to maintain them as sinful, condemned, and lost'

"While the status of infants and those who never reach moral competence is a difficult question, it appears that our Lord did not regard them as under condemnation. Indeed, he held them up as an example of the type of person who will inherit the kingdom of God (Matt. 18:3; 19:14). David had confidence that he would again see his child who had died (2 Sam. 12:23). On the basis of such considerations, it is difficult to maintain that children are to be thought of as sinful, condemned, and lost."1... Read more →

Southern Baptist scholar John Broadus on infants dying in infancy--'No question those dying in infancy are saved'

John Broadus (1827–1895), second president of Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, Louisville, KY, unequivocally asserted his view of all infants dying in infancy in his classic commentary on Matthew's gospel amidst his exposition of 19:14--"But Jesus said, 'Let the children alone, and do not hinder them from coming to Me; for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.'” Broadus concludes: "No question is here made that those dying in infancy are saved. They are saved through the atonement of Christ and the work of the Spirit, but this must... Read more →

Puritan Calvinist Issac Watts on the state of dying infants--'annihilation on one hand and resurrection on the other'

pic source Puritan minister Isaac Watts (1674 – 1748) was pastor of a large Congregational church in London and perhaps best known as the "Father of English Hymnody" Watts wrote over 750 hymns, including "When I Survey the Wondrous Cross," "O God, Our Help in Ages Past," "I Sing the Mighty Power of God," "Alas, and Did My Savior Bleed," and "Joy to the World," many hymns of which are still favorites in the Baptist Hymnal. Watts also wrote a book on formal logic which used at Oxford for over... Read more →

Baptist Confession of 1679--'all little children dying in infancy saved by the grace of God'

The following statements are taken from An Orthodox Creed, a confession of faith composed by British Baptists in 1679. The confession can be read in its entirety on the Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary website (//link). “Neither do we believe, that Infants dying in Infancy without Baptism, go to Purgatory or Limbus Infantum, as they erroneously teach” (XXVIII. Article, Of the right Subject and Administration of Holy Baptism) “Nor are little Infants, that cannot examine themselves, nor give Account of their Faith, nor understand what is signified by the outward signs... Read more →

English Baptist C.H. Spurgeon--'[it's] a wicked calumny that we hold the damnation of little infants'

"Among the gross falsehoods which have been uttered against the Calvinists proper, is the wicked calumny that we hold the damnation of little infants. A baser lie was never uttered. There may have existed somewhere, in some corner of the earth, a miscreant who would dare to say that there were infants in hell, but I have never met with him nor have I met with a man who ever saw such a person"1 C.H. Spurgeon, The Metropolitan Tabernacle Pulpit, Volume VII, Sermon #385, "Exposition of the Doctrines of Grace."... Read more →

London Quarterly Review, Sir Charles Lyell's second visit to America, and the demise of old school Calvinism

In 1849, The London Quarterly Review published a synopsis of Sir Charles Lyell's two volume set entitled A Second Visit to the United States, in the Years 1845-6. In it Lyell noted churches "of every religious denomination: Congregationalists, Baptists, Methodists, Free-Will Baptists, Universalists, Unitarians, Episcopalians, Roman Catholics, and Quakers, all living harmoniously together. The late Governor or the State was a Unitarian: and as if to prove the perfect toleration of churches the most opposed to each other, they have recently had a Roman Catholic Governor.' —vol. i. p. 48."1... Read more →

Texas Southern Baptist Joseph W.D. Creath--'Baptist position since days of Christ is all infants dying in infancy are saved'

Few Southern Baptists have ever heard of J. W.D. Creath much less know him as a Baptist hero. Undoubtedly, eternity will reveal many of this unsung Baptist's efficacious labors for the Kingdom of Christ. Cathcart's Baptist encyclopedia describes Creath as "the most apostolic man in Texas."1 Born in Virginia in 1809, educated at Virginia Baptist Seminary (at the time of Cathcart's writing, it was Richmond College), and after pastoring for several years in his home state, was appointed by the Domestic Mission Board of the Southern Baptist Convention as a... Read more →

Calvinists and Pelagius agreed on the status of infants dying in infancy?

It appears some modern day Calvinists express a similar agnosticism toward infants dying in infancy as did Pelagius. When pushed by Augustine, Pelagius said, “Where they are not, I know; where they are, I know not” (//link). While Augustine's nemesis was certain infants were not in hell, he offered no firm answer as to where they were. On the other hand, while some Calvinists do not want to say some infants dying in infancy go to hell, neither will they affirm whether some or all infants go to heaven. They... Read more →

High Calvinist Augustus Toplady--'I am convinced that the souls of all departed infants whatever are with God in glory'

'Toplady, one of the highest Calvinists of the Church of England, remarks as follows respecting the salvation of all infants dying in infancy: '“The rubric of the Church of England declares that ‘it is certain by God’s word that children which are baptized, dying before they commit actual sin, are undoubtedly saved.’ I believe firmly the same. Nay, I believe more. I am convinced that the souls of all departed infants whatever, whether baptized or unbaptized, are with God in glory. And I think my belief warranted by an authority... Read more →

Saint Augustine--'first to teach infant damnation'

pic source "It was Augustine who first taught the damnation of infants (see Baptism, II.,1, § 3); but their sufferings, though eternal, are of the mildest character (De peccatorum meritis, i. 16); indeed, it seemed to him doubtful whether they were punished at all. The Roman Church, accepting Augustine's conceptions of the necessity of baptism to salvation and of the mildness of the punishment of those infants who died unbaptized, agreed with him that they were sent to hell and assigned to them a distinct place in it, the limbus... Read more →

Princeton Calvinist icon B.B. Warfield--'question of infant salvation non-negotiable for sustaining systematic theology'

source “No system of theological thought can live in which it [the doctrine of infant salvation] cannot find a natural and logical place.” --B.B. Warfield, "Two studies in the history of doctrine: Augustine and the Pelagian controversy: the development of the doctrine of infant salvation" 1897, The Christian Literature Company (online text here) Read more →

Southern Baptist theologian and statesman E.Y. Mullins--'denominations generally--except Baptists--much perplexed over salvation of infants dying in infancy until recent years'

Mullins writes: "...Baptists have been the only adequate interpreters of the Reformation. … "The denominations generally, except Baptists, have been much perplexed over the salvation of infants dying in infancy, until recent years. Our Confession of 1660 contains a distinct article declaring that all infants dying in infancy are saved. I quote Article 10, p. 112: 'That all children dying in infancy, having not actually transgressed against the law of God in their own persons, are only subject to the first death, which comes upon them by the first Adam,... Read more →

No Southern Baptist should be 'in limbo' over Infants dying and going to Hell! by Ron F. Hale

Dr. Gerald Harris, the editor of the Christian Index, asked a pressing question in a recent editorial concerning the report of the Calvinism Advisory Team.1 He asked, "What Southern Baptists are there who do not believe that those who die before they are capable of moral action go to heaven?" His query is based on a section in the report that says, "We agree that most Southern Baptists believe that those who die before they are capable of moral action go to heaven through the grace of God and the... Read more →

19th Century Southern Baptist pastor and denominational statesman R.B.C. Howell--'all children dying in infancy are saved with an everlasting salvation'

"We repudiate the doctrine of infant baptism, and of infant damnation. We denounce all their accompaniments, and consequences. If God is just and good, if reason deserves respect, if the Gospel is true, if the merits of Christ are efficacious, if the Holy Spirit is not bound by the control of men, and tied down to forms and ordinances, then all children dying in infancy, irrespective of any relation with the church, and without regard to baptism or any other ordinance, are saved with an everlasting salvation, by the grace... Read more →

'frightful dogma'...'abominable heresy'--Baptist Calvinist Richard Fuller on infant damnation

"A fourth reason why infant baptism ought to cease. It reflects injuriously upon God, and tarnishes the glory of the atonement. It originated in the frightful dogma of infant damnation; and still connives at and fosters that abominable heresy. It nourishes, also, that other heresy to which men are so prone, which detracts from the fulness and freeness of the atonement; for it insinuates that we must do something, or our children cannot be saved” (italics original) --Richard Fuller, Baptism, and the Terms of Communion; An Argument, 1850, p.171 Read more →

Will "Infant Damnation Presbyterians" spawn "Infant Damnation Southern Baptists"? Part 2

In Part 1, I reprinted an article from The Baltimore Sun, May 26, 1908, an article reflecting the turmoil between Presbyterians who desired to change the Westminster Confession because it taught the eternal damnation of some infants and those Presbyterians who insisted the Confession should remain as it was originally written. One of the leaders was J.B. Mack, a well-known Presbyterian pastor, theologian, church planter and evangelist appointed by the Synod of Georgia. Below is an article written by Mack and originally published in The Atlanta Constitution, December 23, 1900.... Read more →

Philip Schaff--'Baptists and Quakers were first to teach salvation of infants apart from baptism'

“The Baptists and Quakers were the first organized Christian communities which detached salvation from ecclesiastical ordinances and taught the salvation of unbaptizecl infants and unbaptized but believing adults.” --Philip Schaff, The Oldest Church Manual Called The Teaching of the Twelve Apostles, 1886, pp.56-57 Read more →

'it is most just, exceeding just'--Jonathan Edwards on the damnation of infants

"[I]t is most just, exceeding just, that God should take the soul of a new-born infant and cast it into eternal torments" J. Edwards, The "Miscellanies," Entry Nos. a–z, aa–zz, 1–500, entry N I'm indebted to John J. Bombaro who pointed me in the direction of a clear, concise statement of Edward's position on God's justice in damning infants to eternal torment in Bombaro's unpublished doctoral dissertation for King's College, the University of London, entitled "Beautiful Beings: The Function of the Reprobate in the Philosophical-Theology of Jonathan Edwards" (2001). Read more →

Scripture silent on slavery and infant damnation

“Let no man oppose this movement by forbidding the holding of slaves, until he can produce divine authority for the prohibition” --J.L. Dagg, Southern Baptist Calvinist theologian in The Elements of Moral Science (1860, pp.346-347) “Let no man oppose infant damnation by forbidding the belief of burning babies in hell, until he can produce divine authority for the prohibition” --apparently, at least some Southern Baptist leaders entertain similarly this view Read more →

Will "Infant Damnation Presbyterians" spawn "Infant Damnation Southern Baptists"? Part 1

Below is an article printed in The Baltimore Sun, May 26, 1908. The article reflects the turmoil among Presbyterians who desired to change the Westminster Confession because it taught the eternal damnation of some infants and those Presbyterians who insisted the Confession should remain as it was originally written. According to Dr. J.B. Mack, a well-known Presbyterian theologian and evangelist in the south, those who wanted to retain the Confession as it was written by Westminster divines were called “I.D.P.’s” standing for “Infant Damnation Presbyterians” and those desiring to change... Read more →

Christian Index editor pushes for answers from Calvinism Advisory Committee about babies burning in hell

Below is the most recent editorial by Christian Index editor, Gerald Harris.1 Entitled "A New Kind of Calvinism" Dr. Harris shares his perspective on the committee report released prior to the 2013 Southern Baptist Convention by Executive Committee President Frank Page. In addition Harris recalls his concern over one aspect of the committee report, a concern he expressed during the official Q/A at the 2013 Southern Baptist Convention. Harris rightly asked about the committee's affirmation that "most Southern Baptists believe that those who die before they are capable of moral... Read more →

Born Guilty? A Southern Baptist View of Original Sin by Adam Harwood

Free Church Press announces a new and exclusive teaching series on biblical, theological, ethical, and ecclesial themes significant for Southern Baptists. The series will target people in the pew rather than those who have a theological background. While we believe all church leaders--including pastors and other staff leaders--will benefit from the series, the goal is to educate the millions of Southern Baptists who neither have theological or biblical degrees nor desire to wade through long, technical works to gain a reasonable grip on the essence of a particular subject. Thus,... Read more →

Augustine and Southern Baptists: Part 6B: Augustine's Critics and Legacy by Dr. Jim Gifford

Dr. Jim Gifford This is the final installment of Dr. Gifford's series on Augustine and Southern Baptists. I want to thank him for lending us his scholarship and pursuing this series at SBC Tomorrow. Be assured that the engagement in the comments did not accurately reflect either the number of readers Gifford's series had nor the significance of the series for future discussions about Original Sin, imputed guilt, original guilt, total depravity, free will, divine sovereignty, determinism, or any number of other subjects usually under the head of philosophy of... Read more →

Augustine and Southern Baptists: Part 6A: Augustine's Critics and Legacy by Dr. Jim Gifford

Dr. Jim Gifford This is the last installment of my series on Augustine. I wanted to say at the outset of this post that I really appreciate all of you who took the time to read it. A great big thank you to Peter for graciously posting it on his blog. I also want to thank Ben Simpson, Ken Hamrick, and David Allen for helpful suggestions and feedback. Thanks to Christiane and Lydia for insights and links. Thanks also to Eric Hankins, Malcolm Yarnell, and Adam Harwood for kind words... Read more →

Augustine and Southern Baptists Part 4: The Upshot of Augustine's Assumptions: Divine Determinism by Dr. Jim Gifford

Dr. Jim Gifford The third assumption in Augustine's thinking is his experience, based on personal observation, that some humans are not saved. In his own life, Augustine observed that some babies die before being baptized. For Augustine, reconciliation to God in Christ is impossible without baptism.1 Not everyone who was baptized was ultimately saved, but baptism for him was a "condition sine qua non" for salvation.2 Therefore anyone who died without baptism likewise died without hope of salvation. Combined with his views of God's unlimited power and humanity's helplessness, Augustine... Read more →

Augustine and Southern Baptists Part 3B: Infralapsarian Humanity by Dr. Jim Gifford

Dr. Jim Gifford A further difficulty in Augustine's thinking has been aptly pinpointed by John Rist. He writes, "The problem, as Augustine would rephrase it, is not, 'Why does God not save everyone?'; but 'Why does God save anyone?'; for we are all justly condemned. The problem would not be God's justice, but God's mercy which would seem unjust, or at least at the expense of justice".17 Ogliari continues, We must admit that, even though Augustine tried to reduce the brutality of a mechanical and infallible non-predestination of the non-elect,... Read more →

Augustine and Southern Baptists Part 3A: Infralapsarian Humanity by Dr. Jim Gifford

Dr. Jim Gifford This will be the third in the series of blog posts on Augustine's views on nature and grace, as concerns the development of his deterministic views of providence.* Sorry it has taken me a little longer to get this one to Peter, but I had a family emergency last week that required a trip back to the motherland (West "By God" Virginia). Please continue to keep my family in your prayers. The second presupposition in Augustine's thinking (after his overemphasis on divine omnipotence) is his infralapsarian view... Read more →

Augustine and Southern Baptists: Part 2: Augustine and Divine Omnipotence by Dr. Jim Gifford

Dr. Jim Gifford In this post, I will discuss the first of two assumptions Augustine brought to his theological method. That assumption is the strong, or absolute omnipotence of God. All Christians believe God has all power. Not all Christians agree that he exercises that power in the same way. One of the things that makes this explanation tricky is that a lot of theo-philosophical water has gone under the bridge (e.g. nominalism and voluntarism) between Augustine's time and ours. It is difficult to use terminology to explain Augustine's position... Read more →

Augustine and Southern Baptists: an Introduction by Dr. Jim Gifford

Dr. Jim Gifford Below is what Dr. Jim Gifford1 describes as a "short informal essay" serving as an opening post to a six-part series on Saint Augustine, an introductory essay entitled "Augustine and Southern Baptists: an Introduction." He envisions five remaining articles describing Augustine's influence on modern day evangelicalism--especially Southern Baptists--and attesting to several theological innovations Gifford's research led him to conclude were deviations from the received traditions the legendary Bishop of Hippo followed. The reader should keep in mind that Dr. Gifford intentionally designed the article series as informal... Read more →

G.W. Northrup on infants dying in infancy: The Western Recorder, Infant Salvation, and The Sovereignty of God: Part IV

In the final essay in his series critiquing strict Calvinism’s understanding of God’s Sovereignty in Predestination, Dr. G.W. Northrup proposes to “apply to the case of infants dying in infancy and of the congenitally idiotic the positions of the Calvinistic system already discussed.”1 On the whole, and contrary to many today who seem to feel the subject of infant salvation remains insignificant, Northrup contends for its extreme importance: “The question of the fate of those dying in infancy is one of vast theologic as well as of practical interest. For... Read more →

The Western Recorder, Infant Salvation, and The Sovereignty of God: Part III

In closing his third essay in the series entitled “The Sovereignty of God in Predestination as Held by Many Representative Calvinistic Theologians,” G.W. Northrup asked and answered two specific question. Below is a partial entry answering the first of the two questions: 1. Are mankind, at birth, under condemnation—"liable to the pains of hell forever," on the ground of the fall of Adam? The utter absence of any reference to the Adamic guilt as among the grounds of the sentence of condemnation to be pronounced at the day of judgment,... Read more →

The Western Recorder, Infant Salvation, and The Sovereignty of God: Part II

In Part I, I gave a brief background to the publication of a book entitled The Sovereignty of God (Kentucky: Baptist Book Concern, 1894) by longtime editor of The Western Recorder, T.T. Eaton. >>> Eaton had published in The Western Recorder a series of critical replies to then president of the University of Chicago Divinity School, G.W. Northrup, who had earlier published a series of magazine articles challenging what Northrup characterized as the theory of "Divine Sovereignty in Predestination as held by many representative Calvinistic theologians." The critical replies Eaton... Read more →

Adam Harwood and J.W. MacGorman’s “dangerous,” “unorthodox” doctrine inevitably leading to “heresy if not worse”

Recently, a Kentucky Southern Baptist pastor challenged Dr. Adam Harwood’s raising questions toward a particular seminary professor’s exclusive allegiance to imputed sinful guilt and whether the exclusiveness of the professor's view may be inconsistent with the 2000 Baptist Faith and Message.1 In his post entitled “Adam Brought Sin into the Human Race: A Response to Adam Harwood,” Jared Moore begins: Adam Harwood, Professor of Christian Studies at Truett-McConnell College in Cleveland, GA, recently argued that Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, because they believe in original guilt, may not be able to... Read more →

The Western Recorder, Infant Salvation, and The Sovereignty of God: Part I

The Western Recorder is and has been the denominational paper for Kentucky Southern Baptists since 1826. At the turn of the 19th century, T.T. Eaton was editor of the Kentucky paper, a position he had held much of his life. For 27 years, Eaton was pastor of the historic Walnut Street Baptist Church in downtown Louisville. In or around January, 1892, The Magazine of Christian Literature had begun running a series of articles on The Sovereignty of God written by Dr. G.W. Northrup (1826-1900?), President of the Chicago Divinity School.... Read more →