Baptist Contributions to Theological Reflection on the Holy Spirit: A Representative Survey: Part I

Abstract

ABSTRACT Baptists in the English-speaking world have made important contributions to the doctrine of the Holy Spirit. There is no single Baptist position on the Holy Spirit; rather a variety of doctrinal approaches. This is illustrated in pastoral treatises, confessional statements, and academic writing. Baptists have reflected a strong Reformed dependence, while also moving in creative directions. In the early years, stress was upon the person and work of the Spirit, following orthodox parameters. During the eighteenth century, new doctrinal emphases in John Gill and Andrew Fuller are seen, and the nineteenth century gave opportunity to a variety of Baptist thinkers including Jacob Knapp, John L. Dagg, James P. Boyce, A. J. Gordon, William Newton Clarke and Walter Rauschenbusch. Rounding out the voices is H. Wheeler Robinson who blended a number of new ideas in a major work on the Spirit.