There’s a New World Coming Baptists, Violence, and the End of the World

Abstract

ABSTRACTUsing the work of the peaceably radical seventeenth century writer John Archer as a case study, this paper explores Baptist attitudes towards violence. Though he was not a Baptist, it is argued that Archer’s work shaped the Fifth Monarchist movement, and the associated seventeenth century radical Baptist tradition. Given that Archer’s vision for human non-violence was predicated upon a belief that ‘it is God alone who will destroy the enemies of the saints’, the question is raised as to whether his theological approach presented a ‘missed opportunity’ for seventeenth century Baptists to embrace a thoroughgoing nonviolent radicalism. Finally, consideration is given to divine judgment as a motivation for human violent action and questions are raised for those seeking to articulate a manifesto for Baptist non-violence in later generations.