William H. Brackney

The first, comprehensive history of Baptist theology yet written.

Baptists have been among the most diverse denominations in the world, but, regardless of what some may think, there is an identifiable theological tradition for the Baptists. This book is an interpretive study focussing on Baptist the-ology as it developed in Britain and North America. It is more than a collection of biographical essays or an apology for a particular theological perspective. The author reaches chronologically across four centuries and among British and North American Baptists of varying stripes. He argues that there is a multi-plicity of sources of Baptist thought, including confessions of faith, hymnody, pastors, academic theologians, "schools of thought," African American con-tributors, uniquely Canadian emphases, and those theologians who are "Baptist" but work outside of any direct denominational linkage.

Another important assumption is that Baptists have influenced each other through literary and scholarly dependencies, mentoring, academic affiliations, and informally through associations. Unfortunately, Baptists have made scant the use of "footnotes" until last century, and this has complicated the theolog-ical detective’s task.

William H. Brackney is a native of Washington, D.C., and received his educa-tion at the University of Maryland, Eastern Baptist Theological Seminary, and Temple University, where he earned the doctorate in history and religion with distinction. Dr. Brackney is an historical theologian who specializes in post-Reformation Christianity and voluntary religious traditions. He has taught at several colleges and seminaries as well as lecturing in schools across Europe and North America. Currently, he teaches historical studies in the Department of Religion at Baylor University and directs the Program in Baptist Studies.

Walter B. Shurden is the general editor of the Baptists Series.

Also in the Baptists Series

A Piety above the Common Standard: Jesse Mercer and Evangelistic Calvinism

Adiel Sherwood: Baptist Antebellum Pioneer in Georgia

Southern Baptist Sisters: In Search of Status, 1845–2000

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592 pages, 6 x 9

978-0-86554-913-5

$40.00s, Paper

Index, Bibliography

MUP/P269