What Baptists Believe

by Herschel H. Hobbs

Short essays on the major doctrines which have formed the foundations of Southern Baptist life and thought.

Genres: Christian, Theology

128 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 8, 1964

Reviews

[Ryan Rench · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nice little format, with a few pages per core teaching. I don't know a thing about it beyond what I've read in it, nor do I know the author or his positions. The back cover says that Hobbs was once the president of the SBC and pastor of First Baptist in OKC.
I'd line up with many of the teachings such as its local-church emphasis and orthodox doctrines, but a few things came up throughout:
Teaches Good Friday timing in the Lord's Supper section
Weak on distinctions between open and closed communions
Okay on explanations on election, but still left it open to interpretation on what he's actually saying
Also left it open on eschatology distinctions
Quoted RSV and KJV throughout.

I can't even remember where I got this book, but it's been on the shelf a while. Finally just breezed through it for a series I'm preparing.

[Elizabeth Swanson-McKee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hobbs book What Baptists Believe is a classic book that is very thorough and explains in simple terms the theology and doctrine of what Southern Baptists as a denomination believe. Southern Baptists are known as people of the book. Herschel H. Hobbs along with WA Criswell were the senior statesmen of the Southern Baptists. As a young girl, anytime I had an opportunity to hear either man speak at a church or conference, it was a wonderful blessing. As a student at Oklahoma Baptist University, Dr. Hobbs would preach at our chapel service. Ironically, he was born in Talladega Springs, Alabama and grew up at the age of 11 made his profession of faith in Jesus Christ. I was also eleven when I made my profession of faith but it was at FBC Haskell while Dr. Hobbs was baptized at a local creek. Dr. Hobbs would eventually answer a call to preach at age 19. Hobbs would graduate from Howard College, now Samford University, in Birmingham, Ala., received a master's in theology from Southern Seminary and earned a Ph.D. in New Testament interpretation at Southern Seminary in 1938. Ordained in 1929 in Birmingham, he held several other pulpits before being named pastor of the First Baptist Church in Oklahoma. His base was the First Baptist Church in Oklahoma City, where he preached from 1949 to 1972. He was named pastor emeritus a year later. Dr. Hobbs served two terms, from 1961 to 1963, as president of the Southern Baptist Convention and leader of 10 million Baptists. It was a contentious time when his church seemed headed for open schism between fundamentalists and a more liberal wing over just how literally the Bible must be interpreted. The convention avoided the split by not bringing the most divisive issues to the floor. He was also a vice president of the Baptist World Alliance from 1965 to 1970. I first read this book while I was a student at Connors State College during training union at Warner First Baptist Church. My BSU director Jeff Johnson had this book for the adults to study. The book is a concise, general overview of Baptist doctrine. It is a good book for those investigating the differences between Baptists and other denominations. Excellent read

[Annette · Rating 5 out of 5]

great book and great class

[Matt Crawford · Rating 4 out of 5]

Is this a book or a treatise? It is a brief but essential book. It so what are first and second order things in the Baptist denomination. I did notice a lack of Reformed language, which as a reformed baptist myself, was quite noticeable. The sections on predestination were minimal. Many of the sections he shows the options (such as atonement theory and millennium). It is a small introduction so it does leave much to be desired but is a great starting off point.

[Cheryl · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent! Well written and backed up with scripture.