Kiffen, Knollys, and Keach: Rediscovering our English Baptist Heritage

by Michael A.G. Haykin

Among the various Baptist groups that emerged from the religious turmoil of seventeenth-century England, the Particular Baptists proved to be the most influential in terms of long-term legacy. There is a sense in which all English-speaking Baptists, whatever their current theological orientation, can ultimately be traced back to this community. And at the heart of this community were three key leaders: William Kiffen, Hanserd Knollys, and Benjamin Keach. This new edition introduces the lives and thought of each of these men along with their times, other Baptist figures with whom they interacted, and two vital confessions that were published respectively in 1644 and 1688.

Genres: Christian, Theology, Biography, History, Church History

232 pages, Paperback

Published November 29, 2019

About the author

Dr. Michael A.G. Haykin is the Professor of Church History and Biblical Spirituality and Director of The Andrew Fuller Center for Baptist Studies at The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary.

He is also the editor of Eusebeia: The Bulletin of The Andrew Fuller Center for Baptist Studies. His present areas of research include 18th-century British Baptist life and thought, as well as Patristic Trinitarianism and Baptist piety.

Haykin is a prolific writer having authored numerous books, over 250 articles and over 150 book reviews. He is also an accomplished editor with numerous editorial credits.

Reviews

[Nathanaël · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ouvrage intéressant qui remonte jusqu'à l'origine du mouvement baptiste en Angleterre. L'auteur nous y explique la différence entre les baptistes généraux et baptistes particuliers (ou baptistes calvinistes), tous deux issus du mouvement séparatiste puritain du 17ème siècle, bien que ce soient les baptistes calvinistes qui s'imposèrent face aux généraux, qui finirent par plus ou moins disparaître au fil des années.

Les baptistes calvinistes sont à l'origine des deux confessions de foi baptistes de Londres, dont la proximité évidente, et assumée par leurs auteurs, avec la confession de foi de Westminster, témoigne clairement de leur intention de montrer qu'ils faisaient pleinement partie du réveil de la réforme protestante.

Après nous avoir présenté les origines du baptisme anglais (qu'il est nécessaire de différencier de l'anabaptisme continental, historiquement du moins), l'auteur nous présente les figures principales du mouvement qui participèrent à sa consolidation doctrinale et pratique. Il finit par une courte étude comparative entre la confession baptiste de Londres et celle de Westminster et la déclaration de Savoie.

C'est donc une présentation assez fidèle, succincte, et honnête de l'origine et du développement du baptisme anglais au 17ème siècle. On y apprend notamment que certains des premiers baptistes, qu'ils soient généraux ou calvinistes, pratiquèrent l'auto-baptême (cas très isolé) ou durent se faire baptiser chez les Mennonites, pour le coup issus du mouvement anabaptiste continental. Cela met en évidence une des difficultés pratiques à laquelle font face les baptistes sur l'origine de leur dénomination. En effet la raison évoquée par les premiers baptistes était soit l'absence de congrégation suffisamment pure pour les (re)baptiser, soit l'absence d'Église baptisant par immersion (plus tardivement, lorsque le mouvement s'affirma immersionniste). A méditer.

On y apprend également que ce sont les baptistes calvinistes, et notamment Keach, qui sont à l'origine de l'hymnologie dans la liturgie. Le mouvement baptiste s'est d'ailleurs divisé en deux sur ce sujet précis à l'époque.

D'autres "anecdotes" de ce genre ponctuent l'ensemble du livre, donnant matière à réflexion sur des sujets qui ne cesseront jamais d'être d'actualité pour l'Église.

[Jake Stone · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great work to introduce people to the origins of the Particular Baptists, the background of the 1st and 2nd London Baptist Confessions, and some of the key leaders in the movement. Michael Haykin is one of the premier Baptist historians. In this work, he shows the importance of Kiffen, Knollys, and Keach not just in their day but why they are relevant still. Haykin also provides lessons modern Baptists need to learn including the role of confessionalism, congregationalism, and catholicity. Finally, the appendix is a classic work from Thomas Wilcox: “A Choice Drop of Honey.” It is a gospel feast that will nourish your soul!

[JT Stead · Rating 5 out of 5]

This concise book by Michael Haykin recovers the rich, Reformed roots of the English Particular Baptists. Rather than descending from Anabaptists, Haykin shows their true origin in Puritan (Reformed) Separatism and Congregationalism. He highlights the theological conviction, confessional clarity, and charitable ecumenism of leaders like Kiffin, Knollys, and Keech. Their commitment to biblical ecclesiology, association among churches, and worship—including Keech’s defense of hymn-singing—offers a compelling model for today. This is an encouraging and accessible introduction to Baptist heritage and a call to recover a warm, evangelical, and confessional identity rooted in truth and expressed in worship

[Cody Cunningham · Rating 4 out of 5]

Closer to 4.5 stars. This is an excellent, accessible introduction to the early English Particular Baptists, which especially focuses on the roles of William Kiffen, Hanserd Knollys, and Benjamin Keach. Haykin is a top-notch historian.

[Ben Robin · Rating 5 out of 5]

A wonderful and fresh introduction to an old heritage I'm happy to be a part of!

[Nicholas Abraham · Rating 5 out of 5]

An important intro to English Baptist origins through the lens of three important men: Kiffen, Knollys, and Keach. Haykin deals with origins of the Second London Confession as well. Read the appendix; it’s so good!

[C.J. Moore · Rating 4 out of 5]

Though quite dry at times (but very well researched and end-noted throughout), I found the book helpful.

Haykin makes his defense for the origin of Baptists (and it’s not landmarkism or Anabaptists). He shows that baptists came down the line from the Reformation itself and the principles it stood for. Of course, the dominant issues were the subjects for baptism and the relationship between the church and state.

You get a good biography of three prominent figures (see title), as well as a few chapters devoted to the drafting and content of the 1644 and 1689 confessions. In this, Haykin outlines the importance of confessions for baptists. His primary focus is on Particular Baptists, but he writes of the General Baptists as well. It’s quite the 30,000 foot view across the board, but the endnotes will give you the primary and secondary sources to track down for more substance.

Overall, it was helpful to see consensus on a number of things from the very start but also charity toward those who disagreed on certain secondary and tertiary matters. I think baptists have always fought over what it means to be baptist; we still do it, but we could be a bit more cordial and friendly about like our denominational forefathers.

[Zach Williams · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m very thankful for this newly released second edition of a classic work on Baptist origins and early Baptist History. Michael Haykin desires for his readers to rediscover the rich heritage that Baptists have, and he succeeds in demonstrating the richness of this heritage by highlighting several key figures and documents of the early English Baptists. I especially enjoyed the chapters dealing with the theology of the First and Second London Confession. I resonate with the author’s assertion that it has been a mercy of God that contemporary Baptists have rediscovered the rich, Reformed theology of the Second London Confession. Modern Baptists would do well to learn from these early Baptist confessional statements, and they would do well to emulate the example of many of their early Baptist forbears. I highly commend this work to anyone who is interested in learning more about Baptist history and historic Baptist thought.

[Willy Robert · Rating 5 out of 5]

Livro excelente e totalmente essencial. Michael Haykin aponta as diversas teorias sobre as origens dos batistas, combatendo as teorias infundadas e mostrando a plausibilidade da teoria correta, ou seja, os batistas tem sua origem nos separatistas ingleses do fim do século XVI e início do século XVII. Depois apresenta os principais nomes do movimento batista em seu início, William Kiffen, Hanserd Knollys, John Norcot e Benjamim Keach, além de 3 capítulos onde ele fala sobre a composição das confissões batista de 1644 e 1689. Livro indispensável, sobretudo para quem é de tradição batista reformado e gostaria de conhecer melhor suas origens.

[Tim · Rating 5 out of 5]

While the focus is on the three K's--Kiffen, Knollys, Keach--it is really a study of the nascent Particular English Baptist community and the strong legacy that they have left to us all. While many faithful Baptists today point to the 1689 London Baptist Confession of Faith as the rallying cry to orthodox beliefs, Michael Haykin unveils the setting and the first- and second-generation progenitors of this vital statement. I highly recommend this excellent primer on the first century of Baptist life for your greater understanding of our roots as a people of God.

[Bradley · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you want to learn about early Baptist history, this is the place to start. Dr. Haykin profiles several important figures in the early days of the movement along with brief introductions to the First and Second London confessions of faith. Also, the sermon by Thomas Wilcox in the appendix is incredible!

[Grady Adams · Rating 5 out of 5]

Calvinist Baptist

Very interesting and informative about how the Baptist faith came to begin. Amazing the persecution they endured from their beginnings. I had always believed they started from the Annabaptist, but this was not the case. However, others believed it to be so and persecuted them until they realized there was no connection.

[Daniel Scheiderer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great introductory work for enlightening Baptists to their own roots. Having studied the era, there are of course things I might interpret somewhat differently (though not much). This update helpfully adds a chapter, but Haykin retained the rest as it was in the earlier edition.

[Rylan S. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Helpful background to the formation of the London Baptist Confessions and the leading figures in the Particular Baptist movement at the time. A wonderful place to start in understanding baptist history. At times the chapters read like separate articles, rather than a cohesive whole.

[Chance Faulkner · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent summary of the origins of the baptists

[Vincent Lemieux · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good introduction. Much to appreciate and learn.

[Keller (Charles Hack) Hackbusch · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a must read for anyone researching particular Baptist history or the Baptist confessions. Haykin does a fantastic job and is an enjoyable author to read.

[Jackson Roderick · Rating 5 out of 5]

We baptists have a rich heritage worth remembering and learning from.

[Pig Rieke · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great but poorly named book. A more accurate title would be “Baptists in the 17th Century.”