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Baptist Symbolics #2
To the Judicious and Impartial Reader
To the Judicious and Impartial Reader is an exposition of what is popularly known as the 1689 Baptist Confession of Faith, a document translated into many languages and used by churches around the world for almost 350 years. The Exposition seeks to illuminate and explain the theology of the Confession by setting it into its historical and theological context. It examines relevant primary source expositions of Scripture and theological treatises from the post-Reformation and Puritan eras, including the writings of the men who subscribed to it. Modern readers will be able to discern how the first churches to publish the Confession understood its doctrines and practices.
688 pages, Hardcover
Published January 1, 2022
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
January 28, 2025
This was so good. I thought it was going to be dry with Renihan giving so much historical context. However, the context put polemical flesh on the doctrine expounded. The two appendices were some of the most helpful parts of the book (one on baptism, the other on the distinction between God the Son eternal and Christ as mediator as a way of speaking into the EFS debate). I found this to be more devotional than expected. This would be a great read for an elder board that subscribes to the 2LBC.
August 6, 2024
The Golden Standard for Seminary students who want a rich introduction to the key doctrines of the faith.
If your Church has decided to receive the benefits of adopting the 1689 LBCF as your Church's formal confession (as I do not know of a better confession that you could elect, for numerous reasons)
This is a "must have" for anyone who wants to go deeper into all of the rich doctrines contained and the history of how these things were ablw to be so clearly stated.
I also studied Sam Waldron and Rov Ventura's expositions alongside this and found them quite helpful, but Renihan's was clearly of a much higher level of scholarship than the others and was much more careful and faithful to history. It is probably more suitable for students, however.
Cannot recommends this highly enough to anyone willing, or apt enough to read this, and lucky enough to understand why it is worth doing so.
God was clearly glorified in the diligent work done to produce this book.
I am very excited for more resources from Renihan in the future!
If your Church has decided to receive the benefits of adopting the 1689 LBCF as your Church's formal confession (as I do not know of a better confession that you could elect, for numerous reasons)
This is a "must have" for anyone who wants to go deeper into all of the rich doctrines contained and the history of how these things were ablw to be so clearly stated.
I also studied Sam Waldron and Rov Ventura's expositions alongside this and found them quite helpful, but Renihan's was clearly of a much higher level of scholarship than the others and was much more careful and faithful to history. It is probably more suitable for students, however.
Cannot recommends this highly enough to anyone willing, or apt enough to read this, and lucky enough to understand why it is worth doing so.
God was clearly glorified in the diligent work done to produce this book.
I am very excited for more resources from Renihan in the future!
August 11, 2024
Simply phenomenal. This book is a very thorough robust exposition of the 1689 LBCF. It was very helpful to understand my reformed (particular) Baptist history and confession.
At times there are issues I wish Renihan developed further but I recognize that concessions had to be made for the already long page count.
There are also a few times where I think changes from the WCF were unneeded, or sections that deserved a more robust account in the confession. But overall this book is fantastic and I greatly appreciate the 1689 LBCF
At times there are issues I wish Renihan developed further but I recognize that concessions had to be made for the already long page count.
There are also a few times where I think changes from the WCF were unneeded, or sections that deserved a more robust account in the confession. But overall this book is fantastic and I greatly appreciate the 1689 LBCF
December 20, 2024
The single best resource on the 2LCF.
June 17, 2024
This exposition expounds deeply into the minds of the Particular Baptists in the 17th century and their thought process when writing the confession.
Renihan does a great job of gathering sources from the time period to explain the doctrines held by our Baptist forefathers.
This work is a classic and will be a timepiece used by confessional Reformed Baptist churches around the world in the future as it is rich with quotations to further exposit the confession.
The chapters and paragraphs are exposited deeply for the reader to enjoy the meaning behind the confession.
A great read and study for not only pastors but members who are interested in further study of the confession.
One of the first works on the 1689 that expounds deeply upon the historical context.
Renihan does a great job of gathering sources from the time period to explain the doctrines held by our Baptist forefathers.
This work is a classic and will be a timepiece used by confessional Reformed Baptist churches around the world in the future as it is rich with quotations to further exposit the confession.
The chapters and paragraphs are exposited deeply for the reader to enjoy the meaning behind the confession.
A great read and study for not only pastors but members who are interested in further study of the confession.
One of the first works on the 1689 that expounds deeply upon the historical context.
December 2, 2024
An excellent historical commentary on the second London Baptist confession of faith (1677). This book is a thorough and detailed exposition from primary 17th century sources in comparison to other modern expositions of the confession such as Sam Waldron's exposition.
The use of the Oxford English dictionary, Muller's dictionary of Greek and Latin theological terms, primary sources and comparisons with the Westminster and Savoy confessions makes this a valuable resource. This book is beneficial for understanding the 17th century Protestant confessions as they were understood in their historical context and helps to avoid modern anachronisms from ecclesiological differences (e.g. the claim that particular baptists came from the Anabaptists).
The use of the Oxford English dictionary, Muller's dictionary of Greek and Latin theological terms, primary sources and comparisons with the Westminster and Savoy confessions makes this a valuable resource. This book is beneficial for understanding the 17th century Protestant confessions as they were understood in their historical context and helps to avoid modern anachronisms from ecclesiological differences (e.g. the claim that particular baptists came from the Anabaptists).
September 3, 2025
Incredibly helpful and well researched. The historical theology is especially thorough.
July 12, 2025
Founders Ministries sent me a copy of “Baptist Symbolics” by James M. Renihan in exchange for an honest review.
Baptist Symbolics is a thorough and ambitious project by Renihan to exposit the First London Baptist Confession (1LBC, 1644/46) and Second London Baptist Confession (2LBC, 1677/89). This is an essential undertaking in a modern Christian landscape in which the person in the pews is 1) increasingly out of line with basic orthodoxy (look no further than the trends in Ligonier’s State of Theology survey) and 2) increasingly unmoored from the history of Christ’s church. This is why confessionalism is so important, the driving urgency behind this account’s existence. Confessions themselves are often clear enough themselves, but a good commentary can add a lot of depth to understanding them. After all, it’s one thing to understand what we believe and it’s another thing to understand why we believe it. That’s where this set enters the picture.
Each volume stands as an independent study, with volume 1 examining the 1LCF and volume 2 examining the 2LCF. Volume 1 clocks in at 334 pages and volume 2 at a whopping 661 pages. So these books are dense, which may be intimidating to some. There isn’t much, if any, fluff in here, with every page meaningfully contributing to the overall work. Renihan deals with the particular points of each confession as well as the broad themes. He presents his research and arguments well. For the most part, this is a really strong work.
Baptist Symbolics is an essential read for students of the Particular Baptist tradition. It takes some positions on the place of Particular Baptists in relation to the Reformed tradition and the sacraments (along with connected doctrines) that I don’t think hold up. That makes this set of books a mostly excellent examination that ought to be engaged with critically. Issues notwithstanding, there is much benefit to be gained from these books. Even its harshest critics will find things to appreciate in these pages. On the whole, I recommend these books to any serious student of confessional Protestantism.
Baptist Symbolics is a thorough and ambitious project by Renihan to exposit the First London Baptist Confession (1LBC, 1644/46) and Second London Baptist Confession (2LBC, 1677/89). This is an essential undertaking in a modern Christian landscape in which the person in the pews is 1) increasingly out of line with basic orthodoxy (look no further than the trends in Ligonier’s State of Theology survey) and 2) increasingly unmoored from the history of Christ’s church. This is why confessionalism is so important, the driving urgency behind this account’s existence. Confessions themselves are often clear enough themselves, but a good commentary can add a lot of depth to understanding them. After all, it’s one thing to understand what we believe and it’s another thing to understand why we believe it. That’s where this set enters the picture.
Each volume stands as an independent study, with volume 1 examining the 1LCF and volume 2 examining the 2LCF. Volume 1 clocks in at 334 pages and volume 2 at a whopping 661 pages. So these books are dense, which may be intimidating to some. There isn’t much, if any, fluff in here, with every page meaningfully contributing to the overall work. Renihan deals with the particular points of each confession as well as the broad themes. He presents his research and arguments well. For the most part, this is a really strong work.
Baptist Symbolics is an essential read for students of the Particular Baptist tradition. It takes some positions on the place of Particular Baptists in relation to the Reformed tradition and the sacraments (along with connected doctrines) that I don’t think hold up. That makes this set of books a mostly excellent examination that ought to be engaged with critically. Issues notwithstanding, there is much benefit to be gained from these books. Even its harshest critics will find things to appreciate in these pages. On the whole, I recommend these books to any serious student of confessional Protestantism.
November 15, 2024
(In the UK this is published by Broken Wharfe as "Confessing the Faith: Volume 2", that is the version I have read, but it's the same book, so I'm posting this under the US edition to be next to other people's reviews it)
Possibly the best detailed yet lay-accessible overviews of theology I've come across. Dr Renihan's exposition of the 2nd London Baptist Confession of Faith (2LBCF) uses the 2LBCF as a framework to walk through each topic of theology explaining it (particularly with references to sources the authors of the 2LBCF would have been using), applying it and including devotional thoughts and prayers.
For the average christian wanting to add depth to their faith this is a far better choose than the more "standard" systematic theologies, it addresses the same topics in a more pious, fruitful and devotional way.
In places it leans more into "what to believe" rather than "why to believe it" compared with other theology manuals but for the average christian this approach will be more helpful. If you want to be pastor/theologian/apologist you'll need more resources but start here to build the right mindset.
Nothing in this book is particular new or radical, at no point is Dr Renihan attempting to innovate or propounding any pet theory; some may consider this a weakness, this book does not "move the conversation forward" BUT for the book's intent it is actually a major strength here is a broad handbook of the faith without idiosyncrasies or weird modern ideas that are best forgotten. That said I'm not sold on the chapter about civil government - I think I can detect David Vandrunen's finger prints; not so much in the things that are said but in those that are not BUT in the scale of the book as a whole this is a minor issue.
Possibly the best detailed yet lay-accessible overviews of theology I've come across. Dr Renihan's exposition of the 2nd London Baptist Confession of Faith (2LBCF) uses the 2LBCF as a framework to walk through each topic of theology explaining it (particularly with references to sources the authors of the 2LBCF would have been using), applying it and including devotional thoughts and prayers.
For the average christian wanting to add depth to their faith this is a far better choose than the more "standard" systematic theologies, it addresses the same topics in a more pious, fruitful and devotional way.
In places it leans more into "what to believe" rather than "why to believe it" compared with other theology manuals but for the average christian this approach will be more helpful. If you want to be pastor/theologian/apologist you'll need more resources but start here to build the right mindset.
Nothing in this book is particular new or radical, at no point is Dr Renihan attempting to innovate or propounding any pet theory; some may consider this a weakness, this book does not "move the conversation forward" BUT for the book's intent it is actually a major strength here is a broad handbook of the faith without idiosyncrasies or weird modern ideas that are best forgotten. That said I'm not sold on the chapter about civil government - I think I can detect David Vandrunen's finger prints; not so much in the things that are said but in those that are not BUT in the scale of the book as a whole this is a minor issue.
September 1, 2023
I’ve never come away with a book with more new knowledge and understanding, let alone in regards to matters relating to God, salvation, and eternity. I will be using this as a resource for a long time. The Renihans are the definitions of great scholars. Definitely difficult to read, but necessarily so, as to communicate the nuance of the doctrine held by our spiritual ancestors.
April 24, 2024
James Renihan’s book is a gem. If you truly want to get a handle on the theology of the Second London Confession of Faith, this is the book for you. Renihan expertly ties together systematic and historical theology and helps the Reformed Baptist reader understand his roots and the non-Baptist reader the place of Baptists in the larger Reformed tradition.
September 28, 2025
The exposition of the 1689 is a gift to the Church. Dr. Renihan carefully breaks down the confession and places it in its historical context. It was interesting to see how the 2LBC interacts with the WCF and Savoy Declaration. I also really liked the devotional component with scripture meditations and the prayer at the end of each chapter.
June 22, 2023
A great work to help explain the confession, which can be needed for the best of us. I would highly recommend this work for anyone interested in seriously diving into the confession.
September 21, 2023
Truly excellent. It’s a must-have resource for students of confessional baptist theology.
October 6, 2023
Illuminating
November 7, 2024
Having read Waldron's Exposition and Ventura's (multiple authors) Exposition of the Confession, I have concluded that Renihan's is my favorite. Looking forward to Volume 3.
January 19, 2025
Renihan has blessed the church more than he knows with this volume. Students and teachers of the confession will be relying on this wonderful and well-written resource for decades to come.
May 23, 2025
Good.
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews