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A New Exposition of the London Baptist Confession of Faith of 1689
For centuries, Baptists have published confessions of faith as formal statements of their beliefs. Chief among these is the Second London Baptist Confession of Faith of 1689. This doctrinal statement is a spiritual treasure trove worthy of our fresh attention. In this new study, more than twenty contributors unpack its timeless biblical truths, ‘things which are most surely believed among us’ (Luke 1:1). Our prayer is that the Lord will use this volume to richly edify and sanctify His people worldwide, and to assist the churches in pursuing biblical holiness and doctrinal purity. May these labors send God’s people back again and again to the Bible, which is—as the confession states—the ‘only sufficient, certain, and infallible rule of all saving knowledge, faith, and obedience’ (1.1). Includes contributions
- GenresTheology
568 pages, Hardcover
Published January 17, 2023
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
June 7, 2024
A clear, easy to read exposition of the 1689 which every church member from a Reformed Baptist church should read to better understand the confession.
Written by a variety of Reformed Baptist pastors and edited by Rob Ventura, it provides a great pastoral application to the Christian faith.
The exposition breaks down the paragraphs in the confession to clearly explain the doctrines and the relevance to Christians today in a pastoral manner.
There is a multitude of practical applications throughout the book for the Christian to apply to their life.
Written by a variety of Reformed Baptist pastors and edited by Rob Ventura, it provides a great pastoral application to the Christian faith.
The exposition breaks down the paragraphs in the confession to clearly explain the doctrines and the relevance to Christians today in a pastoral manner.
There is a multitude of practical applications throughout the book for the Christian to apply to their life.
August 2, 2024
Another take on the doctrines contained within the 1689 London Baptist confession.
I enjoyed the additions that gave the confession pastoral applications for each doctrine.
As chapters were written by numerous authors, some were more impacting than others. There were moments where I was brought to my knees in worship and gratefulness to God for the things revealed or more clearly stated than I previously understood. Expounding biblical truth (which is ultimately objective truth) about our wonderful God, salvation, and His Church.
A joy to read alongside waldron and Renihans Expositions
I enjoyed the additions that gave the confession pastoral applications for each doctrine.
As chapters were written by numerous authors, some were more impacting than others. There were moments where I was brought to my knees in worship and gratefulness to God for the things revealed or more clearly stated than I previously understood. Expounding biblical truth (which is ultimately objective truth) about our wonderful God, salvation, and His Church.
A joy to read alongside waldron and Renihans Expositions
May 21, 2024
This is a wonderful exposition of the Confession , This work is powerful it will not only help you with the theological truths in this volume but it will drive your heart to an humble heart that adores God and seeks to praise him in Doxology :)
Romans 11:36
[36] For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be glory forever. Amen.
Romans 11:36
[36] For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be glory forever. Amen.
July 11, 2025
A two year book study that I did with some brothers and it was a very rich experience going through the historical faith of the Baptist. Even though I don’t agree with everything but it has sharpened my doctrinal understanding of the bible. I have a feeling that I will go back to this book a lot in the future.
September 8, 2025
This was difficult to read and very boring
May 10, 2023
Ventura edits a series of essays on each chapter of the London Baptist Confession of Faith (1689) written by various Reformed Baptist pastors. It was well edited, and the thorough nature of the exposition was appreciated. However, with the variety of writers, some chapters are clearer than others. A useful resource for any student of historic Baptist theology.
January 30, 2023
Knowing and explaining what we believe is vital for any Christian. Throughout history, solid believers have worked hard to set down for us clear, thorough, and yet accessible summaries of our faith. These godly men have not sought to override the authority of Scripture or to elevate their views to the level of divine inspiration, but to serve the church by summarizing and clarifying biblical doctrine. Historically, the London Baptist Confession of Faith of 1689 has become a significant example of such writing, especially for Baptists.
Unfortunately, as time passes, English-speaking Christians may find themselves less and less familiar with documents like the 1689. Today we use words differently and face different challenges to faithful doctrine. Culturally, our distance from the reformation makes some of the writing in the 1689 such as that which focuses on a response to Roman Catholicism more difficult for some to understand. If we do not want to lose sight of the inestimable value of the Second London Baptist Confession, we need faithful teachers to help us to see the depth and beauty of the document.
Christians, therefore, should be grateful for works like the newly released A New Exposition of the London Baptist Confession of Faith of 1689 edited by Rob Ventura. Ventura and a host of other authors have given the church a gift by writing essays for us on each chapter of the 1689. These chapters help us to understand the doctrine, the language, and the historical context behind the words of the confession . the authors show us not only what is being said in the 1689, but also why it matters and how it may apply in our current context.
Reading through this work, I found myself deeply encouraged at a number of points. As authors helped to clarify and even simplify difficult theological concepts, my heart was blessed. When difficult doctrinal issues were on the table—think things like divine impassibility, the trinity, or the hypostatic union—the authors neither shied away nor made the topic more complicated.
Working through 32 essays on the 32 chapters of the 1689, I did not find myself always agreeing with the authors in every respect. But I would by no means suggest that such should prevent anyone from giving this book a place on their shelves. Sometimes I found myself wishing the chapters were longer, but this is not a truly fair criticism. Many of the topics covered in single chapters are topics about which multi-volume works have been written. While I would expect any reader to have a single issue or two where he or she would disagree with the authors in this work, I would also expect that faithful Baptists will find themselves both in agreement and sweetly encouraged by what they read in every chapter.
I would recommend this book to a variety of folks. Church elders could use this book to strengthen their doctrinal understanding and agreement. Leaders might want to use the chapters of this book as material for theological Sunday School classes or home groups. Church leaders and members considering adopting a more solid confession of faith would find this book a tremendous help. I would strongly recommend this book to any Baptist who is unfamiliar with the Second London Baptist Confession, as this document is vital to understanding what we believe, who we are, and where we came from. I would also recommend this book to non-Baptists as a way to see just how similar the 1689 is to other significant confessions such as the Westminster Confession (1646) and the Savoy Declaration (1658) while also gaining an understanding of where and why we differ.
** Disclaimer: I received a free copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. **
Unfortunately, as time passes, English-speaking Christians may find themselves less and less familiar with documents like the 1689. Today we use words differently and face different challenges to faithful doctrine. Culturally, our distance from the reformation makes some of the writing in the 1689 such as that which focuses on a response to Roman Catholicism more difficult for some to understand. If we do not want to lose sight of the inestimable value of the Second London Baptist Confession, we need faithful teachers to help us to see the depth and beauty of the document.
Christians, therefore, should be grateful for works like the newly released A New Exposition of the London Baptist Confession of Faith of 1689 edited by Rob Ventura. Ventura and a host of other authors have given the church a gift by writing essays for us on each chapter of the 1689. These chapters help us to understand the doctrine, the language, and the historical context behind the words of the confession . the authors show us not only what is being said in the 1689, but also why it matters and how it may apply in our current context.
Reading through this work, I found myself deeply encouraged at a number of points. As authors helped to clarify and even simplify difficult theological concepts, my heart was blessed. When difficult doctrinal issues were on the table—think things like divine impassibility, the trinity, or the hypostatic union—the authors neither shied away nor made the topic more complicated.
Working through 32 essays on the 32 chapters of the 1689, I did not find myself always agreeing with the authors in every respect. But I would by no means suggest that such should prevent anyone from giving this book a place on their shelves. Sometimes I found myself wishing the chapters were longer, but this is not a truly fair criticism. Many of the topics covered in single chapters are topics about which multi-volume works have been written. While I would expect any reader to have a single issue or two where he or she would disagree with the authors in this work, I would also expect that faithful Baptists will find themselves both in agreement and sweetly encouraged by what they read in every chapter.
I would recommend this book to a variety of folks. Church elders could use this book to strengthen their doctrinal understanding and agreement. Leaders might want to use the chapters of this book as material for theological Sunday School classes or home groups. Church leaders and members considering adopting a more solid confession of faith would find this book a tremendous help. I would strongly recommend this book to any Baptist who is unfamiliar with the Second London Baptist Confession, as this document is vital to understanding what we believe, who we are, and where we came from. I would also recommend this book to non-Baptists as a way to see just how similar the 1689 is to other significant confessions such as the Westminster Confession (1646) and the Savoy Declaration (1658) while also gaining an understanding of where and why we differ.
** Disclaimer: I received a free copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. **
September 1, 2023
This is an excellent commentary of the 1689 Baptist confession that members of all reformed denominations should read. Especially Pastors and Elders.
I have been increasingly disappointed in the ecclesiology of Evangelicalism in practice and the consumerist attitude “members” have to the local Church and the duty of professing believers.
Reading the chapters on the Sabbath, Church, Worship and the means of Grace/Sacraments, make the Baptist position crystal clear.
This new commentary is a gift to the church that has lost its corporate sensibility.
If you are a Christian with Baptist conviction, read this and back your claim.
I have been increasingly disappointed in the ecclesiology of Evangelicalism in practice and the consumerist attitude “members” have to the local Church and the duty of professing believers.
Reading the chapters on the Sabbath, Church, Worship and the means of Grace/Sacraments, make the Baptist position crystal clear.
This new commentary is a gift to the church that has lost its corporate sensibility.
If you are a Christian with Baptist conviction, read this and back your claim.
February 19, 2023
This is a great exposition of the 1689 LBCF, although I consider Sam Waldron's book a sufficient reference source, I would highly recommend this work as well. As a Reformed Baptist I am thankful for the contributions found within. The writing is presented with the laymen in mind and new believers as well as the mature saints will glean much from its pages. This will make for wonderful Sunday school material and would be highly recommended to the pastor who wishes to preach through what I believe to be the best of the Reformed Confessions. Top Notch!
October 11, 2024
An easy flowing book that builds upon (and includes) works from other scholars such as Dr. Sam Waldron who have deposited the confession over the last 40 or so years. I found it gave a solid defense of the 1689 and increased my respect for those who wrote it. While I do slightly disagree with the arguments made against pre-millennialism in the last chapter, I found it challenging and still sensible in order to defend the authors’ amill views. I would definitely recommend this book alongside Waldron’s “Modern Exposition”.
January 19, 2023
A very helpful and readable aid to those who hold to the 1689 Confession. Though I am a contributor, I am thankful for the wide range of experienced pastors who who implemented these truths into their personal and corporate lives.
October 6, 2023
This is a definite improvement over A Modern Exposition, and that was a 5-star book as well. This is a very helpful volume.
I do wish that they had found writers who agreed with all the paragraphs on which they were writing. (Particularly, I have infants dying in infancy in mind.)
I do wish that they had found writers who agreed with all the paragraphs on which they were writing. (Particularly, I have infants dying in infancy in mind.)
July 22, 2024
What an excellent and simple to understand exposition! A great tool to have at hand. It’s packed with theology and practical applications. This book makes it clear why it’s so important to have a confession of faith.
Thank you to all the brothers in Christ who worked on this!
Thank you to all the brothers in Christ who worked on this!
June 11, 2024
Good content, but would have benefitted from more consistent editing/format
January 19, 2025
Excellent. All students of the confession should read this.
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews