Back to Baptist Overview Confessions & Catechisms

From the First London to the Abstract of Principles.

Baptists are sometimes called a non-creedal people, yet they have written confessions and catechisms from the beginning. The first Particular Baptist confession appeared in 1644; the Second London Confession of 1689 became the most influential; American Baptists adopted it at Philadelphia in 1742 and mellowed it at New Hampshire in 1833. This page maps the texts.

Baptist ClaimConfessions summarize the church's reading of Scripture and give account of the faith, but Scripture alone is the infallible rule.

Main ReceiptsFirst London (1644/46), Standard (1660), Orthodox (1678), Second London (1689), Keach's Catechism, Philadelphia (1742), New Hampshire (1833), Abstract of Principles (1858).

Live DisputeSome Baptists treat confessions as binding church standards; others reject them as man-made creeds. The debate is as old as the movement.

Component Map

8 pieces that have to be kept distinct.

First London Confession (1644/46)Seven Particular Baptist churches defend believer's baptism and immersion and locate Baptist doctrine within Reformed orthodoxy.

Standard Confession (1660)General Baptists answer to Charles II for their faith, order, and liberty of conscience.

Orthodox Confession (1678)A Particular Baptist defense of trinitarian and Reformed doctrine alongside believers' baptism.

Second London Confession (1689)The most influential Baptist confession, following the Westminster Confession while altering the church, baptism, and magistracy.

Keach's Catechism (1689)Benjamin Keach's Westminster-style catechism with Baptist baptism and church doctrine.

Philadelphia Confession (1742)The 1689 confession as adopted in America, with added articles on psalmody and laying on of hands.

New Hampshire Confession (1833)A moderate statement that softened Calvinist sharpness and became a common American Baptist standard.

Abstract of Principles (1858)The concise doctrinal standard adopted by The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary at its founding.

Receipt Trail

Start here before drawing conclusions.

First London (1644)The pioneer Particular Baptist confession of faith and the defense of immersion.

Second London (1689)The classic Particular Baptist statement that defined English-speaking Calvinistic Baptist faith.

New Hampshire (1833)The moderate confession that became the basis of many American Baptist church covenants.