The Making of the 1963 Baptist Faith and Message

by A. J. Smith

Publisher:

Wipf and Stock

, 2008

Overview

Questions regarding the orthodoxy of Dale Moody and Ralph Elliott propelled the Southern Baptist Convention (SBC) toward a re-evaluation of its doctrinal statement, the Baptist Faith and Message (BFM). The SBC adopted this document in 1925 under the leadership of E. Y. Mullins when faced by the challenge of modernism. This dissertation argues that the 1962 Committee on Baptist Faith and Message produced a document that expressed subtle shifts in Baptist theology. This shift had the effect of assuring the conservative base while allowing enough latitude in interpretation for those serving in the academy to teach more "progressive" views.

After a first, introductory chapter, chapters 2 and 3 trace the historical developments leading to the formation of the Committee. Biblical inspiration and interpretation were key concerns, but as chapter 3 demonstrates, other concerns drew the attention of the Committee. Chapters 4 and 5 deal with the ever-sensitive issue of the relationship between Baptist confessionalism, soul liberty, and soul competency. Each chapter examines how Baptist confessionalism functioned in relation to these concepts. Chapter 6 examines in detail the work of the Committee itself and looks at those persons or groups who influenced the outcome of the Committee's work. Of special note are the contributions made by Wayne Ward, Leo Garrett, the religion faculty of Mercer University, and the theology faculty of Southern Seminary. Chapter 7 examines four areas where the 1963 BFM altered the confessional expression of Baptist doctrines: (1) Scripture; (2) Man; (3) Salvation; (4) The Church. Chapter 8 is the conclusion. Four appendices contain early drafts of the Committee's work.

Key Features

• Examines how the 1963 Committee on BFM carried on its work under Herschel Hobbs' leadership
• Explores how theological trends shaped the confessional expression of the Southern Baptist Convention
• Intends to foster an advance in knowledge with regard to the functional role of confessions within the Baptist tradition

Contents

• Introduction
• Historical Crisis Leading to the Formation of the Committee on Baptist Faith and Message
• Concerns Faced by the Committee
• Confessional Accountability and Soul Liberty
• Confessional Accountability and Soul Competency
• The Work of the Committee on Baptist Faith and Message
• Substantive Changes in the Baptist Faith and Message
• Conclusion
• Appendices

Top Highlights

“This project focuses on three major factors: (1) the influences upon the Committee that prompted it to make the changes it did; (2) the relation of confessions to Baptist life; and (3) the theological significance of key changes made in the 1963 document.” (Pages 7–8)

“This work will argue that Herschel Hobbs through his work on the BFM sought to avert an immediate denominational split through the reformulation of key historic Baptist doctrines, wording some broadly to allow for widely divergent interpretations without sacrificing the Convention’s conservative base.⁴ Hobbs did this by a consistent application of the accepted views of soul competency and the role of Baptist confessions as a ‘consensus of opinion’ outlined in the Preamble to the 1925 BFM.⁵ In pursuit of this goal this dissertation will demonstrate what influences shaped the final form of the document, examine key theological shifts, explore the Baptist confessional heritage, and the principles of soul liberty and soul competency as these issues related to the Committee’s work.” (Page 2)

“This research project is intended to foster an advance in knowledge with regard to the functional role of confessions within the Baptist tradition, how theological trends shaped the confessional expression of the Southern Baptist Convention, and how the 1963 Committee on Baptist Faith and Message carried on its work under the leadership of Herschel H. Hobbs.” (Page 3)

“As president of the Convention, Hobbs found himself faced with a monumental task. He had to find a way to preserve the organic unity of the Convention. He also had to satisfy the conservative base that sound doctrine would be taught in the schools and published by the Sunday School Board. Furthermore, he had to ensure members of the academy that they would enjoy intellectual and academic freedom. These competing demands led to the formation of the 1962 Committee on Baptist Faith and Message. These competing demands, as will be seen in chapter 7, also resulted in a doctrinal statement which allowed for wider latitude of interpretation among Southern Baptists.” (Page 39)

Praise for The Making of the 1963 Baptist Faith and Message

A. J. Smith's work on the production of the 1963 version of the Baptist Faith and Message is fascinating. It is a case study of how culture, personality, theological conviction, and theological compromise all coalesce in producing a document that frustrated Southern Baptists on the left and on the right for 37 years. Smith shows the variety of theological dynamics that led to the necessity for such a confession and uncovers from archival material the complex interpersonal relationships that played such a large part in the final form of the "Message." This is a great read for anyone interested in Baptist theological dynamics or the nature of evangelical negotiation in the twentieth century.

--Tom J. Nettles, Professor of Historical Theology at the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, Louisville, Kentucky

Product Details

• Title: The Making of the 1963 Baptist Faith and Message
• Author: A. J. Smith
• Publisher: Wipf and Stock
• Print Publication Date: 2008
• Logos Release Date: 2019
• Pages: 266
• Era: era:contemporary
• Language: English
• Resources: 1
• Format: Digital › Logos Reader Edition
• Subjects: Baptist faith and message; Southern Baptist Convention › Creeds; Southern Baptist Convention › Doctrines; Southern Baptist Convention › History
• ISBNs: 9781498273756, 9781498249980, 9781556354267, 1498273750, 1498249981, 1556354266
• Resource ID: LLS:9781498273756
• Resource Type: Monograph
• Metadata Last Updated: 2024-03-06T20:57:28Z