Featured Was William Tyndale a Baptist?

Ive always thought so.

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KJV-only advocate Phil Stringer claimed that Tyndale "took many Baptist positions" in doctrine such as "teaching the independence of local churches, priesthood of all believers, only two offices for the church--pastor and deacon, baptism by immersion of believers only, and sole authority of Scripture" (Faithful Baptist Witness, pp. 106-107).

William Tyndale pointed out that Christ "ordained in his kingdom and congregation two officers" (Expositions, p. 253). In one of his books, Tyndale described baptism as "the plunging into the water" (Doctrinal Treatises, p. 253). Tyndale also clearly stated that the work of baptism "justifieth us not" (Expositions, p. 90).

A few have even claimed that Tyndale was a Baptist (Ford, Origin of the Baptists, p. 32; Davis, History of the Welsh Baptists, p. 21), but most church historians would probably dispute that claim as being unproven and unlikely. He does not seem to have been identified as a Baptist in his day by his friends nor by his enemies. Those closely associated with Tyndale do not seem to have been identified as being Baptists.

William Tyndale was also accused of holding Lutheran views, especially because he translated and used some of the notes in Luther's Bible. For example, the Bishop of London Tonstal accused him of being a "maintainer of Luther's sect" (Doctrinal Treatises, p. xxxii). John Eadie noted that "Sir Thomas More, King Henry, Lee, and Cochlaeus regarded Tyndale as a promoter of Lutheranism, and his Testament was loosely spoken of as a translation of Luther's German version" (English Bible, p. 122). Eberhardt also claimed that "Tyndale would edit the Lutheran version of the English Bible" (Summary of Catholic History, II, p. 182). MacCulloch described Tyndale as the Lutherans’ “most celebrated English-born sympathizer” (Thomas Cranmer, p. 68).

In contrast, John Eadie concluded that "it is against all evidence to call Tyndale Lutheran" (English Bible, p. 122). Richard Lovett wrote: “Only ignorance or willful prejudice can affirm that Tyndale’s text is merely a translation of Luther” (Printed English Bible, p. 32). Tyndale himself noted: “When he (Thomas More) saith, ‘Tyndale was confederate with Luther,’ that is not truth” (Answer, p. 147).

 

That’s interesting, I’m hunting through manuscripts attempting to see if Roger Williams was really a Baptist... but that’s a subject for another time. ​

 

John Bunyan may not have been a Baptist.

 

How strict do you define baptist?

 

Nevertheless chose to found a Baptist church. Which he did later abandon.

 

Did he now.....do you have anything to substantiate that claim? I could not find anything that clearly stated that.

 

What I understand he is credited for founding a Baptist Church of Providence, Rhode Island in 1638. He left the Baptists to become a "Seeker."

 

Baptists weren't invented til C. 1609, while Tyndale was murdered in 1536. So, no, Tyndale couldn'ta been a Baptist.

 

Tyndale had a lot of Doctrine that was very Baptistic especially for his day, and the fact that he lived before what many think as th beginning of the Baptist movement

 

Baptist as a label. New Testament Christianity is the teachings of the New Testament beginning in the first century.

 

There have been people practicing what's now Baptist doctrines from the beginning of Christianity, such as recognizing Jesus as Head of the Church & the Bible as the highest earthly authority in all matters of faith/worship.

 

First century Christianity is Baptist teachings else Baptist is not Baptist.

 

Any good biography of Roger Williams will point that out. The church still exists today.

Edwin Gausted's biography (well footnoted to original sources) of Roger Williams was an outstanding read 30 years ago when I read it in seminary. They have repacked it a few different times (possibly some updates), but it is widely available.

 

There was No RCC then, for sure!

 

does it really matter?

 

No