The Beginning of Baptist Ecclesiology

"At long last, there is a substantial book-length treatment of Thomas Helwys. For far too long he has been overshadowed by his erstwhile coworker John Smyth; Jones restores Helwys to his place of true significance as the pioneer of being Baptist. A fine study."

--Michael A. G. Haykin, Professor of Church History, The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary

 

"In this perceptive volume, Jones has demonstrated that, while Thomas Helwys led a missionary people and wrote one of the most important books on liberty of conscience ever written by any Baptist anywhere, there is, nevertheless, a significant theological contribution in Helwys that has often been overlooked . . . This salient read will leave the reader with a far more comprehensive understanding of the development of Baptist work."

--Paige Patterson, President, Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary

 

"Following Helwys, early Baptist ecclesiology was covenantal, congregational, and credobaptist. This book will be helpful to scholars interested in studying--and preserving--this sort of distinctively Baptist ecclesiology in a post-denominational age."

--Nathan A. Finn, Dean, School of Theology and Missions, Professor of Theological Studies, Union University

 

"Marvin Jones succeeds in The Beginning of Baptist Ecclesiology in providing a fresh voice to the role of Thomas Helwys in Baptist history. Often overshadowed by John Smyth, his intermittent Baptist predecessor, this volume provides a helpful retrieval service to position rightly the greater influence and courage of Helwys. Students, scholars, and pastors owe a debt of gratitude to Dr. Jones for this helpful book."

--Jason G. Duesing, Provost and Associate Professor of Historical Theology, Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, Kansas City, Missouri