Baptists' Bible: Inaugural Volume

Thanks to Mikeal Parsons for sending me news of the first volume in what promises to be a fascinating series.  The Baptists' Bible series is an attempt to describe aspects of the history of Baptist engagement with and interpretation of Scripture: a denominationally focussed reception history if you will.  The first volume was released last week at the 400th anniversary celebrations of the beginnings of the Baptist movement in Amsterdam and is entitled The Acts of the Apostles: Four Centuries of Baptist Interpretation.  It is edited by Mikeal and published by Baylor University Press.  My own view is that Baptists ought to have a mildly sceptical view of Acts, not least its 'early-catholic' tendencies (and yes I know that the concept is outdated, but I still think that those Germans had a point).  The more recent Baptist reading in the UK is perhaps better characterized as a myth of origins, as if Acts tells us what the New Testament church was really like, and therefore what the church today should be really like.  I am equally suspicious of that strategy.

Anyway, congratulations to Mikeal and Baylor for launching what promises to be a fascinating series of volumes.

Comments

[Sean]

Doug,
Hmmmmmmm could be.....but what if we are right?

[Sean]

Hi Paul,
thanks for the correction - what was I thinking?

[Paul Lavender]

Sean. Interesting that the first volume is on Acts - do you think this reflects a preoccupation with Pentecostalism in some corners of Baptist ecclesiology? Have been sent a copy of David Peterson's commentary on Acts as a freebie. Interested to know your thoughts ahead of my engagement with it! Have previously relied on Jimmy Dunn and FF Bruce...
Incidentally, the event in Amsterday was an EBF/BWA one celebrating 400 years of Baptist life, Helwys, Smyth et al! BWA was founded in 1905.....

[Doug Chaplin]

OTOH if Acts and indeed the rest of the NT IMO is "early catholic" perhaps Baptists are simply wrong. :)