Revise base confession to Second London Baptist Confession (1677/89) #1689

Open

Particular Baptists wants to merge 2lbcf-1689 into wcf-1646 · opened 1677 · last updated 1689

Conversation 1

Files changed 12

📝 Summary

This PR revises the Westminster Confession of Faith (1646) into the Second London Baptist Confession of Faith (1677/1689). The 2LBCF largely follows the structure and wording of the WCF (often via the Savoy Declaration), while introducing distinctive Baptist revisions on the covenants, the nature of the church, baptism, and the civil magistrate.

Key doctrinal changes:

Scripture (Ch. 1) — Adds an opening affirmation that Scripture is the only sufficient rule; replaces “good and necessary consequence” with “necessarily contained in the Holy Scripture.”
Covenant (Ch. 7) — Significant rewrite reflecting Baptist covenant theology (no formal “covenant of works” language in the same way; clearer distinction between the old and new covenants).
New chapter — Inserts “Of the Gospel and the Extent of the Grace Thereof” (Ch. 20 in 2LBCF, taken from Savoy).
Church (Ch. 26) — Moves from Presbyterian visible-church language to congregational particular churches of baptized believers.
Baptism (Ch. 29) — Restricts baptism to professing believers by immersion only; removes infant baptism and the language of baptismal regeneration/sealing for infants.
Civil Magistrate (Ch. 24) — Softens the magistrate’s authority in matters of religion compared with WCF 23.
Numerous smaller wording adjustments throughout (Holy Ghost → Holy Spirit, minor clarifications, etc.).

+ ~1,240 − ~890

across 12 significant files

📚 Sources & Notes

Base text: original 1646 Westminster Confession of Faith.
Compare text: 1677/1689 London Baptist Confession (as commonly printed).
Side-by-side reference used for accuracy: James N. Anderson’s tabular comparison.

Major differences (whole phrases/sentences) shown in red/green. Trivial spelling, capitalization, and “to/unto” differences are mostly elided for readability.

Changed files

📄 01-of-the-holy-scriptures.md +18 −12

📄 07-of-gods-covenant.md +42 −38

📄 20-of-the-gospel-and-extent-of-grace.md +28 −0

📄 26-of-the-church.md +56 −48

📄 29-of-baptism.md +22 −31

📄 24-of-the-civil-magistrate.md +19 −27

📄 other-notable-wording-changes.md +35 −28

WCF Ch. I 01-of-the-holy-scriptures.md

major

@@ Chapter I — Of the Holy Scriptures @@

            1
            −Although the light of nature, and the works of creation and providence, do so far manifest the goodness, wisdom, and power of God, as to leave men inexcusable; yet are they not sufficient to give that knowledge of God, and of his will, which is necessary unto salvation; therefore it pleased the Lord, at sundry times, and in divers manners, to reveal himself, and to declare that his will unto his Church; and afterwards … to commit the same wholly unto writing; which maketh the holy Scripture to be most necessary; those former ways of God's revealing his will unto his people being now ceased.
          
            1
            +The Holy Scripture is the only sufficient, certain, and infallible rule of all saving knowledge, faith, and obedience, although the light of nature, and the works of creation and providence do so far manifest the goodness, wisdom, and power of God, as to leave men inexcusable; yet are they not sufficient to give that knowledge of God and his will which is necessary unto salvation. Therefore it pleased the Lord at sundry times and in divers manners to reveal himself, and to declare that his will unto his church; and afterward … to commit the same wholly unto writing; which maketh the Holy Scriptures to be most necessary, those former ways of God's revealing his will unto his people being now ceased.
          
            …
             …
          
            6
            −The whole counsel of God, concerning all things necessary for his own glory, man's salvation, faith, and life, is either expressly set down in Scripture, or by good and necessary consequence may be deduced from Scripture: unto which nothing at any time is to be added…
          
            6
            +The whole counsel of God concerning all things necessary for his own glory, man's salvation, faith and life, is either expressly set down or necessarily contained in the Holy Scripture: unto which nothing at any time is to be added…
          
            …
             …
          
            10
            −The Supreme Judge, by which all controversies of religion are to be determined … can be no other but the Holy Spirit speaking in the Scripture.
          
            10
            +The supreme judge, by which all controversies of religion are to be determined … can be no other but the Holy Scripture delivered by the Spirit, into which Scripture so delivered, our faith is finally resolved.

WCF Ch. VII 07-of-gods-covenant.md

major – covenant theology

@@ Chapter VII — Of God's Covenant with Man / Of God's Covenant @@

            1
            −The distance between God and the creature is so great, that although reasonable creatures do owe obedience unto him as their Creator, yet they could never have any fruition of him as their blessedness and reward, but by some voluntary condescension on God's part, which he hath been pleased to express by way of covenant.
          
            1
            +The distance between God and the creature is so great, that although reasonable creatures do owe obedience to him as their creator, yet they could never have attained the reward of life but by some voluntary condescension on God's part, which he hath been pleased to express by way of covenant.
          
            2
            −The first covenant made with man was a covenant of works, wherein life was promised to Adam, and in him to his posterity, upon condition of perfect and personal obedience.
          
            2
            +Moreover, man having brought himself under the curse of the law by his fall, it pleased the Lord to make a covenant of grace, wherein he freely offereth unto sinners life and salvation by Jesus Christ, requiring of them faith in him, that they may be saved; and promising to give unto all those that are ordained unto eternal life, his Holy Spirit, to make them willing and able to believe.
          
            3
            −Man by his fall having made himself incapable of life by that covenant, the Lord was pleased to make a second, commonly called the covenant of grace: wherein he freely offereth unto sinners life and salvation by Jesus Christ, requiring of them faith in him, that they may be saved, and promising to give unto all those that are ordained unto eternal life, his Holy Spirit, to make them willing and able to believe.
          
            4–6
            −[WCF §§4–6 on the substance of the covenant of grace being the same under the law and the gospel, with different administrations; the covenant of grace revealed first to Adam, then more fully under Moses, and most fully under Christ…]
          
            3
            +This covenant is revealed in the gospel; first of all to Adam in the promise of salvation by the seed of the woman, and afterwards by farther steps, until the full discovery thereof was completed in the New Testament; and it is founded in that eternal covenant transaction that was between the Father and the Son about the redemption of the elect; and it is alone by the grace of this covenant that all the posterity of fallen Adam that ever were saved did obtain life and blessed immortality, man being now utterly incapable of acceptance with God upon those terms on which Adam stood in his state of innocency.

20-of-the-gospel-and-extent-of-grace.md

new file (from Savoy)

@@ Chapter XX — Of the Gospel and of the Extent of the Grace Thereof @@

1 +The covenant of works being broken by sin, and made unprofitable unto life, God was pleased to give forth the promise of Christ, the seed of the woman, as the means of calling the elect, and begetting in them faith and repentance; in this promise the gospel, as to the substance of it, was revealed, and [is] therein effectual for the conversion and salvation of sinners.

2 +This promise of Christ, and salvation by him, is revealed only by the Word of God; neither do the works of creation or providence, with the light of nature, make discovery of Christ, or of grace by him, so much as in a general or obscure way; much less that men destitute of the revelation of him by the promise or gospel, should be enabled thereby to attain saving faith or repentance.

3 +The revelation of the gospel unto sinners, made in divers times and by sundry parts, with the addition of promises and precepts for the obedience required therein, as to the nations and persons to whom it is granted, is merely of the sovereign will and good pleasure of God; not being annexed by virtue of any promise to the due improvement of men's natural abilities, by virtue of common light received without it, which none ever did make, or can do so; and therefore in all ages, the preaching of the gospel has been granted unto persons and nations, as to the extent or straitening of it, in great variety, according to the counsel of the will of God.

4 +Although the gospel be the only outward means of revealing Christ and saving grace, and is, as such, abundantly sufficient thereunto; yet that men who are dead in trespasses may be born again, quickened or regenerated, there is moreover necessary an effectual insuperable work of the Holy Spirit upon the whole soul, for the producing in them a new spiritual life; without which no other means will effect their conversion unto God.

WCF Ch. XXV 26-of-the-church.md

major – polity

@@ Of the Church @@

            1–2
            −The catholic or universal church, which is invisible, consists of the whole number of the elect… The visible church, which is also catholic or universal under the gospel… consists of all those throughout the world that profess the true religion, together with their children…
          
            1
            +The catholic or universal church, which (with respect to the internal work of the Spirit and truth of grace) may be called invisible, consists of the whole number of the elect, that have been, are, or shall be gathered into one, under Christ the head thereof; and is the spouse, the body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all.
          
            2
            +All persons throughout the world, professing the faith of the gospel, and obedience unto God by Christ according unto it, not destroying their own profession by any errors everting the foundation, or unholiness of conversation, are and may be called visible saints; and of such ought all particular congregations to be constituted.
          
            6
            −There is no other head of the church but the Lord Jesus Christ: nor can the Pope of Rome in any sense be head thereof; but is that Antichrist…
          
            4
            +The Lord Jesus Christ is the Head of the church, in whom, by the appointment of the Father, all power for the calling, institution, order or government of the church, is invested in a supreme and sovereign manner; neither can the Pope of Rome in any sense be head thereof, but is that antichrist…
          
            5–7+
            +[Extensive new material on particular churches / congregations of baptized believers, their officers (pastors/teachers, elders, deacons), the right of each congregation to choose its own officers, the independence of particular churches while maintaining communion, etc.]

WCF Ch. XXVIII 29-of-baptism.md

major – credo-baptism

@@ Of Baptism @@

            1
            −Baptism is a sacrament of the New Testament, ordained by Jesus Christ, not only for the solemn admission of the party baptized into the visible church, but also to be unto him a sign and seal of the covenant of grace, of his ingrafting into Christ, of regeneration, of remission of sins, and of his giving up unto God, through Jesus Christ, to walk in newness of life: which sacrament is, by Christ's own appointment, to be continued in his church until the end of the world.
          
            1
            +Baptism is an ordinance of the New Testament, ordained by Jesus Christ, to be unto the party baptized, a sign of his fellowship with him, in his death and resurrection; of his being engrafted into him; of remission of sins; and of giving up into God, through Jesus Christ, to live and walk in newness of life.
          
            4
            −Not only those that do actually profess faith in and obedience unto Christ, but also the infants of one or both believing parents, are to be baptized.
          
            2
            +Those who do actually profess repentance towards God, faith in, and obedience to, our Lord Jesus Christ, are the only proper subjects of this ordinance.
          
            3
            −Dipping of the person into the water is not necessary; but baptism is rightly administered by pouring or sprinkling water upon the person.
          
            3–4
            +The outward element to be used in this ordinance is water, wherein the party is to be baptized, in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Immersion, or dipping of the person in water, is necessary to the due administration of this ordinance.

WCF Ch. XXIII 24-of-the-civil-magistrate.md

major

@@ Of the Civil Magistrate @@

3 −The civil magistrate may not assume to himself the administration of the Word and sacraments, or the power of the keys of the kingdom of heaven: yet he hath authority, and it is his duty, to take order, that unity and peace be preserved in the Church, that the truth of God be kept pure and entire; that all blasphemies and heresies be suppressed; all corruptions and abuses in worship and discipline prevented or reformed; and all the ordinances of God duly settled, administered, and observed. For the better effecting whereof, he hath power to call synods, to be present at them, and to provide that whatsoever is transacted in them be according to the mind of God.

3 +Civil magistrates being set up by God for the ends aforesaid; subjection, in all lawful things commanded by them, ought to be yielded by us in the Lord, not only for wrath, but for conscience sake; and we ought to make supplications and prayers for kings and all that are in authority, that under them we may live a quiet and peaceable life, in all godliness and honesty.

(2LBCF removes the positive duty of the magistrate to suppress heresies, reform worship, and call synods.)

other-notable-wording-changes.md

minor / wording

@@ Selected smaller revisions throughout @@

            −“Holy Ghost” (frequent)
          
            +“Holy Spirit”
          
            Ch. 3 §7
            −The rest of mankind, God was pleased … to pass by, and to ordain them to dishonour and wrath for their sin…
          
            Ch. 3 §3
            +… others being left to act in their sin to their just condemnation, to the praise of his glorious justice.  (rephrased; the explicit “pass by” language is softened/relocated)
          
            Ch. 11 §1
            −… by imputing the obedience and satisfaction of Christ unto them…
          
            Ch. 11 §1
            +… by imputing Christ's active obedience unto the whole law, and passive obedience in his death for their whole and sole righteousness…
          
            Ch. 25 (WCF)
            −[Chapter on Marriage and Divorce remains similar, but 2LBCF places it as Ch. 25 and adjusts some language on divorce.]
          
            +2LBCF also omits or heavily revises WCF material on synods/councils as binding courts of the church in the Presbyterian sense, consistent with congregational polity.