Laborers in God's Vineyard: William Kiffen and the Formation of Seventeenth-Century Particular Baptist Associations

Abstract

William Kiffen quickly became a leader among Particular Baptists in mid-seventeenth-century England. His role among them brings clarification for why Baptists decided to start associations. This dissertation seeks to demonstrate that Kiffen saw his work as a local church pastor to necessarily include working with other Particular Baptist pastors and churches, leading him to a place of revered ministerial authority among the churches. For Kiffen, his associational role did not contradict his understanding of congregational church government but rather complemented it. Chapter 1 is an introduction which includes a summary of Kiffen research, demonstrating the need to highlight his associational work. Chapter 2 is a discussion on the scholarship surrounding the formation of Particular Baptist associations, assessing the work of W. T. Whitley, Robert Torbet, Hugh Wamble, B. R. White, and Ian Birch. Birch agrees with Wamble and White that the Particular Baptists were influenced not by Cromwell’s New Model Army but rather the ecclesiology of Henry Jacob. The Jacob theory makes more sense of the historical data. In addition, this chapter examines the influence of other traditions on the formation of Particular Baptist associations. Chapter 3 is an investigation of the roles of Henry Jessey and Kiffen as the two key leaders of early Particular Baptist associational life. This chapter also includes a critical analysis of Matthew Bingham’s thesis about early Baptist identity. Chapter 4 is an exposition of article 47 of the First London Confession, which reflects early Particular Baptist thought on associations. Kiffen spearheaded the composition of this Confession, leading Particular Baptists to think of all their churches as one body in Christ, who all needed one another to thrive. Chapter 5 is a survey and analysis of Kiffen as a model of associational work throughout the middle decades of the seventeenth century. This chapter ultimately shows Kiffen living out his London Confession beliefs and demonstrates his prominent role among Particular Baptist brethren. Chapter 6 is an exposition of the Second London Confession’s 26.14–15, which reflects Kiffen’s mature doctrine of association. The Particular Baptists believed there would be occasions where it was necessary to give counsel and help to one another through messengers, and they saw their associations as being to their own advantage. Chapter 7 concludes with a summary of Kiffen’s role and suggestions for future research.