Confessions of the Faith

Theology & History

Fellowship Church
Fall 2022

Description: Jesus asked his disciples, “Who do you say that I am?” Peter confessed, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God” (Matthew 16:13–17). Christians throughout history have adopted this question-answer format to summarize statements of faith in writings known as creeds, confessions, or catechisms. They were written to guide the health of local churches and to answer challenges and heresies given by the world. In this class, we will use our rich, historic tradition to learn more about God, the life of the church, and principles that guide daily devotion.

Books

• The Creedal Imperative by Carl R. Trueman

• The Story of Creeds and Confessions: Tracing the Development of the Christian Faith by Fairbairn & Reeves

• The Trinity: An Introduction by Scott Swain

Articles

• “Creeds and Confessions 101” by Crossway

• “The Work of the Trinity in Salvation” by Crossway

Weekly Resources

early church history

Week 1: Why are Confessions Important?

• “Confessions: Old or New?” by Bobby Jamieson, 9 Marks

• “Confessions: Thick or Thin?” by Jonathan Leeman, 9 Marks

• “A Few Creeds Plus the Bible: How to Shepherd a Church toward the Use of Confessions” by Raymond Johnson, 9Marks

Week 2: Biblical Creeds & Other Early Creeds

• Didache (version 1) (version 2) & Commentary by Shawn Wilhite

• Apostle’s Creed

• Athanasian Creed

• Descriptions of Confessions: “Creeds and Confessions 101” by Crossway

• “The Value and Role of Creeds and Confessions” by Carl Trueman, The Gospel Coalition

• The Creeds of Christendom with a History and Critical Notes by Philip Schaff

Week 3: Seven Ecumenical Councils

• “The Work of the Trinity in Salvation” by Crossway

• “The Value of the Seven Ecumenical Councils” by Matthew Hoskin, The Davenant Institute

• “Quick Guide to Christian Denominations” by Trevin Wax, The Gospel Coalition

• “Ecumenical Councils,” Theopedia.com

Week 4: Nicene Creed

• Nicene Creed

• “The Nicene Creed: We Believe in One Holy Catholic Church & One Baptism for the Forgiveness of Sins” by Emmaus Reformed Baptist Church

Week 5: Chalcedon

• “The Chalcedonian Definition” [& Explanation] Donald Fairbairn, Credo Mag

• “Why Must Jesus Be both Human and Divine?” by Erik Raymond, The Gospel Coalition

• “The Abrahamic Covenant” by John Piper, DesiringGod.org

• “How Jesus Fulfills the Abrahamic Covenant” by Brady Walcott, Grace Baptist Church

Reformation

Week 6: Reformation

• “The Five Solas” by Matthew Barrett, The Gospel Coalition

• “Nature Can Teach: A Biblical Introduction to Natural Law,” by Steven Wedgeworth, Desiring God.

• Confessions & Catechisms: Augsburg Confession (1530), Belgic Confession (1561), 39 Articles (1562), Heidelberg Catechism (1563)

• Brief History of Protestant Confessions: “Protestant Creeds and Confessions” by Ryan Reeves, Ligonier Ministries

Week 7: Canons of Dort & Five Points of Calvinism

• Canons of Dort (1618–19)

• “What We Believe About the Five Points of Calvinism” by John Piper, Desiring God

• TULIP lessons by John Piper (Lesson 1 is a great summary with verses & Q&A)

• 40 Questions about Calvinism by Shawn D. Wright (free ebook)

• Ask Pastor John Piper (video podcast)

  • What is Calvinism? (10 minutes)

  • Is the Calvinist-Arminian Debate Really Important? (15 min)

Week 8: Westminster

• The Westminster Confession of Faith

• The Westminster Shorter Catechism (18 min read)

  • Scriptural proofs

• The Westminster Larger Catechism (62 min read)

baptist history

Week 9: The Southern Baptist Convention (SBC)

Taught by Chase Porter

• SBC Website

Weeks 10: London Baptist Confession

• Second London Baptist Confession: The 1689 Baptist Confession of Faith in Modern English

  • Original: The Second London Baptist Confession of 1689

  • Tim Jacobs’s Commentary on The Second London Baptist Confession

• “Baptist History & The World Missions Movement,” Capitol Hill Baptist Church

• The Baptist Story: From English Sect to Global Movement by Dr. Anthony L. Chute (Calbaptist), Dr. Nathan A. Finn, Michael A. G. Haykin (Southern Seminary)

• Baptist Essentials Seminars, 9Marks

• “A (Very) Brief History of the Baptist Church” by Clayton Kraby, Reasonable Theology

Weeks 11: Baptist Faith & Message

• The Baptist Faith and Message 2000

• An Exposition on the Baptist Faith and Message by R. Albert Mohler, Jr.

• Comparison chart of BFM 1925, 1963, 2000

• New Hampshire Confession

• ”The Noble New Hampshire Confession” by Tom Nettles (SBTS)

Week 12: Modern Confessions & Their Future

• The Chicago Statement on Biblical Inerrancy (1978)

• The Nashville Statement (2017)

  • Danvers Statement (1988) (Precursor to Nashville Statement)

• “Confessions: Old or New?” by Bobby Jamieson, 9 Marks

• Others

  • A Baptist Catechism (1986) by John Piper (Revision of The 1689 Baptist Catechism published with the 2nd London Confession)

  • The Cambridge Declaration (1996) by R. C. Sproul & Michael Horton (Declaration of Five Solas)

  • Confessional Statement of The Gospel Coalition (2005) by Timothy Keller & D. A. Carson

  • New City Catechism (2012) by Timothy Keller (also available at The Gospel Coalition & as mobile app)