Outside the Camp: John Spilsbury, the Pioneer of English Particular Baptists

John Spilsbury was one of the prominent leaders of the newly emerging Particular Baptist churches in early 17th century England. Despite having no real formal education, he became the doctrinal heart and soul and the pastoral guide for a movement that would eventually comprise the largest evangelical body of believers in the world. This Baptist founding father is an enigma to most church historians, but to those who know of his commitment to biblical authority and truth, of his rejection of popes and ecclesiastical hierarchy, of his commitment to clear confessions of faith, of his staunch reformed theology, and his belief in credo-baptism-for those who know the historic John Spilsbury, they know him not only as the Pioneer of the Particular English Baptists, but as a Protestant evangelical willing to surrender his life for the sake of Jesus Christ, His word, and His church. John Spilsbury was a bright shining star in a world of darkness and persecution.