Confession of Faith (1689)

The Confession of Faith (1689), also known as the 1689 Baptist Confession of Faith, or the Second London Confession of Faith (2LCF), is a Particular Baptist confession of faith. It was written by English Baptists who subscribed to a Calvinistic soteriology as well as to a non-Westminsterian covenantal systematic theology. Because it was revised by the Philadelphia Baptist Association in the 18th century, it is also known as the Philadelphia Confession of Faith. The Philadelphia Confession, however, was a modification of the Second London Confession; it added an allowance for the singing of hymns, psalms, and spiritual songs in the Lord's Supper and made optional the laying on of hands after baptism (Confirmation).

History

The Second London Confession of Faith was first published in London in 1677 under the title "A confession of Faith put forth by the Elders and Brethren of many Congregations of Christians, Baptized upon Profession of their Faith in London and the Country. With an Appendix concerning Baptism." It was a revision of the Savoy Declaration (1658) with modifications to reflect Baptist theology. Savoy is itself a Congregationalist revision of the Westminster Confession (1646). The Confession was published again, under the same title, in 1688 and 1689.

The Act of Toleration passed by the Parliament of England in 1689 enabled religious freedom and plurality to co-exist alongside the established churches in England and Scotland. In response to the Act, representatives from over 100 Baptist churches assembled in the City of London from 3–12 September of 1689 to discuss and endorse the 1677 document.