Swedish Baptists comprise one of the most vigorous and progressive Baptist bodies of Europe. Their first church was organized near Gothenburg in 1848. Baptists were harassed by persecution until after 1860, but their position was somewhat relieved by assistance from America. The first conference of Swedish Baptists was held in 1857. Growth was rapid, and by 1920 the Baptist Union included 61,000 members. However, the Pentecostal movement came to Sweden early in the twentieth century and soon drew heavily upon the Baptist fellowship. The Baptist Union membership numbered approximately 40,000 in 1955. In addition, a strong independent Baptist group, which had been influenced by Pentecostalism, supported the Orebro Mission Society, with headquarters at Orebro. These independent churches seem to be moving into closer relations with the Union.

There is a record of a Confession of Faith prepared by a country church in 1868 in a successful effort to obtain legalization from the government. This Confession was never adopted elsewhere, and the church it represented soon died. The Confession, however, was long regarded by civil and ecclesiastical authorities as the representative Baptist Confession, since no other confession was presented as the basis for legalization.

Shortly before 1861 a Confession was drawn up and adopted by the First Baptist Church of Stockholm. It was presented at the Conference of Swedish Baptist Churches held in Stockholm on June 23-28, 1861, and the Conference adopted it. This Confession is still acknowledged by the Union as "The Confession of Faith of the Swedish Baptists." This translation of Rev. Eric Ruden, Executive Secretary of the Union

"Baptists Confessions of Faith", Lumpkin

Svensk D?aren inbegripa en om mest vigorous och progressiv D?aren bodies om Europa. Deras f? det f?sta kyrkan var organized n?a G?eborg inne1848. D?aren var pl?a av persecution till efter 1860, bortsett fr? deras holdingen var n?ot lindra av assistansen fr? USA. The f? det f?sta konferensen om Svensk D?aren var h?l inne1857. V?ten var rask, och av 1920 d?aren F?eningen omfattat 61,000 medlemmen. Emellertid, the Pentecostal r?elsen kom till Sverige tidigt inne om tjugonde ?hundrade och snart drog tungt p?d?aren fellowship. D?aren F?eningen medlemsskapen nummrerat ca 40,000inne 1955. Dessutom, en stark oavh?gig D?aren gruppen, vilken hade blitt under inflyttande fram Pentecostalism, st?tat the Orebro Delegationen Samh?len, med h?kvarter for Orebro. Den h? oavh?gig kurarna synes till vara flyttanden i n?er ber?telserna med det F?eningen.

D? er en uppteckningen om en Bek?nelsen om Tron beredd av en land kyrkan inne 1868 inne en framg?gsrik anstr?gningen till f?legalization fr? regeringen. Den h? Bek?nelsen var aldrig adopterat n?on annanstans, och kyrkan den representerat snart d?e. Bek?nelsen, emellertid, var l?g ansen av civil och ecclesiastical auktoriteterna s?representativt D?aren Bek?nelsen, saloon car ingen annan bek?nelsen var f?evisat s?basisten f? legalization.

Kort efter framf? 1861 en Bek?nelsen var dragen upp och adopterat av the F? det f?sta D?aren Kyrkan om Stockholm. Den var f?evisat for konferensen om Svensk D?aren Kurarna h?l inne Stockholm p?Juni 23-28, 1861, och konferensen adopterat den. Den h? Bek?nelsen er stilla erk?t av f?eningen s?"bek?nelsen om Tron om Svensk D?aren" Den h? ?ers?tningen om Rev. Eric Oh?lig, Ut?ande Sekret?en om F?eningen

"d?aren Bek?nelserna om Tron", Lumpkin

The Anabaptists of the Reformation era in Germany were crushed and scattered by persecution. Modem German Baptists claim no direct descent from these people, but sprang rather from the labors of Johann Gerhard Oncken (1800-1884), who had associations with Great Britain and America. When an agent in Germany of the British-sponsored "Continental Society," Oncken was converted to Baptist views through his study of the Scriptures. He was baptized in 1834, and the first Baptist church of Germany was organized in his house in Hamburg in April of that year.

In spite of persecution, the Baptist movement grew rapidly in that country. It was characterized by evangelistic ardor and vigorous leadership. Julius Kobner, a Danish Jew, and G. W. Lehmann of Berlin, who particularly assisted Oncken, were among those members who were men of marked ability. Oncken himself is known as "Father of the German Baptists." J. H. Rushbrooke suggests "Father of the Continental Baptists" as a larger title for him, because Oncken traveled over many parts of central, eastern, and northern Europe planting Baptist churches.¹

In 1837 Oncken and Kobner prepared a confession of faith for apologetic purposes which was accepted by the Hamburg Church and presented by it to the government of Hamburg. When a copy was submitted to the Berlin Church, Lehmann, the Berlin pastor, altered and enlarged the Confession, which then was adopted by the Berlin fellowship. The Hamburg community, however, would not accept the Lehmann emendation for a period of nine years. At length, in 1845 a compromise statement of fifteen articles was wrought out during a visit of Lebmann to Hamburg.² Kobner gave literary finish to the document and provided Scripture references. This Confession, first printed in 1847, was approved by all the churches in the same year. It was adopted also as the basis of the "Union of Associated Churches of Baptized Christians in Germany and Denmark" upon organization of that body in 1849. A revision of the Confession was undertaken in 1906, but the original Confession continued to be published.³

Pressure of the Nazi regime upon several evangelical groups (sects) which lacked national organization caused these groups to seek union with the Baptists by 1940. In that year the Federation of the Free-church Christians (a union of Darbyites and Open Brethren⁴) and the Elim fellowship (which emphasizes the doctrines of the Holy Spirit and of spiritual gifts) joined with the Baptists in forming the Federation of Evangelical Free-church Congregations.⁵  Dr. Hans Luckey of the Baptists and Pastor Erich Sauer of the Open Brethren were commissioned in 194344 to draw up a Confession for the Federation. A thorough revision of the Baptist Confession of 1847 was made. Two articles on the Word of God were greatly condensed, and the article on "Election to Salvation" was omitted. The new Confession was considerably shorter than the old. Since the Second World War some of the Darbyites have withdrawn from the Federation. The Baptists of Germany, who numbered approximately 100,000 in 1950, continue to acknowledge the Confession.

1 The Baptist Movement on the Continent of Etwope, 17.
2 McGlothlin, op. cit., 331-332.
3 McGlothlin offers a translation of the thirteenth edition (of 1908). 333-354.
4 Commonly referred to in America as Plymouth Brethren.
5 Franks, European Baptists Today, 38

"Baptists Confessions of Faith", Lumpkin

Das Anabaptists der Verbesserung?a in Deutschland wurden durch Verfolgung zerquetscht und zerstreut. Deutsche Baptisten des Modems behaupten keinen direkten Abfall von diesen Leuten, aber entsprangen eher den Arbeiten von Johann Gerhard Oncken (1800-1884), die Verbindungen mit Gro?ritannien und Amerika hatten. Als ein Mittel in Deutschland der Britisch-gef?derten " kontinentalen Gesellschaft, " Oncken in Baptistansichten durch seine Studie des Scriptures umgewandelt wurde. Er wurde 1834 getauft, und die erste Baptistkirche von Deutschland wurde in seinem Haus in Hamburg im April dieses Jahres organisiert.

Trotz der Verfolgung wuchs die Baptistbewegung schnell in diesem Land. Sie wurde durch evangelistic ardor und kr?tige F?rung gekennzeichnet. Julius Kobner, ein d?ischer Jude und G. W. Lehmann von Berlin, das besonders Oncken unterst?zte, geh?ten zu jenen Bauteilen, die M?ner der markierten F?igkeit waren. Oncken selbst bekannt als " Vater der deutschen Baptisten. ", J. H. Rushbrooke schl?t " Vater der kontinentalen Baptisten " als gr?erer Name f? ihn vor, weil Oncken ?er viele Teile von zentralem, Ost- und Nordeuropa reiste, das Baptistkirchen errichtet.

1837 bereiteten Oncken und Kobner ein confession des Glaubens f? apologetic Zwecke vor, der durch die Hamburgkirche angenommen wurde und durch es der Regierung von Hamburg dargestellt. Als ein Exemplar bei der Berlinkirche, Lehmann, das Berlinpastor eingelegt wurde, dem Confession ge?dert und vergr?ert, das dann beim Berlinstipendium angenommen wurde. Die Hamburggemeinschaft jedoch w?de nicht die Korrektur Lehmann w?rend einer Periode von neun Jahren annehmen. Ausf?rlich 1845, das eine Kompromissanweisung ?er f?fzehn Artikel heraus w?rend eines Besuchs von Lebmann zu Hamburg.2 Kobner wrought war, gab literarisches Ende zum Dokument und vorausgesetzt Referenzen Scripture. Dieses Confession, zuerst gedruckt 1847, wurde durch alle Kirchen im gleichen Jahr genehmigt. Es wurde auch als die Grundlage des " Anschlu?s der dazugeh?igen Kirchen von getauften Christen in Deutschland und in D?emark " nach Organisation dieses K?pers 1849 angenommen. Eine ?derung des Confession wurde 1906 aufgenommen, aber das urspr?gliche Confession gesetzt fort ver?fentlicht zu werden.

Druck des Regimes Nazi nach einigen evangelical Gruppen (sects) die nationale Organisation ermangelten, veranlie?diese Gruppen, Anschlu?mit den Baptisten bis 1940 zu suchen. In diesem Jahr verband die Vereinigung der Frei-Kirchechristen (ein Anschlu?von Darbyites und ?fnen Brethren4) und des Stipendiums Elim (das die Lehren des heiligen Geistes und der geistigen Geschenke hervorhebt), mit den Baptisten, wenn sie die Vereinigung des Evangelical Dr. Hans Luckey der Frei-Kirche Congregations.5  der Baptisten und des Pastor Erich Sauer der ge?fneten Bruder bildete, wurden beauftragen 194344, um ein fession Con- f? die Vereinigung auszuarbeitn. Eine vollst?dige ?derung des Baptisten Confession von 1847 wurde gebildet. Zwei Artikel auf dem Wort des Gottes wurden gro?kondensiert, und der Artikel auf " Wahl zum Salvation " wurde ausgelassen. Das neue Confession war betr?htlich k?zer als das alt. Da der zweite Weltkrieg etwas von dem Darbyites von der Vereinigung zur?kgetreten sind. Die Baptisten von Deutschland, die ungef?r 100.000 1950 numerierten, fahren fort, das Confession zu best?igen.

1 Die Baptistbewegung auf dem Kontinent von Etwope, 17.
2 McGlothlin, op. cit., 331-332.
3 McGlothlin bietet eine ?ersetzung der dreizehnten Ausgabe an (von 1908). 333-354.
4 Allgemein angesprochen in Amerika als Plymouthbruder.
5 Freivermerke, Europ?sche Baptisten Heute, 38

"Baptisten Confessions des Glaubens", Lumpkin

The first formal organization of a Baptist church in France seems to have occurred in 1835 at Douai, though a small group of believers who later became a church in the village of Nomain in northern France held meetings from around 1815. The Nomain group arose following the discovery of a Bible in a corner of a farmer's house, but the Douai church was formed under the leadership of an American Baptist Missionary.9 By 1851 two regional groupings of churches were arranged, in the north the Association Franco-Belge and in the south the Association Franco-Suisse.

The first French Baptist Confession was drawn up by the American missionary, Erasmus Willard, and published at Douai in 1848. With the assistance of some French brethren, Willard prepared a second Confession a few years later. Six French preachers, led by A. Ramseyer and H. Andru, produced a third Confession in 1879. This was the first independently prepared Confession of French Baptists and it was published at Chauny. A second edition was printed in Paris in 1895, having the title, Con fession of Faith and Ecclesiastical Principles of the Evangelical Churches called Baptist. This edition omitted the last section of the first edition entitled "Of the Congregation."  In this form the Confession has continued in use among many French churches. McGlothlin included a translation of the first edition of the Confession in his Baptist Confessions of Faith (355-364).

An association of churches was formed in 1923 in southern France in protest against supposed theological liberalism in French Baptist circles. This movement soon claimed most of the churches of the Association Franco-Suisse. Under the leadership of Robert DuBarry of Nimes, the Association Evangelique has undertaken a vigorous expansion of its ministry into French-speaking Switzerland and Belgium as well as northern France. On November 3, 1924, at the annual conference of the Association at Lyon, a Confession of Faith was adopted by the group. A condensation of the Confession of 1879, it has continued in use to the present. Pastor F. J. Waecker of Bienne, President of the Swiss Association of French-speaking Baptist Churches, has provided a copy of the Confession and Dr. W. A. Muellers's translation into English, (omitting Scripture references)

"Baptists Confessions of Faith", Lumpkin

La premi?e organisation c??onieuse d'une ?lise baptiste en France para? s'?re produit en 1835 ?Douai, pourtant un petit groupe de croyants qui plus tard sont devenus une ?lise dans le village de Nomain en France du nord a tenu des r?nions d'autour 1815. Le groupe Nomain a ?eill?suivre la d?ouverte d'une Bible dans un coin de la maison d'un fermier, mais l'?lise Douai a ??form? sous la direction d'un Missionnaire baptiste am?icain.9 par 1851 deux groupements r?ionaux d'?lises ont ??arrang?, dans le nord l'Association Franco - Belge et dans le sud l'Association Franco - Suisse.

Les premiers Fran?is la Confession baptiste a ??tir? par le missionnaire am?icain, Erasmus Willard, et a publi?? Douai en 1848. Avec l'assistance de quelques fr?es fran?is, Willard a pr?ar? quelques ann?s ?une deuxi?e Confession plus tard. Six pasteurs fran?is, men? par A. Ramseyer et H. Andru, ont produit une troisi?e Confession en 1879. C'?ait la premi?e Confession ind?endamment pr?ar? de Baptistes fran?is et il a ?? publi??Chauny. Une deuxi?e ?ition a ??imprim? ?Paris en 1895, en ayant le titre, fession de l'Escroquerie de Foi et Eccle - les Principes du siastical des ?lises ?ang?iques appel? le Baptiste. Cette ?ition a omis la derni?e section de la premi?e ?ition intitul? " Du Rassemblement."   dans cette forme la Confession a continu?parmi beaucoup d'?lises fran?ises en usage. McGlothlin a inclu une traduction de la premi?e ?ition de la Confession dans ses Confessions baptistes de Foi (355-364).

Une association d'?lises a ?? form? en 1923 en France du sud dans protestation contre lib?alisme th?logique suppos?dans les cercles baptistes fran?is. Ce mouvement a bient? r?lam?la plupart des ?lises de l'Association Franco - Suisse. Sous la direction de Robert DuBarry de N?es, l'Association Evangelique a entrepris une expansion vigoureuse de son minist?e dans Suisse Francophone et Belgique aussi bien que France du nord. Le 3 novembre 1924, une Confession de Foi a ??adopt? par le groupe ?la conf?ence annuelle de l'Association ?Lyon. Une condensation de la Confession de 1879, il a continu?au pr?ent en usage. Pasteur F. J. Waecker de Bienne, Pr?ident de l'Association suisse d'?lises baptistes Francophones, a fourni une copie de la Confession et la traduction de Dr. W. A. Muellers dans anglais, (omettre l'Ecriture sainte r??ence)

Confessions des "Baptistes de Foi", Lumpkin