Most Baptists of today have moved away from the simplistic worship services of the bible, which only consisted of singing, prayer and preaching. Anyone who disagrees or questions their modern practices are often ridiculed or looked on as old fogy or behind the times. But in the service of God, to be like the original (primitive), is to be closest to the Lord and his Apostles in faith and practice. Should not this be the goal of all Baptists? It is recorded in scripture that they (the scriptures) are a perfect through furnisher to the man of God. "All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works." (II Timothy 3:16,17) Since the Scriptures throughly furnish unto all good works, then the pattern laid out in them is the only pattern the New Testament Church should follow. The construction of the Old Testament Tabernacle and the manner of services performed in it was to be precisely according to the pattern God gave to Moses. "For if he were on earth, he should not be a priest, seeing that there are priests that offer gifts according to the law; who serve unto the example and shadow of heavenly things, as Moses was admonished of God when he was about to make the tabernacle: for, see, saith he, that thy make all things according to the pattern shewed to thee in the mount." (Hebrews 8:4-5) Just as Moses was warned of God to make all things according to the Pattern that God gave him, we likewise should follow the pattern given to us in the New Testament Scriptures and not alter or add to them. The New Testament pattern consists of the following three distinct acts of worship: Prayer, the singing of hymns/Spiritual songs and preaching by a God called ministry.

Since the Baptist Split in the 1830's, when the majority of Baptists left the old paths and followed the leaders of the Modern Mission plan, there have been reoccurring progressive (actually regressive) movements which sow discord among the Primitive Baptists over issues such as: using musical instruments in worship services, having Sunday schools/bibles study classes in the church, providing worldly activities under the auspices of the Church (primarily for the young), providing Minister training in some form, teaching the old Testament practice of Tithing in some form, having outreach ministries for the purpose of evangelizing the world. All of these new practices are direct byproducts of the 1830's split or a repackaged version of them. The main focus in this article is to examine the rationale of the latest attempt to introduce Bible study classes into the Primitive Baptist church.

In a presentation¹ in support of bible study classes and minister meetings, given by and to a group of Primitive Baptist ministers in the Atlanta area, the following quote is found. "Scripture seems to provide examples for bible studies in the church". The following scriptures are the ones used to support that statement:

"And Paul, as his manner was, went in unto them, and three Sabbath days reasoned with them out of the scriptures" (Acts 17:2). This scripture refers to Paul going into the Synagogue of the Jews not a New testament Church. It appears to have been a practice in the Jewish Synagogue to allow those who desired to speak or read the Scriptures to do so, just as Christ did in Luke 4 14,22. Reasoning with those who show an interest in the church or its teachings has always be something the God Call Minister has done. But it is ludicrous to claim this scripture is a pattern for us to setup formal bible study classes in the church.

"These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so." (Acts 17:11) Again this is related to Paul speaking in the Jewish synagogue, not a New Testament Church. The Bereans, just as many of God's children do, searched the scriptures after hearing good preaching in which their minds were stirred up. If you stretch the meaning of this text to imply that the Bereans searched the scriptures daily in a bible study group, you still only have a Jewish Bible study, not a New Testament Church Practice!

"And how I have kept back nothing that was profitable unto you, but have shown you, and have taught you publicly, and from house to house," (Acts 20:20) Those who are using this verse in an attempt to prove the early church had bible studies seem to be implying that Paul not only taught publicly but house to house in a bible study. Most if not all the early New Testament churches were in homes; therefore the preaching/teaching that the early ministers did was in a home. Paul told these Elders of the church at Ephesus that he had taught them everything that was profitable to them. You will not find in the scriptures where Paul taught them to have Bible study classes in their churches (homes). In Luke 10 the Lord sent out seventy and told them to not go house to house. But whatsoever house ye enter require that the son of peace be present and remain there eating and drinking such things as they give you. A far cry from the modern missionary who requires his pay and support worked out before going.

The above scriptures have been wrested very much in using them to support an organized bible study class in the New Testament church. In doing so it is very similar to how the evolutionist takes a small bone they find and from it draw a picture or sculptor a likeness of a large animal, saying it looked like this.

Another statement found in this presentation reads as follows: "Therefore, where matters of church worship are concerned, if an activity is not given by precept or approved example in the New Testament, it should not be practiced in the church. If an activity is given in the New Testament, it should be practiced in the church." I fully support this statement and if adhered to by all it would eliminate all support of bible study classes in the church. The presentation draws a distinction between aids to worship and acts of worship by saying that meetinghouses, hymn Books, electric lights, or benches are aids to worship. With the exception of the hymnbook, the items listed are more of an aid to our comfort than to our worship. A couple of examples of the principles of liberty is given, one being "it is fine for a brother to play a guitar and sing a song which has words in praise of God…But it would be wrong to bring that guitar or piano in as part of church worship, because there is no New Testament support for that". This reasoning should be applied to the bible study class as well because that is exactly the same problem with having bible study classes in the church; there is no New Testament support for it. Considering the trouble that the introduction of these bible classes has cause in the past should cause all peace loving Baptists to leave them along.

The presentation under consideration correctly identifies Church Prayer as being an act of worship, which should not be altered, or nothing added to it. But is it not also true that Singing and Preaching are also scriptural acts of New Testament worship services, which should not be altered or added to either? Many times the bible study class is promoted as being pastor led, thereby gaining more acceptances. It is probably true that all modern Sunday schools/bible studies when first started in a Church were Pastor led. However their introduction, even though Pastor led, is about 1800 years to late to be biblical. Thus the emphasis given to the pastor led Bible Study, as being in accord with the New Testament pattern of worship is a feigned claim. Furthermore most Bible Studies either start with or later add group participation in the form of questions and answers, differing opinions and debate. Usually both male and female members and in some cases non-members participate in these discussions. These additional features further alter/change the New Testament worship pattern. As to the Church bible study class being an acceptable practice allowed as 'a principle of liberty', we have no liberty to alter or add to a pattern, which is a 'through furnisher'.

Another tactic used in recent years by the promoters of group Bible studies² is the wresting of historical documents just as they do the scripture. The following quote from the book 'The autobiography of Elder Wilson Thompson' is being used as proof positive that the Primitive Baptist in the past approved of the practice of Church bible study classes.

...."In those days it was common to hold prayer meetings among the Baptists; and in that church a portion of every Sunday and Wednesday was devoted to the prayer meeting, at which we attended to the reading of the Scriptures, giving short exhortations, singing, and reading select sermons and commentaries of some approved authors, and generally some one would propose a text, and those present would give their views on its meaning. I am sorry the Baptists have so generally ceased to sustain this useful practice."

Notice Elder Thompson writes that prayer meetings were common among the Baptist, not bible classes. He goes on to say and in that Church the other things mentioned were also done. In the context of what he is saying, the list of other things was restricted to that church. Without other supporting historical writings, it is twisting the meaning of what he said to imply that this paragraph proves that Baptist churches commonly supported formal bible classes/study groups in their churches. It is a matter of history that the Baptists in the early 1800's did have prayer meetings on a regular basic. It is also true that at those gatherings young male members were, at times, given the opportunity to exercise their gifts. Neither of those practices violates scriptural teachings but to make the leap to formal bible study groups is being disingenuous and wresting historical writings to promote an unscriptural practice.

Judging from Elder Thompson's bold stand against the modern missionary movement and all of its priestcraft practices, which included the modern Sunday school, I believe he would oppose a formal bible class being setup in the church. His description of what went on in their prayer meetings was I believe a little over the line for a formal church meeting. But some of the things he mentioned are similar to what has always been part of Baptists social gatherings. For instance, singing, the sharing of experiences, discussing of scripture and other spiritual subjects have always been carried on between services at associations and during social gatherings in homes. But true Baptists have never formalized these enjoyable and informative discussions into bible classes.

In the year 1803 the Philadelphia Association received correspondence from missionaries Fuller/Carey and the association was favorable to their mission work. If I took the fact that the Philadelphia association was favorable to Fuller and Carey in 1803 and by that fact declared the original (Primitive) Baptists as being in support of the modern missionary movement, I would be doing exactly what those that are using Elder Thompson's writings to promote Bible Classes are doing. I would be misrepresenting the facts concerning the original Baptists in the matter of the Modern Mission plan. Likewise those that use Elder Thompson's quote in the manner they do, wrest Baptist history to promote a practice that was started approximately 1800 years after Christ set up His church. Robert Raikes, an Episcopalian, of Gloucester, England is credited with starting the first modern Sunday school in the year 1781. He hired teachers to instruct poor children in reading and in catechism on Sunday. American institutions in the early 1800's copied his plan and some Baptists found the idea attractive. Pawtucket, RI is generally given as the location of the first Sunday school in America. From these early beginnings the Sunday school/bible class was introduced into many Baptist churches. The Baptist family as a hold never had these Bible Classes in their churches until the early 1800's and to this day the original (Primitive) Baptists remain opposed to any form of Bible Classes being conducted in their churches.

The period of time in which Elder Wilson lived was a time that the Baptists were being inundated with the new modern mission movement, which spurned various new practices. Between 1792, when several ministers in Kettering England formed the first Baptist Missionary society, and approximately 1832 when the Baptist split occurred, there were many new and unscriptural ideals and practices being sprinkled around the Baptist community. Many Baptists accepted these departures in faith, others objected to them out right and still others toyed with or countenanced the new things for years (to long). Just because you find one or more Baptist churches accepting or countenancing some of these new practices during that period of time does not speak for the Baptist family collectively, concerning their original principles and practices. It is troubling to see those wearing the name Primitive Baptist wrest scripture and historical writings to promote things that surely they know were never Old Line Primitive Baptist Church Practices. Anyone not satisfied with the original Baptist practices should leave the Old Line Primitive Baptists rather than sow discord by promoting these progressive measures among the Churches.

The Baptist historian David Benedict wrote a book, 'Fifty years among the Baptist', covering the time span of approximately 1800 til 1850. In it he wrote "Sunday Schools and Bible classes, and all the other institutions of modern times, for objects of Christian benevolence and moral reform, which are now in such successful operation with us, and other communities in the land, were wholly unknown in my early days." He apparently considered the Bible Class (study) in the same category as the Sunday school. His statement clearly conflicts with those claiming it was a common practice of the Baptists to have a Bible Class or Bible study. Several documents of the early 1900's contain further proof that Baptists continued to oppose Bible Study Classes in the church and considered it in the same category as the Sunday school. The 1937 peace meeting held in Nashville Tennessee contained the following language. "As to Sunday schools, Bible classes, aid societies, or any other such societies as have been invented by the world and engaged in by them, we consider all such as a departure from the original ground and principles which the Primitive Baptist have held to all along the line. The way such things usually get into the church is by the assuming of some name that may lead our people to think there is no harm in it; but such innovations and departures always grow, and result in trouble and distress among our people. They should be let severely alone that bring trouble. Our people spoke out in no uncertain terms on Progressive measures years ago in the trouble with the Kirkland's and others." (The Waco peace meeting of 1946 and the Donaldson, Arkansas peace meeting of 1953 expressed the same sentiment)

Elder C. H. Cayce who defended against the progressive movement during his day clearly sets forth the Old Line Primitive Baptists beliefs regarding bible classes. In Volume 5 page 428 of his Editorials writings he said: "But someone may ask, Is it wrong to meet together on Sunday, or the Sabbath day, and study the Bible? Is it wrong to have classes in Bible study? We answer by asking, Is it wrong to organize a ladies' aid society, a junior league, a senior league, a Christian endeavor society, a Baptist young People's union, or any other of the numerous societies the world has? That is the same argument the Burnamites made when they introduced the thing years ago. Usually when the thing is started it is not called a Sunday school. The Old Baptists would "catch on" to the "Racket" at once, and spurn the thing. Every time that little brat is born into an Old Baptist Church it is called a Bible class, or a Bible study, Bible hour -- or some such little "no harm" name. And it usually catches the fancy of some. The little imp makes its appearance at first in some such unpretentious way. Beware! Such things are a departure from the original Baptist principles and practice"

I personally have witnessed a youth bible study conducted at Macedonia Church, of the Marietta Primitive Baptist Association in Georgia, in which the young children were singled out as the recipients of that part of the service. They were then taught a weekly bible study lesson out of the Bible. The older members that were there sat behind or off to the side while this part of the service was going on. The latest set of promoters of Bible Study classes usually distinguish between bible study and Sunday school in part by whether the group is separated or not. I see little difference in what I observed at Macedonia Church than what the modern Baptists do when they put up walls between their Bible Classes. -- Elder Claude McKee

The following links are given for the convenience of the readers of this article and in fairness to the authors of each presentation. The Editor of Essential Baptist Principles does not agree with the conclusions of the writers concerning Bibles study groups, ministers meetings or worship time discussion practice. They all wrist and mis-apply the scriptures used. Their conclusions fall far short of proving their contentions. Their bed is to short and the covering to narrower to support their false doctrine. "For the bed is shorter than that a man can stretch himself on it ; and the covering narrower than that he can wrap himself in it." Isaiah 28:20

¹. Bible studies and Minister's Meetings Wrong or Right? Written by Elder Marty Smith. To be presented by Elder Marty Smith and Elder Dan Hall at a Ministers meeting at Union Primitive Baptist Church, Roswell Georgia on December 2nd 1996.

² Bible Study--My defense Click on the link to read Elder Marty Hoskins rationale for introducing Bible Study groups into the church he serves.

³ Is a formal Bible study an 'addition' to the church? If it is wrong, what makes it so? By Elder Josh Winslett Saturday, 29 December 2012 (This is a continuation, by a new generation, of the false claim that formal bible studies were accepted practice among Primitive Baptist)

⁴ Worship time dialogue (discussion) practice This article was taken from the website www.marchtozion.com. It is written by Elder Ben Winslett and follows along with the other articles above.

⁵ Bible Study a dialogue (discussion) practice This article was taken from the website www.marchtozion.com. It is written by Elder Marty Smith.