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Radical Reformation History  /  Lecture 7: The Birth of the Anabaptists  /  Discussion Questions
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Question 7
The first baptisms are described as a covenant: baptism on confession of faith “as a covenant of a good conscience with God… remaining steadfast to the end, even in times of tribulation”; how does that covenant-shaped baptism confront common ideas of assurance that are detached from obedience and perseverance?
Another way to ask: If baptism is a promise to follow God with a clean conscience even through suffering, how does that challenge the idea that you’re “secure” without ongoing obedience? What does it say about staying faithful over time?

Direct Answer Dean Taylor’s transcript presents baptism not as a mere rite guaranteeing comfort, but as a covenant commitment flowing from confessed faith and demonstrated in holy living and perseverance. That challenges any assurance concept that treats salvation as disconnected from “deeds of love” and steadfast endurance.

Support from Transcript:

  • The Chronicle definition: “true faith expressed in deeds of love” precedes baptism.
  • Baptism is “on confession of this faith,” and is called “true Christian baptism as a covenant of a good conscience with God.”
  • The covenant includes ongoing discipleship: “serving him from then on with a holy Christian life and remaining steadfast to the end, even in times of tribulation.”
  • Dean repeatedly emphasizes Jesus’ teachings are “given for this purpose… to be put into practice.”
  • The surrounding context shows assurance is tested by cost: they knew “what they would have to suffer,” and Zurich’s decrees threatened exile and worse.
Discussion Follow-ups How would your church’s language about assurance change if baptism were consistently taught as a covenant into obedient discipleship? What “tribulation” pressures today reveal whether faith is merely verbal or covenantal?

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