Baptist vs. Anabaptist / Mennonite
A side-by-side comparison of Baptist and Anabaptist / Mennonite teaching on 16 questions, from Scripture and salvation to baptism, communion and church government.
Baptist
Baptists arose from English Separatist churches in the early 1600s. They baptize only those who profess faith, govern each congregation independently, and hold to the Bible as the sole authority for belief and practice.
Anabaptist / Mennonite
The Anabaptists began in Zurich in 1525 and spread to Germany and the Netherlands as the “radical” wing of the Reformation. Mennonites, the Amish and the Hutterites descend from them. They stress adult baptism, following the Sermon on the Mount, and separation of church and state.
At a glance
Where they differ: Can a saved person fall away?.
Varies within one or both: Predestination and free will; Clergy and women in ministry; The Holy Spirit and spiritual gifts.
Where they agree: Authority: Scripture and tradition; Books of the Bible; The Trinity; How a person is saved; Baptism; Communion (the Lord’s Supper); Sacraments or ordinances; Church government; Mary and the saints; Death, purgatory and hell; Style of worship; Day of worship.
Side by side
| Question | Baptist | Anabaptist / Mennonite |
|---|---|---|
| Authority: Scripture and traditionAgree | The Bible alone is the authority for belief and practice. Many Baptist bodies adopt confessions, but none is binding on a local church. | Scripture is the authority, read together by the congregation with special weight on the teaching of Jesus in the Gospels, especially the Sermon on the Mount. |
| Books of the BibleAgree | 66 books. | 66 books. |
| The TrinityAgree | One God in three persons. Baptists rarely use creeds in worship, but their confessions affirm the Trinity. | One God in three persons. Early Anabaptists were not uniform, but the Mennonite confessions are Trinitarian. |
| How a person is savedAgree | Saved by grace through personal faith in Christ, usually described as a conversion experience. Baptism follows salvation and does not cause it. | Saved by grace through faith. Faith is expected to show itself in obedience and discipleship, and baptism marks a conscious commitment to follow Christ. |
| Can a saved person fall away?Differ | Most Baptists, notably Southern Baptists, teach eternal security, often summarized as “once saved, always saved.” Some General Baptists disagree and hold that faith can be abandoned. | Generally yes. Mennonite teaching holds that faith must be lived out and that a person can turn away, though God is patient with those who return. |
| Predestination and free willVaries | Divided. Particular Baptists are Calvinist and hold to election, and General Baptists hold that Christ died for all and that election is based on God’s foreknowledge of who would believe. Southern Baptists include both. | Emphasizes free will and a personal decision to follow Christ. Anabaptists rejected Calvinist predestination from the start. |
| BaptismAgree | Only those who have professed faith are baptized, and by full immersion. It is an ordinance that pictures death and resurrection with Christ and does not save. | Baptism is given only to those who make a mature confession of faith. The mode varies (pouring or immersion), and infant baptism is rejected. The name “Anabaptist” means “rebaptizer.” |
| Communion (the Lord’s Supper)Agree | An ordinance in remembrance of Christ’s death, observed periodically. The bread and cup are symbols, and many churches use grape juice. | A memorial meal and a sign of the unity of the congregation. Some groups pair it with foot washing. |
| Sacraments or ordinancesAgree | Two ordinances, baptism and the Lord’s Supper. Baptists avoid the word “sacrament” because it can imply that grace comes through the act itself. | Two ordinances, baptism and the Lord’s Supper. Many groups also practice foot washing. |
| Church governmentAgree | Each local church governs itself, calling its own pastor and deciding its own doctrine. Churches cooperate voluntarily through associations and conventions. | Local congregations decide matters together and select their own ministers. Some groups have regional conferences and bishops with a limited role. |
| Clergy and women in ministryVaries | Varies. The Southern Baptist Convention limits the office of pastor to men, and other Baptist bodies ordain women. | Varies. Conservative groups reserve ministry for men, and more progressive Mennonite conferences ordain women. |
| Mary and the saintsAgree | Mary is honored as the mother of Jesus and the saints as examples. Baptists give them little role in worship and do not pray to them. | Mary is respected as Jesus’ mother, and the church emphasizes following Christ. There is no prayer to saints. |
| Death, purgatory and hellAgree | Believers go immediately to be with Christ, and unbelievers to eternal punishment. There is no purgatory. | Purgatory is rejected. Believers rest in Christ awaiting the resurrection, and the final judgment decides eternal destiny. |
| Style of worshipAgree | Free-form, built around preaching, congregational singing and prayer. Order is set by each church. | Simple worship centered on singing, Scripture and preaching. Many groups sing without instruments. |
| The Holy Spirit and spiritual giftsVaries | Varies. Many Baptists are cessationist or cautious about tongues, and others are charismatic. | The Spirit is understood to guide the congregation in discernment and daily life. Miraculous gifts are not emphasized. |
| Day of worshipAgree | Sunday. | Sunday. |
| Best known for | Believer’s baptism, local church independence, religious liberty and a strong emphasis on missions and evangelism. | Peace witness and refusal of violence, adult baptism, simple living, mutual aid and service through relief organizations. |
“Agree” means the two traditions take the same broad position, although the wording above may still note finer differences. “Varies” means at least one of the two is itself divided on the question, so no single position can be given. These summaries describe typical teaching, and individual churches may vary. For an authoritative statement, consult each denomination’s own confessions.
Learn more on this site
- What Does the Bible Say About Salvation?
- Free Will, Predestination, and Divine Sovereignty
- The Inspiration and Inerrancy of Scripture
- The Reliability of Scripture
- The Canon
- Textual Variants and "Lost Books" (Gnostic Gospels, Apocrypha)
- The Trinity
- The Deity of Christ
- Grace
- Justification
- Baptism
- Catholic Church
- Eastern Orthodox Church
- What Does the Bible Say About Heaven?
- What Does the Bible Say About Hell?
- What Does the Bible Say About Judgment Day?
- What Does the Bible Say About Worship?
- Sabbath
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