Baptist Faith and Message (BF&M 2000)
Confessional statement of the Southern Baptist Convention affirming inerrancy and complementarianism
The *Baptist Faith and Message* is the official statement of faith of the Southern Baptist Convention (originally adopted in 1925 in response to evolution, revised in 1963, and decisively revised in 2000 during the Conservative Resurgence).
Historical Context & Significance
The 2000 revision strengthened biblical inerrancy (affirming Scripture is 'totally true and trustworthy' with 'truth, without any mixture of error, for its matter'), clarified substitutionary atonement, articulated marriage as exclusively between one man and one woman, and affirmed complementarian pastoral leadership: 'While both men and women are gifted for service in the church, the office of pastor is limited to men as qualified by Scripture.'
Genealogical Lineage & Splits
This movement or council is an early root foundation with no preceding parent split in the dataset.
Theological & Hermeneutical Coordinates
Primary Scripture Proof-Texts
Key biblical passages central to this tradition's exegesis and historical debates.
Connected Theological Perspectives & Debates
Universal orthodox agreement across all historic branches that baptism is commanded by Jesus Christ (Matthew 28:19) as the initiatory rite of Christian discipleship involving the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
Universal confession that the Lord's Supper is a divine ordinance instituted by Christ the night He was betrayed, proclaiming His atoning death until He comes.
Agreement across traditions that endurance in holiness and faith is the mark of authentic discipleship, and that persistent unrepentant sin leads to destruction.
Universal confession that Jesus Christ is the supreme Head of the Church, and that local congregations require pastoral leadership, godly teaching, and spiritual oversight.
Universal historic creedal consensus that Jesus Christ will return bodily in glory to judge the living and the dead, whose kingdom shall have no end.
Universal Christian confession that God Almighty is the sole Creator of all things visible and invisible out of nothing (*creatio ex nihilo*).
Universal confession that the Old Testament ceremonial sacrifices find complete fulfillment and termination in the atoning death of Jesus Christ.
Universal confession that men and women possess equal dignity, worth, and spiritual standing as image-bearers of God and co-heirs of the grace of life in Christ.
Unanimous agreement across all Christian communions on the 27 books of the New Testament as divinely inspired canonical scripture.
Universal Christian confession that Holy Scripture is divinely inspired, supremely authoritative, and completely trustworthy for knowing God and receiving salvation.
Universal confession that adult converts from paganism or unbelief must make a conscious profession of repentance and faith before receiving baptism.
Universal confession that the original Twelve Apostles and Paul held an unrepeatable historical role in witnessing Christ's resurrection and authoring inspired scripture.