The study of Baptist history and theology includes a quest for Baptist identity. For generations Baptists have asked, “what does it mean to be a Baptist?” Exploring the life of Thomas Patient is helpful to find an answer to this question. Patient’s life and ministry provide helpful data on what it means to be a Baptist, even though he is unknown by most Baptist historians. He will be shown to be an English Puritan then an American Baptist then an English Particular Baptist all culminating in his foundational role in establishing the Baptist movement in Ireland.
