Reformed Baptists

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Reformed Baptists (sometimes known as Calvinistic Baptists^[1]) are Baptists that hold to a Calvinist soteriology.^[2] They can trace their history through the early modern Particular Baptists of England. The first Reformed Baptist church was formed in the 1630s.^[1] The 1689 Baptist Confession of Faith was written along Reformed Baptist lines.^[1]

In the United Kingdom

Reformed Baptist churches in the UK go back to the 1630s.^[1] Notable early pastors include the author John Bunyan (1628–1688),^[1] the theologian John Gill (1697–1771),^[1] and the missionary William Carey (1761–1834).^[1] Charles Spurgeon (1834–1892), pastor to the New Park Street Chapel (later the Metropolitan Tabernacle) in London, has been called "by far the most famous and influential preacher the Baptists had."^[3]

The 1950s saw a renewed interest in Reformed theology among Baptists in the UK.^[4] Groups calling themselves "Reformed Baptist" were also differentiated from Strict Baptists and Particular Baptists, who shared a Calvinist doctrine, but differed on ecclesiastical polity.^[4]

Peter Masters, pastor of the Metropolitan Tabernacle in London, created the London Reformed Baptist Seminary in 1975.^[4]

In the United States

In March 2009, noting the rise of Calvinism in the United States, Time listed several Baptists among current Calvinist leaders.^[5] Albert Mohler, president of the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, is a strong advocate of Calvinism, although his stand has received opposition from inside the Southern Baptist Convention.^[6] John Piper, pastor at Bethlehem Baptist Church in Minneapolis, is one of several Baptists who have written in support of Calvinism.^[6]

While the Southern Baptist Convention remains split on Calvinism,^[7] there are a number of explicitly Reformed Baptist groups in the United States, including the Association of Reformed Baptist Churches of America,^[8] the Continental Baptist Churches,^[8] the Sovereign Grace Baptist Association of Churches,^[8] and other Sovereign Grace Baptists.^[9] Such groups have had some theological influence from other Reformed denominations, such as the Orthodox Presbyterian Church.^[10] The Orthodox Presbyterian Church was also the source of the Trinity Hymnal, which was adapted for Reformed Baptist use.^[11]

By the year 2000, Reformed Baptist groups in the United States totalled about 16,000 people in 400 congregations.^[12]

In 1995, the Trinity Hymnal (Baptist Edition) was published for Reformed Baptist churches in America.^[11]

In Africa

Notable Reformed Baptist figures in Africa include Conrad Mbewe in Zambia, who has been compared to Spurgeon.^[13]

See also

• List of Reformed Baptist groups
• List of Reformed Baptists
• Primitive Baptists

References