Also known as Reformed Baptists. Strict Baptists, or Calvinistic Baptists, the Particular Baptists adhere to a Calvinistic doctrine, which holds that God is sovereign in all matters, including salvation, which is only for those whom God has chosen to be saved.
We will use the term Particular Baptists in this category because they were first known by that name, and it is a term still in use.
Particular Baptists trace their origins to the early Particular Baptists of England. Shortly after Baptists became known by that name, there were two groups of Baptists, the General Baptists and the Particular Baptists. The Particular Baptists held to a doctrine of particular atonement, which is that Christ died only for an elect, and were strongly Calvinistic. In contrast, the General Baptists adhered to the doctrine of general atonement, that Christ died for all people rather than for a predetermined group of people. The Particular and General Baptists represented the Calvinist-Arminian factions of early Baptists. The General Baptists had their origins in the English Separatists, while the roots of the Particular Baptists were in non-Separatist independency.
Both factions of Baptists were congregational, and shared many of the same ideas regarding the nature of the church, believing that the church should be patterned after the New Testament churches, which were self-governing bodies composed of baptized believers.
The Particular Baptists have their origins in a non-Separatist church established by Henry Jacob in 1616. In 1638, a large number of its members withdrew to form the first Particular Baptist church. For the first couple of decades, the largest growth was among Particular Baptist churches as Particular Baptist preachers won several converts from Oliver Cromwell's army, while General Baptists lost members to the Quakers. The ranks of General Baptists was further reduced as many of its churches became Unitarian.
Meanwhile, the Particular Baptists became more strongly Calvinistic. In 1770, a Wesleyan faction was formed among the General Baptists, which united with the Particular Baptists in 1891, forming the Baptist Union of Great Britain and Ireland. By the turn of the 20th century, Baptists had reached the peak of their influence in Great Britain, and began to decline after World War I.
Although some emigrants came to the American colonies as Baptists, the movement was largely indigenous to North America. The First Baptist Church in America was established under Calvinist lines by Roger Williams at Providence, in what is now Rhode Island, following his banishment from the Massachusetts Bay Colony. However, Williams soon abandoned the newly established church, leaving it without strong leadership. When it reorganized, it was under a General Baptist platform. At that time, in the 1650s, ther only large concentration of General Baptists was in Rhode Island. Most of their churches declined, including the Providence church, were reorganized under Particular Baptist doctrines.
During the early 18th century, the center of Particular Baptist activity was in the Middle Colonies. In 1707, Particular Baptist churches in Delaware, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania formed the Philadelphia Baptist Association, which began active missionary activity, spreading to Connecticut, New York, Virginia, and West Virginia, and later to the Carolinas.
Over time, however, some of these groups merged with other Baptist bodies or separated, forming associations under various names, many of which no longer identified as Particular Baptists.
Groups that exist today, under different names, but differ little from the early Particular Baptists, include the Sovereign Grace Baptists and the Strict Baptists. Many Particular Baptist associations identify as Reformed Baptists or Calvinistic Baptists.
Sovereign Grace Baptists accept God's sovereign grace in matters of salvation and predestination. More narrowly, some churches and associations have incorporated "Sovereign Grace" into their name, rather than identifying as Particular, Reformed, or Calvinisitic Baptists.
Strict Baptists sometimes prefer to differentiate from Reformed Baptists. Although they share the same Calvinist doctrine, they may differ on issues of church governance, adhering to a more congregationalist view of the local church.
Grace Baptist is another name used by various associations and churches who are aligned with Reformed or Particular Baptists.
The focus of this category, or its subcategories, is on Particular, Calvinistic, Reformed, or Strict Baptists, by whatever name they may choose. Web sites representing local churches should be submitted to the appropriate Local & Global category, however.
Recommended Resources
Videos, audio, diagrams, and informational articles discuss the 2nd London Baptist Confession of Faith and how it compares with Westminster dederalism, dispensationalism, and New Covenant theology, as well as a recommended reading list, Scripture index, and suggestions for additional resources, including books available on Baptist covenant theology. Answers to frequently asked questions are also provided.
http://www.1689federalism.com/
Association of Historic Baptists
The AHB promotes a particular viewpoint that has traditionally distinguished a group of Baptist churches from other Baptist groups. Prior to the 1950s, many Baptist groups embraced the tenets now followed by the Strict Baptists, which are highlighted here, along with articles on a variety of topics. A membership application is available, contact information, and contributors are acknowledged on the site.
http://www.baptists.net/
Association of Reformed Baptist Churches of America
ARBCA is an association of Reformed Baptist congregations that was founded in 1997, each subscribing to the 1689 Baptist Confession of Faith. Its membership policies, history, organizational structure, constitution, and staff are highlighted, along with its home missions, world missions, chaplaincy programs, educational and theological training programs, and a directory of member churches.
http://www.arbca.com/
Created in 2007 for Hope Strict Baptist Church in Chilliwack, British Columbia, the site began with a few hymns and now includes hundreds of sermons, the Strict Baptist Church articles of faith, the text of the Bible in the King James Version, and a history of the Strict/Particular Baptist church, its founders, and changes that took place over the years. Besides sermons, the site features letters, poems, hymns, and other writings.
http://bethlehemswell.com/
Created by John Farese, who has been disabled since birth, and currently maintained by Providence Reformed Baptist Church, the site includes a directory of Reformed Baptist churches that hold to the 1689 London Baptist Confession of Faith. Listings may be browsed through its USA directory, international directory, or through an interactive map. The testimony of the author is also featured, along with videos and photographs.
http://www.farese.com/
Gospel Mission Christian Books
Gospel Mission is an outreach of Old Paths Strict Baptist Church, which offers more than two thousand Christian books, including autobiographies, Bibles, cards, children's books, coloring books, commentaries, devotionals, hymn books, music, poetry, and sermons, Scripture line from the Apostles. Its books and other products are listed in its online shopping area, where they are available for purchase. Second hand and specialist books may also be available.
https://www.gmchristianbooks.com/
The Gospel Standard is a portal to charities and organizations that are associated with the Gospel Standard Strict Baptists in the United Kingdom. Its organizations include the Gospel Standard Trust which publishes Christian books, the Gospel Standard Society that provides financial assistance and owns the Gospel Standard, Friendly Companion, and perception magazines, and the Gospel Standard Baptist Library of Reformed Christian books. A list of Gospel Standard chapels may be downloaded.
https://www.gospelstandard.org.uk/
Hercules Collins died on October 4, 1702. An early Particular Baptist pastor and prolific author. His life and work are highlighted here, including a biographical sketch as well as a synopsis of a book exploring the spirituality of the pastor, entitled "Devoted to the Service of the Temple," as well as links to places where it can be ordered. The purpose and project that resulted in the book is also posted.
https://herculescollins.com/
Old School Particular Baptist Library
Dr. R.E. Pound has assembled a collection of the works of first generation Particular Baptist writers, including those who wrote and defended the First London Confessions of Faith against those of other Christian faiths, now in the public domain, as well as other studies reflecting the historic Baptist views on ecclesiology, eschatology, history, and theology, ancient manuscript studies and textual criticism, and other topics.
http://www.particularbaptistlibrary.org/
Serving as a resource for Reformed Baptists in Australia, the site defines Reformed Baptists as those who hold to the tradition of the early Particular/Strict Baptists. A list of Reformed Baptist churches in Australis is presented, along with a profile of Reformed Baptists, the text of the 1677/89 London Baptist Confession of Faith, a recommended reading list, links to additional resources, and networking information.
http://ozreformedbaptist.org/
The privately operated ministry offers information and other resources on Reformed doctrine and practices, with a special emphasis on Particular Baptist distinctive, as stated in the 1689 London Baptist Confession of Faith and other confessionals, which are also highlighted here, along with sermons, Bible studies, and other theological data. An introduction to the author and links to other resources are posted to the site.
http://www.particularbaptist.com/
Incorporated as a non-profit organization in Missouri, the Particular Baptist Press was established in 1995 for the purpose of promoting the history and doctrine of the Particular and Regular Baptists, both English and American, largely for the purpose of documenting their contribution to the Baptist Christian movement. The online bookstore features biographies and histories, a commentary series, missionary series, and other texts, as well as catalog and mail order form, shipping policies
http://www.pbpress.org/
Reformed Baptist Academic Press
RBAP is a publishing company that reprints the works of 17th century Particular Baptists and other related works, and will also publish books and pamphlets that adhere to the theology of the Second London Confession of Faith of 1677/1689. It also carries selected titles from other publishers. An archive of theological journals is also available, and downloaded in PDF format. Its online shopping area allows for purchases to be made from the site.
https://www.rbap.net/
RBNet is an association of Reformed Baptist churches cooperating with other Reformed Baptist, Reformed, and Calvinistic groups for the purpose of missions and church planting. Its levels of membership, membership policies, and a list of member churches are set forth, and its missions work is highlighted, with an archive of documents, sermon video, and contacts. Member churches may also be found through an interactive map.
https://reformedbaptistnetwork.com/
The online seminary operates under the oversight of the local church, with the counsel of an advisory board, academic committee, and other like-minded churches, as well as a faculty of instructors with biblical knowledge, teaching abilities, and who are qualified pastors. Its doctrinal beliefs and the role of the local church are highlighted, along with its accreditation status, admissions policies, and application procedures.
http://rbseminary.org/
Focused on Reformed theology, the site offers a large variety of articles and informational pieces sorted into topical categories, such as apologetics, Christology, soteriology, eschatology, reformed theology, a refutation of Arminianism, a defense of Calvinism, TULIP, Bible commentaries, and several others. Also included are audio sermons, books in PDF format, and reviews of various discussion boards.
http://www.reformedontheweb.com/
Strict Baptist Historical Society
Headquartered in Dunstable, England, membership is open to anyone who shares in the Society's goals. A profile and history of the Strict Baptists is set forth, along with its oral history project, local church history project, and its publications, many of which may be ordered online. Other resources include videos, biographies, past lectures, and articles on various topics, including local churches and associations, missions, and others.
http://www.sbhs.org.uk/
Established in 1717 by London Particular Baptist Churches as a means of providing benefits to Particular Baptist ministers and churches, and currently supports Particular Baptist ministers and churches in Great Britain, Ireland, the Channel Islands, and the Isle of Man, providing grants for missions, education building projects, benevolence, and special projects. A history of the fund is presented, along with its organizational structure.
http://www.pbfund.org.uk/
The Collective exists to provide distinct perspectives from a Reformed point of view, through a variety of articles on various topics relating to Baptist and Paedobaptist Reformed theology or doctrine, as well as podcasts. Its founders and contributors are acknowledged, and opportunities to participate as an editor, writer, contributor, or in some other manner are put forth. Links to other recommended sites are included.
http://reformedcollective.com/
The site takes the Calvinistic approach to Baptist theology, as modeled by Charles Spurgeon, including the text of Anabaptist, English Baptist-Separatist, Early English Baptist Associational, American Baptist, and General Baptist confessions and other documents, such as catechisms. A history of Baptists, with emphasis on the origins of Calvinistic Baptists, is included, with a bibliography, and book recommendations.
http://www.reformedreader.org/
