Reformed Baptists

Reformed Baptists, also called Particular Baptists, or Calvinist Baptists, are Baptists that hold to a Reformed soteriology (i.e., understanding of the mechanics of salvation). The name "Reformed Baptist" dates from the latter part of the 20th century to denote Baptists who retained a Baptist ecclesiology, and affirmed Reformed biblical theology, such as covenant theology. Calvinist Baptists adhere to varying degrees of Reformed theology, ranging from simply embracing the Five Points of Calvinism, to accepting Baptist covenant theology; all Reformed Baptists reject the classical Reformed teaching on infant baptism, meaning that they reject infants as the proper subjects of baptism. The first Calvinist Baptist church was formed in the late 1630s. Reformed Baptists are distinguished from General Baptists, whose soteriology is Arminian.

Reformed Baptists have produced two major confessions of faith as summary of their beliefs: The Second London Confession of Faith (1689) and the First London Confession of Faith (1644). Benjamin Keach, John Gill and Charles Spurgeon were some of the most proeminent theologians for the Calvinist Baptist strand in England.

Particular Baptists are a group that dissented from the Church of England in the 17th century and adopted credobaptism. They are the original Reformed Baptists, dating from the 1630s. Particular Baptists took their name from the doctrine of particular redemption, distinct from the older General Baptists strand. They adhere to a higher degree of Reformed theology than other Calvinist Baptist groups and usually subscribe to the Second London Confession of Faith of 1689.

Significant Reformed Baptist figures include John Bunyan, John Gill, and Charles Spurgeon. According, Reformed Baptists of this stamp are commonly called "1689 Baptists," and their distinctive covenant theology is known as "1689 federalism". In the last century, Particular Baptists became more popular as more Baptists identified with strong Puritan teachings.

Gospel Standard Baptists, also called Strict and Particular Baptists, are Particular Baptists that practice closed communion and generally prefer a more congregationalist polity, differentiating from other Reformed Baptist groups that share the same Calvinist soteriology. The Strict Baptists arose in England in the 18th century, led by the radical itinerant minister William Gadsby. Their religious beliefs continue in the Gospel Standard magazine and affiliated Church institution.

Grace Baptists are Strict Baptists who split from the Gospel Standard faith. The Baptist Affirmation of Faith 1966 is a confession of faith used by Grace Baptists.

Primitive Baptists adhere to a Reformed soteriology. Primitive Baptists emphasize the teaching that "God alone is the author of salvation and therefore any effort by human beings to make salvation happen or compel others to conversion is simply a form of 'works righteousness' that implies that sinners can affect or effect their own salvation." As such, they have rejected the concept of missions.

Regular Baptists adhere to a Reformed soteriology. Those who are Old Regular Baptists largely hold to the tenets of Calvinism, "but maintain that God never predestined anyone to hell and that only those who do not heed the Word of God will be lost."