Regular Baptists

Regular Baptists, also known as Primitive Baptists, are groups who believe "orthodox, Baptist doctorine" and "affirm the rule or measure of the Scripture," according to the Baptist Bulletin. As compared to General Baptists or Free Baptists, Regular Baptists were strict in their beliefs, and therefore also called Strict Baptists.

Merriam Webster defines Regular Baptists as "a member of a moderately Calvinistic Baptist sect that is found chiefly in the southern U.S., represents the original English Baptists before the division into Particular and General Baptists, and observes close communion and foot washing."

History

United States

The term Regular Baptists developed in America from English immigrants who had been influenced by the Particular and General Baptists churches that were established in England. According to Stuart Ivison and Fred Rosser: "By 1638 there were also congregations of ‘Particular’ Baptists, who held that the Atonement was of particular application, i.e., for the sake of the elect only." The General, also known as Free Baptists, however, believed that all people could reap the benefits of atonement. This meant, particularly for the western pioneers, that individuals that were baptized were allowed to become church members and take communion.