What defines Primitive or Old School Baptists?

Definition and Etymology

Primitive or Old School Baptists are Baptists who seek to maintain what they view as the original doctrines and practices upheld by early Baptist congregations. The term “Primitive” refers to that which is “original” or “first,” and “Old School” underscores adherence to longstanding Baptist traditions predating the modern missionary and revival movements of the 19th century. As such, these congregations often emphasize simplicity in worship and a strong commitment to the sovereignty of God, as rooted in Scriptural teaching.

Historical Roots

The movement emerged in the early 19th century, especially in the American South. As some Baptist churches embraced new methods—such as mission boards, Sunday schools, and protracted revival meetings—those who eventually became known as Primitive Baptists resisted these innovations. Historical records, including minutes from early Baptist associations (e.g., Kehukee and Ketocton Associations), trace the growing tension and eventual separation of congregations. Primitive Baptists claimed that these new practices were not found in the New Testament, thus their desire to remain “primitive” or “old school” in faith and practice.

Key Doctrinal Distinctives

1. Sovereignty of God: Primitive Baptists strongly teach that salvation is the work of God from start to finish, based on passages such as Ephesians 2:8–9: “For it is by grace you have been saved through faith, and this not from yourselves; it is the gift of God, not by works, so that no one can boast.” They hold that God alone initiates salvation, and individuals respond as the Holy Spirit convicts and regenerates.

2. Predestination and Election: Many Primitive Baptist congregations explicitly hold to predestinarian theology. They refer to passages like Romans 8:29–30, which addresses those God “foreknew” and “predestined,” to affirm that believers are chosen before the foundation of the world.

3. Scriptural Authority: They conduct church life strictly according to their understanding of Scripture. The Berean principle (Acts 17:11) guides their rejection of doctrines and traditions not firmly rooted in the Bible.

4. Regulative Principle of Worship: Their worship often excludes musical instruments, as they find no explicit mandate for instruments in the New Testament model of corporate worship. Instead, they rely on a cappella congregational singing and preaching.

Soteriology

Primitive Baptists are steadfast in their belief that salvation is wholly of grace. In line with passages such as John 3:16—“For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that everyone who believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life”—they affirm that genuine salvation comes by faith in Christ alone. However, their emphasis often rests on God’s initiative: they stress that Christ’s death and resurrection secure salvation for those whom God has chosen, while affirming that the human response of faith is itself dependent upon God’s work in the heart (Philippians 2:13).

Ecclesiology

1. Local Church Autonomy: Consistent with early Baptist principles, Primitive Baptist congregations are functionally autonomous. While they sometimes gather in associations for fellowship, they do not surrender authority to outside boards or hierarchies.

2. No Mission Boards: Parting ways with modern practices, Primitive Baptists historically opposed centralized mission boards, believing the local assembly—led by the Holy Spirit—should directly undertake evangelism or support missionaries.

3. Ordinances: Baptism by immersion and the Lord’s Supper are upheld as the two primary ordinances instituted by Christ. A number of Primitive Baptist churches also practice foot washing as a “third ordinance,” citing John 13:14–15 for justification.

Worship and Practice

1. Preaching: Sermons customarily focus on expounding Scriptural texts verse by verse. They place great value on preaching as the central element of worship, reflecting Romans 10:17: “Consequently, faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ.”

2. A Cappella Singing: Holders of the regulative principle typically refrain from using instruments, believing that corporate singing from the heart best honors the biblical example (see Ephesians 5:19). Hymns used are frequently older selections, continuing a link to previous generations.

3. Fellowship and Communion: Many congregations closely guard the Lord’s Supper to those they recognize as fellow believers and members in good standing, emphasizing a pure and unified body (1 Corinthians 11:28–29).

Relation to Other Baptist Groups

Primitive Baptists share many founder Baptist beliefs, such as believer’s baptism and congregational governance. However, they stand apart from Missionary Baptists in their refusal to incorporate external programs and missionary societies. While some strains of Old School Baptists are more moderate, others may be very rigorous in rejecting any perceived departure from their reading of the New Testament.

Contemporary Issues

1. Growth and Outreach: Being protective of their historic distinctives, many Primitive Baptist churches remain small and closely knit. Nonetheless, in certain regions, they continue to thrive and evangelize without reliance on conventional mission boards.

2. Church Fellowship and Associations: They may join associations loosely, but decisions about doctrine and discipline are retained at the congregational level.

3. Scriptural Debates: Primitive Baptists, like many Christians, affirm the Bible’s reliability. Some members reference discoveries in archaeology—such as the Dead Sea Scrolls—as evidence that God has preserved His Word, supporting their stance that Scripture remains the highest authority for faith and practice (Isaiah 40:8).

4. Unity in Diversity: Internal variations exist regarding foot washing, closed or open communion, conduct of worship services, and theological nuances such as degrees of adherence to supralapsarian or infralapsarian views on predestination. Yet they remain united by a shared commitment to what they believe is the earliest form of Baptist doctrine.

Conclusion

Primitive or Old School Baptists are defined by a dedication to Scripture as the sole authority, a strong adherence to God’s sovereign grace in salvation, locally autonomous congregations, a largely a cappella approach to worship, and a commitment to preserving what they believe is the authentic heritage of early Baptists. Their historical roots in the 19th-century struggle against new practices, coupled with a high view of God’s sovereignty, have shaped their identity. Whether observing foot washing as an ordinance or rejecting modern mission structures, these congregations strive to align closely with their reading of the Bible as they “contend earnestly for the faith once delivered to the saints” (Jude 1:3).