5 Beliefs That Set Southern Baptists Apart From Primitive Baptists

Southern Baptists and Primitive Baptists share a common historical origin as descendants of the original Baptist movement. This shared history has not kept the two Christian denominations from settling on different theological ground with some key doctrines.

1. Primitive Baptists are firmly in the mold of a traditional Calvinist denomination. According to Old School Baptist, they adhere to the five points of historical Calvinism: Total depravity, unconditional election, limited atonement, irresistible grace, and preservation and perseverance.

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2. A Primitive Baptist believes that Adam and Eve caused universal spiritual death through their sin in the Garden of Eden. Only people who God elected for salvation through his grace, before the creation of the world, are rescued from this condition. Only the elect are moved upon the Holy Spirit to accept Christ as their Savior.

3. This means Primitive Baptists accepted a limited atonement, believing that Christ suffered for the sins of the elect alone. They also believe that once a person is saved by grace, they never fall from grace. The elect will persevere in their faith unto the end of their lives.

Southern Baptists are not as restrictive in their views on salvation. They teach that all true believers in Christ are accepted by God, sanctified through his spirit and saved through his grace.

God's grace and salvation, according to the Southern Baptist Convention, is offered freely to anyone who will accept Jesus Christ as their lord and savior – rather than being limited to a predestined elect. 

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Southern Baptists, like all Baptist denominations, observes two ordinances: Believer's baptism and the Lord's Supper. Infant baptism is strongly condemned. Primitive Baptists also observe an additional ordinance: feet washing.

4. Primitive Baptist Online notes that Jesus washed his disciples' feet at the Last Supper and they commanded them to do the same for one another. The site says that: "Primitive Baptists understand that this commandment is to be followed in literal detail as well as in spirit" in modern times.

Some Southern Baptist churches require pastors to be trained in a Southern Baptist seminary before being ordained as a minister. This is not universal since local churches are autonomous.

5. Primitive Baptists do not use schools for training ministers. Their pastors are selected from male members among congregations who have a gift of preaching, are self-taught in the scriptures, and are faithful to the church and its principles.

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