Editing Baptists (section)

===Beliefs that vary among Baptists===
{{See also|General Baptists|Bapticostal movement|Regular Baptists}}
[[File:KJV 1611 Rice Baptist Church New Market Alabama 2012-06-13.jpg|thumb|Church sign indicating that the congregation uses the [[Authorized King James Version]] of the Bible of 1611]]

Since there is no hierarchical authority and each Baptist church is autonomous, there is no official set of Baptist theological beliefs.<ref>{{citation|last1=Hammett|first1=John S|quote=One thing that all Baptists have in common is that everything is built upon the Bible.|title=Biblical Foundations for Baptist Churches: A Contemporary Ecclesiology |publisher= Kregel Publications|year=2005|isbn= 978-0-8254-2769-5}}.</ref> These differences exist among associations and even among churches within the associations. Some doctrinal issues on which there is widespread difference among Baptists are:

* [[Eschatology]]
* Arminianism versus Calvinism (General Baptists uphold Arminian theology while Particular Baptists teach Calvinist theology).<ref name="Benedict1848"/> 
* The [[doctrine of separation]] from "the world" and whether to associate with those who are "of the world"
* Belief in a [[second work of grace]], i.e. [[entire sanctification]] (held by General Baptists in the Holiness tradition)
* [[Glossolalia|Speaking-in-tongues]] and the operation of other [[Spiritual gift|charismatic gifts]] of the [[Holy Spirit in Christianity|Holy Spirit]] in the charismatic churches<ref>{{citation|contribution=Position Paper Concerning the IMB Policy on Glossolalia |title=Florida Baptist Witness |access-date=18 March 2010 |url=http://www.gofbw.com/news.asp?ID=5592 |url-status = dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110728000657/http://www.gofbw.com/news.asp?ID=5592 |archive-date=28 July 2011 }}.</ref>
* How the Bible should be interpreted ([[hermeneutics]])
* The extent to which missionary boards should be used to support missionaries
* The extent to which non-members may participate in the [[Eucharist|Lord's Supper]] services
* Which translation of Scripture to use (e.g., [[King James Only movement]])<ref>{{citation|title=An Introduction to Bible Translations|publisher=Trinity Baptist Church Discipleship Training|date=April 2005|access-date =18 March 2010|url = https://versefortheday.com/bible-translations/}}.</ref>
* [[Dispensationalism]] versus [[Covenant theology]]
* The role of [[Christian views on marriage|women in marriage]]
* The [[Ordination of women in Protestant denominations#Baptist|ordination of women]] as deacons or pastors.<ref>{{cite journal|last=Beck|first=Rosalie (Response to 'The Ordination of Women Among Texas Baptists' by Ann Miller)|title=Perspectives in Religious Studies|journal=Journal of the NABPR|access-date=18 March 2010|url=http://www.bgct.org/texasbaptists/Document.Doc?&id=3338|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110613080148/http://www.bgct.org/texasbaptists/Document.Doc?&id=3338|archive-date=13 June 2011|url-status=dead}}</ref>
* Attitudes to and involvement in the [[Ecumenism|ecumenical movement]].
* The role of repentance and perseverance in salvation ([[Lordship salvation controversy]]).<ref>{{Cite web |last=Lazar |first=Shawn |date=2014-01-01 |title=Free Grace for Baptists – Grace Evangelical Society |url=https://faithalone.org/grace-in-focus-articles/free-grace-for-baptists/ |access-date=2023-12-21 |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Wilkin |first=Bob |date=2022-02-11 |title=What Denominations Hold to Free Grace? – Grace Evangelical Society |url=https://faithalone.org/blog/what-denominations-hold-to-free-grace/ |access-date=2023-12-21 |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=Stanley |first=Charles F. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=hmMK2HRDgdIC |title=Eternal Security: Can You be Sure? |date=1990 |publisher=Oliver-Nelson Books |isbn=978-0-8407-9095-8 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=Grudem |first=Wayne |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=NTC6DAAAQBAJ |title="Free Grace" Theology: 5 Ways It Diminishes the Gospel |date=2016-07-18 |publisher=Crossway |isbn=978-1-4335-5117-8 |language=en}}</ref>
* How to distinguish the persons of the trinity ([[social trinitarianism]] and [[classical trinitarianism]]).<ref>{{Cite book |last1=Emerson |first1=Matthew Y. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=epjnDwAAQBAJ |title=Baptists and the Christian Tradition: Toward an Evangelical Baptist Catholicity |last2=Morgan |first2=Christopher W. |last3=Stamps |first3=R. Lucas |date=2020-06-15 |publisher=B&H Publishing Group |isbn=978-1-4336-5062-8 |language=en}}</ref>

[[Excommunication]] may be used as a last resort by some denominations and churches for members who do not want to repent of beliefs or behavior at odds with the confession of faith of the community. When an entire congregation is excluded, it is often called disfellowship.<ref>William H. Brackney, ''Historical Dictionary of the Baptists'', Scarecrow Press, US, 2009, p. 183</ref>