What Is Reformed Theology?

Reformed theology is a historic tradition within Protestant Christianity, rooted in the 16th-century Reformation. It is grounded in the Five Solas—Scripture alone, Faith alone, Grace alone, Christ alone, and to the Glory of God alone—and systematized in what are commonly called the Doctrines of Grace. At its core, Reformed theology affirms the absolute sovereignty of God, the authority and sufficiency of Scripture, and salvation by grace through faith in Christ alone. It teaches that God, in His mercy, elects and preserves His people for His own glory. While often associated with the teachings of John Calvin, Reformed theology draws from the broader work of many Reformers and is upheld in historic confessions such as the 1646 First London Baptist Confession, the 1689 Second London Baptist Confession, and the Westminster Confession of Faith.