Quick question

[BjBarnett]

Hey guys I got a quick question.

when was the Baptist denomination founded? ive heard 1606 but I dunno if thats true or not. Ive also heard a lot of different opinions so Id like to hear what you guys think. Thanks in advanced.

 

[SteveR2021]

It depends on which Baptist denomination you are referring to. The oldest among us are the Anabaptists.

I think, technically speaking, that the first Anabaptist was Munzer (1490-1525).

Then came Hoffman (1498-1543) and others. Perhaps the most famous Anabaptist movement was founded by Menno Simons (1496-1561). I'll let the Anabaptists fill you in on more of that.

I believe the first Baptists came out of the Puritant movement which was divided into 4 groups:
- congregationalists (became Baptists)
- presbyterians
- separatists
- non-conformists

The first Baptist church as I understand was founded in 1640 in England

I don't know any more than that. Please correct me anyone if I am wrong on any of this and please add more...

Hope that helps.

God Bless

 

[Matthan]

I would prayerfully suggest you read "The Trail Of Blood" (available free online), which I believe will answer your question if you believe it, or deepen your cynicism if you do not.

Matthan <J><

 

[mesue]

This is an interesting read on Baptist history.All the lessons are very enlightening, but lesson 3
II. Identity of the Church
is the beginning of the history. It discibes my church to a "T"

II. Identity of the Church

The church of the Lord's day upon earth was in all essential elements Baptist. The characteristics that distinguish a Baptist church are peculiarly set forth in the Bible as having belonged to the New Testament church.
Originally, (1) none but believers were baptized; (2) baptism was held strictly as immersion; and (3) each church was an independent republic, knowing nothing of extraneous powers to dictate her policies. Those principles characterize Baptist churches of New Testament times and of today. The banner that waves over true Baptist churches is that of Jesus only. The ordinances that distinguish Baptist churches have their pattern in the Scriptures. The governing principles of Baptist churches are backed by divine authority. The Founder and Head of Baptist churches is none other than Jesus.

http://www.geocities.com/prbryan.geo/jackson/jackson3.htm

 

[BjBarnett]

I would prayerfully suggest you read "The Trail Of Blood" (available free online), which I believe will answer your question if you believe it, or deepen your cynicism if you do not.

Matthan <J><

ive read the trail of blood before. its quite... ummm.... interesting that was actually kinda what got me thinking about this because it traces the roots back to the earliest times of the Christian church. but I know a lot of Baptist that dont believe the Trail of Blood. so thats why I was wanting opinions. Anyone that wants to throw in there 2 cents about the Trail of Blood please feel free to do so.

Thank you everyone for your replys. please keep them coming

 

[aReformedPatriot]

ive read the trail of blood before. its quite... ummm.... interesting that was actually kinda what got me thinking about this because it traces the roots back to the earliest times of the Christian church. but I know a lot of Baptist that dont believe the Trail of Blood. so thats why I was wanting opinions. Anyone that wants to throw in there 2 cents about the Trail of Blood please feel free to do so.

Thank you everyone for your replys. please keep them coming

If thats the thing that teaches that traces us back to John the Baptist then id reject that. I havent read it though, I'd disagree with it. We are straight out of the reformation. Even though we are out of the reformation I believe there are truths that were burried by Romanism that have now been brought to light to be embraced once again, truths I believe that the early church taught. So in a way, I suppose you can say we go back to Jesus.

Your probably reading this and thinking

 

[Terri]

The date on which someone first hung a sign on a church door that said "Baptist" is totally irrelevant. It is only relevant to people that want to claim that their particular group is the "one true church" that was there from the beginning and all others are somehow inferior.

This is a flawed and worldly way of looking at the True Church.

When one is born into the Kingdom of God (Born Again) by accepting Jesus sacrifice as full and sufficient payment for their sins--truly believing that His sacrifice on the cross is indeed sufficient and that there is nothing that we can do to have our sins forgiven other than trusting in Jesus' sacrifice, then we become a member of the One True Church which is spiritual.

When I was Born Again I became a member of the One True Church that was there at the beginning as much so as if I would have been standing there and accepted Jesus' sacrifice at Pentecost. I don't need any human successors of someone that was there at the time to tell me that I am a Christian nor do I need to belong to some worldly group that believes that belonging to it makes you a Christian.

God's Kingdom is a spiritual kingdom as the Bible tells us. Trying to force a worldly understanding of God's spiritual kingdom is again a very flawed and worldly way of looking at it.

Now, on the other hand, we use labels in this world such as Baptist just as a shorthand to let people know in general what our beliefs are: these labels have absolutely nothing to do with how far back our church goes--ALL Born Again Christians regardless of the label of their church became a member of the One True Church--the one that was there at the beginning--the moment they were Born Again.

 

[SumTinWong]

but I know a lot of Baptist that dont believe the Trail of Blood. so thats why I

I am one of those people who do not buy into it. By the way I believe this link is good representation of where the Baptist denomination came from.

 

[BjBarnett]

thank you all for your replys. The link was a good read Uncle Bud. Just one more thing though does anyone that believes the "Trail of Blood" have any other historic document to support these claims? Thanks again guys!

 

[22 Degree Halo]

From "The Trail of Blood," Second Lecture:

"During the period that we are now passing through the persecuted were called by many and varied names. Among them were Donatists, Paterines, Cathari, Paulicians, and Ana Baptists; and a little later, Petro-Brussians, Arnoldists, Henricians, Albigenses, and Waldenses. Sometimes one group of these was the most prominent and sometimes another. But some of them were almost always prominent because of the persistency and terribleness of their persecution."

I don't believe the Trail of Blood EITHER. If someone cares they can start a thread and go through it.

Looking at the above quote, I think anyone who knows anything about the Donatists, the Cathari and the Albigensiens would realize that they were terribly persecuted for their heretical (not in the Catholic sense) doctrines. THEY were the beginnings of our modern "culture of death." Especially the latter two.

 

[Dmckay]

The first Baptist preacher was named John bar Zacharias and he baptised Jesus.

Hello Gold Dragon!!

 

[SumTinWong]

Actually it was a former Anglican Priest by the name of John Smyth. Anyway the John part was right.

 

[Dmckay]

Actually it was a former Anglican Priest by the name of John Smyth. Anyway the John part was right.

Uncle Bud, Actually my answer was meant to tweak Golden Dragon since he is so adamant against the Trail of Blood. The founder of Baptists is different depending on which of the lines of Baptists you are referring to. There are many different founders with different backgrounds.

 

[BjBarnett]

so this the Trail of Blood generally considered false by most Baptist? or is it widely accepted?

 

[aReformedPatriot]

so this the Trail of Blood generally considered false by most Baptist? or is it widely accepted?

I cant speak for everyone, but by and large the crowds I run with reject it.

 

[Dmckay]

I cant speak for everyone, but by and large the crowds I run with reject it.

I know, the author is a real extremist. But, the point that he has about there always being a remnant of true believers who held to baptistic principles is historic. Those groups whether known as Donatists, Paulicans or whatever, didn't bow the knee to Rome and were willing to die before they would reject their Lord. Since they practiced believers baptism rather than pedobaptism they were more Baptist than not, despite many having other doctrinal problems.

I do not, by the way, recommend The Trail of Blood as historic reading for believers.

 

[Canadian75]

I am one of those people who do not buy into it. By the way I believe this link is good representation of where the Baptist denomination came from.

Great link. I read the article and it gave me a good primer on the history (as the title of the site stated). Thanks for the link, I've done a few studies in reformation history (but mostly about Luther, Calvin and the Counter-Reformation) and it's nice to read new material. I did actually assume that Baptists were reformation Anabaptists (minus the ANA), glad I learned something new.

 

[Gold Dragon]

The first Baptist preacher was named John bar Zacharias and he baptised Jesus.

Hello Gold Dragon!!