Click here to read the online booklet of the Baptist history.

Graphical Chart of the Baptist history.

EXPLANATION OF THE CHART
By DR. J. M. CARROLL
 ILLUSTRATING the History of the Baptist Churches from the time of their
founder, the Lord Jesus Christ, until the 20th Century.

 1. The purpose of this book and chart is to show according to History that
Baptists have an unbroken line of churches since Christ and have fulfilled
His prophecy -- "I WILL BUILD MY CHURCH AND THE GATES OF HELL SHALL NOT
PREVAIL AGAINST IT." In the irregular churches is clearly seen the growth of
Catholicism and Protestantism. Baptists are not Protestants since they did
not come out of the Catholic Church.

 2. The numbers at the top and bottom represent 20 centuries. The first
vertical line is A.D. 1, and the second, A.D. 100, and so on.

 3. The horizontal lines at the bottom have between them the nicknames given
to Baptists during the passing years and ages -- Novations, Montanists,
Paulicians and Waldenses.

 4. THE RED CIRCLES REPRESENT BAPTIST CHURCHES beginning with the first
Church at Jerusalem, founded by Christ during His earthly ministry, and out
of which came the churches of Judea, Antioch and others. The red indicates
they were persecuted. In spite of the bitterest opposition and persecution
Baptist Churches are found in every age. The first nickname given them was
Christians, the next Ana-Baptists, and so on. You will notice that the dark
ages are represented by a dark space. Even during this time you will notice
a continual line of churches called Ana-Baptists. They were continually and
bitterly persecuted even unto death by the Catholics. Near the first of the
16th Century the Ana was dropped and they were simply called Baptists.

 5. THE BLACK CIRCLES REPRESENT CHURCHES INTO WHICH ERROR CAME AND ARE
THEREFORE CALLED -- IRREGULAR CHURCHES. The first error was in church
Government--Pastors assumed authority not given them by Christ. Pastors of
larger churches claimed authority over other and smaller churches. Thus in
the 3rd Century the Roman Hierarchy was established. The Emperor Constantine
issued a call in 313 inviting all churches to send representatives to form a
council. The red churches--that is Baptist Churches--refused the invitation
but the irregular churches responded. The Emperor was made the head and thus
the group of churches known as irregular churches became the State Church.
The Emperor continued to head the churches until Leo II claimed authority as
the successor of Peter. Thus is seen how the error in church Government
developed into Popery. In the 16th Century the Protestant Churches began to
come out of the Roman Catholic Church. They are called Protestants because
they protested against the errors of Catholicism.

 6. It was in the year 251 that Baptist Churches declared nonfellowship with
the irregular churches. They refused to accept Baptism administered in
infancy or for Salvation and thus came the oldest nickname--Ana-Baptists
which means rebaptizers.

 Copyrighted 1931 by Ashland Avenue Baptist Church, Lexington, Ky.