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The Trail of Blood

The Trail of Blood is a 1931 booklet by American Baptist minister James Milton Carroll that traces the history of Baptist churches from the time of Christ to the present day, depicting an unbroken line of succession marked by severe persecution and martyrdom, which Carroll symbolizes as a "trail of blood" left by faithful witnesses throughout the centuries.^[1] James Milton Carroll (1852–1931), a prominent Texas Baptist leader and educator influenced by the Landmarkism movement, compiled the work based on lectures he delivered over two decades to support the theory of Baptist perpetuity.^[2] Originally published by the American Baptist Publishing Company in Lexington, Kentucky, with an initial print run of 25,000 copies that sold out rapidly, the booklet has seen numerous editions and reprints, including by the Ashland Avenue Baptist Church, amassing over 2.2 million copies distributed by 2007.^[2] Carroll, whose brother B. H. Carroll founded Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, drew from 79 historical sources to argue for the distinct origins and continuity of Baptist churches separate from Roman Catholicism and Protestant denominations.^[2] The core of the booklet consists of a chronological narrative spanning from the apostolic era through the Protestant Reformation to modern times, emphasizing episodes of persecution during the Dark Ages and beyond, where Carroll estimates up to 50 million Baptists were martyred.^[1] A key feature is a fold-out chart illustrating the "trail," with red circles denoting periods of intense suffering and blue lines connecting Baptist groups such as Montanists, Donatists, Waldensians, Albigenses, and Anabaptists as predecessors to contemporary Baptists.^[2] Carroll identifies ten "unerring marks" of true Baptist churches, including congregational government, immersion baptism of believers only, ecclesiastical independence, and rejection of state-church alliances, positioning Baptists as the direct heirs of the New Testament church founded by Jesus.^[2] The booklet has exerted significant influence within Baptist circles, particularly among Independent Fundamental Baptists and Landmarkists, serving as a foundational text for church history education, membership classes, and arguments for Baptist distinctives.^[2] Its widespread availability online—on over 3,100 websites—and continued popularity among church planters underscore its enduring appeal as a concise defense of successionism.^[2] However, scholars have critiqued its historical methodology for inaccuracies in source citations and overreliance on secondary materials, noting that it promotes a sectarian view potentially at odds with broader Baptist cooperation and intellectual rigor.^[2]

Background and Publication

Authorship

James Milton Carroll (1852–1931) was a prominent Texas Baptist pastor, educator, and historian, born on January 8, 1852, in Monticello, Arkansas, to Baptist preacher Benajah Carroll and Mary Eliza Mallard.^[3] After moving to Texas as a child, he pursued education at Baylor University, earning a Master of Arts degree in 1878, and was licensed to preach by Liberty Baptist Church in Burleson County.^[4] Carroll pastored several churches across Texas, including those in Waco, San Antonio, and Taylor, while holding key leadership roles such as corresponding secretary of the Baptist General Convention of Texas (1892–1895) and agent for the Southern Baptist Foreign Mission Board.^[3] His commitment to Baptist education led him to found the San Marcos Baptist Academy in 1907 and serve as president of Howard Payne College from 1913 onward, where he championed academic excellence and institutional growth within Southern Baptist networks.^[4] Deeply embedded in Southern Baptist circles, Carroll dedicated much of his career to promoting Baptist identity and heritage through extensive writings and public lectures.^[3] He authored influential works like Texas Baptist Statistics (1895), which documented denominational growth, and A History of Texas Baptists (1923), a comprehensive chronicle that underscored the distinct contributions of Baptists in the region.^[3] As a historian, he collaborated closely with his older brother, Benajah Harvey (B.H.) Carroll, a leading Southern Baptist figure and founder of Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, on initiatives like the Texas Baptist Education Commission to fund schools and missions.^[4] Carroll's lectures often emphasized Baptist distinctives, drawing on historical research to foster a sense of continuity and resilience among congregants and leaders.^[5] The Trail of Blood originated as a set of lecture notes compiled by Carroll for presentations on Baptist church history, reflecting his scholarly engagement with the topic over years of ministry.^[3] Encouraged by fellow Baptist J.W. Porter to expand them into a full manuscript, Carroll passed away on January 11, 1931, before completing the work; the notes were edited by J. W. Porter and published posthumously that same year by the American Baptist Publishing Company in Lexington, Kentucky.^[2] The booklet's creation was motivated by Carroll's desire to refute scholarly assertions that modern Baptists emerged in the 17th century, particularly from Anabaptist roots during the Reformation, instead positing an unbroken lineage of Baptist-like groups tracing back to apostolic times.^[6] This effort aligned with broader Baptist successionism, a movement Carroll helped advance through his historical advocacy.^[6]

Historical Context

The rise of Landmarkism in the 19th century emerged as a defensive response among Southern Baptists to external theological threats, particularly the Restoration Movement led by Alexander Campbell, which sought to unify Christian denominations through shared practices like baptismal regeneration. This movement, formalized around 1851 through J.R. Graves' "Cotton Grove Resolutions" in Tennessee, emphasized Baptist distinctives such as the local church as the sole true ecclesiastical body, believer's baptism by immersion administered only by Baptist ministers, and the rejection of "alien immersion" from other denominations. Landmarkists viewed interdenominational cooperation—such as shared pulpits or joint revivals—as a compromise of Baptist purity, advocating instead for strict separation to preserve doctrinal integrity.^[7] Influential figures like J.R. Graves, editor of The Tennessee Baptist from 1848 until his death in 1893, played a pivotal role in popularizing these ideas, codifying pre-existing Baptist sentiments into a cohesive ideology that rejected pedobaptist traditions often traced to Catholic origins in Protestant historiography.^[8] Graves' writings and debates amplified anti-Catholic undertones prevalent in 19th-century Baptist thought, portraying non-immersionist groups as deviations from apostolic practice and reinforcing the notion of Baptists as a perpetual, untainted lineage. This historiographical stance fueled broader Protestant narratives wary of Catholic institutional continuity, positioning Landmarkism as a bulwark against perceived ecumenical dilution.^[9] Intensifying these tensions were scholarly debates over Baptist origins in the 1890s, exemplified by William Heth Whitsitt's research as president of Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. In a 1893 encyclopedia entry, Whitsitt argued that immersion as a Baptist practice originated with English Separatists in 1641 and that early American Baptist leader Roger Williams received baptism by sprinkling, challenging the successionist claim of an unbroken chain from the apostles. Landmark proponents vehemently opposed this view, seeing it as an erasure of Baptist perpetuity; figures like B.H. Carroll publicly condemned Whitsitt, leading to widespread agitation within Baptist circles and his eventual resignation in 1899 amid demands from state conventions.^[10] By the early 20th century, these debates had permeated the Southern Baptist Convention (SBC), creating ongoing tensions between hardline successionist perspectives rooted in Landmarkism and more moderate historical scholarship that embraced ecumenical engagement and critical historiography. Landmarkism remained a dominant force in the western and southern regions of the SBC, influencing church polity and resistance to institutional centralization, though it faced pushback from leaders advocating broader cooperation. James Milton Carroll emerged as a key proponent in these discussions, actively defending successionist interpretations against revisionist scholarship.^[11]^[12]

Content Summary

Overall Structure

The Trail of Blood is a compact 56-page booklet that presents its material in a structured, lecture-derived format designed for accessibility and instructional use. It opens with an introduction outlining the author's motivations and historical inquiry, followed by five chapters organized as transcribed lectures covering chronological periods of church history from the New Testament era onward. These chapters conclude with appendices that list fundamental Baptist doctrines and a partial bibliography of 79 reference works consulted by the author.^[2]^[1] A central feature of the booklet is its fold-out chart, which visually maps the "trail" of Baptist succession across two millennia, employing red circles to denote periods of martyr ("true") churches and black circles to denote state-affiliated or erring institutions. This chart serves as a graphic summary, with vertical timelines marking centuries and horizontal entries identifying groups by region and historical nicknames.^[2]^[1] The narrative adopts a conversational tone reflective of its origins in oral lectures delivered by the author, incorporating rhetorical questions and direct addresses to the reader to engage audiences in a seminar-like manner. Certain sections employ a question-and-answer format to clarify doctrinal points and historical interpretations, enhancing the booklet's suitability for teaching and discussion in church settings.^[2]^[1] First published in 1931 by the American Baptist Publishing Company in Lexington, Kentucky, the booklet achieved rapid popularity, with the initial print run of 25,000 copies selling out promptly. Subsequent editions and reprints have been issued by various independent Baptist presses, including Ashland Avenue Baptist Church and Bryan Station Baptist Church, amassing over two million copies distributed across dozens of printings by the early 2000s.^[2]

Core Thesis

The core thesis of The Trail of Blood posits that Baptist churches embody the unbroken line of New Testament Christianity, originating directly from the apostolic era and persisting through relentless persecution inflicted by corrupt state-sponsored religious institutions, including Catholic and Protestant establishments.^[1] This succession, according to the author J.M. Carroll, demonstrates the authenticity of Baptist faith as the true preservation of Christ's original church, untainted by hierarchical innovations or compromises with worldly powers.^[1] Central to this argument is the metaphor of the "trail of blood," which symbolizes the martyrdom and suffering endured by faithful believers as irrefutable evidence of their adherence to biblical truth. Carroll draws this imagery from Revelation 12:11, where believers overcome by the blood of the Lamb and their testimony, loving not their lives unto death.^[1] The trail thus serves as a visual and conceptual marker of divine vindication, affirming that genuine Christianity has always been marked by sacrifice rather than institutional dominance.^[1] Carroll contends that mainstream church histories deliberately obscure this Baptist lineage, portraying it as nonexistent or derivative to uphold narratives of Catholic or Protestant primacy. Instead, he asserts that true believers operated in secrecy or isolation, evading suppression by dominant powers and maintaining an underground continuity invisible to official records.^[1] The thesis emphasizes unwavering doctrinal continuity as the hallmark of this succession, including believers' baptism by immersion, congregational polity with Christ as the sole head, and strict separation from worldly alliances. These principles, Carroll argues, have remained unaltered since the first century, distinguishing Baptists from all other denominations that allegedly deviated under persecution or compromise.^[1] To illustrate this enduring chain, Carroll employs a chart that traces the trail across centuries.^[1]

Key Historical Claims

Successionist Lineage

In The Trail of Blood, J.M. Carroll posits that the Baptist tradition traces its origins directly to the New Testament churches established by Jesus Christ, which he describes as practicing believer's baptism exclusively and maintaining congregational autonomy independent of state or hierarchical control.^[1] This lineage begins with John the Baptist, whose immersion of adult believers prefigures the ordinance as a public profession of faith, and extends to the apostolic communities depicted in the Book of Acts, where local assemblies elected their own leaders and rejected infant baptism or sacramentalism.^[1] Carroll argues these early churches represent the "true line" of Christianity, untainted by later Roman Catholic developments, and their practices form the foundational doctrines carried forward through subsequent generations.^[1] Carroll links this apostolic foundation to medieval groups that preserved similar doctrines amid widespread persecution, identifying the Paulicians of the 7th to 9th centuries in Armenia as key intermediaries who emphasized Scripture's sole authority, rejected icons and hierarchy, and practiced immersion for believers.^[1] From the Paulicians, the chain extends to the Bogomils in the 10th century, who emerged in Bulgaria and the Balkans as carriers of these "pure" teachings into Eastern Europe, opposing infant baptism and clerical celibacy while enduring exile and execution for their nonconformity.^[1] These groups, according to Carroll, formed an underground network that evaded Roman Catholic dominance, transmitting Baptist-like principles—such as soul liberty and separation of church and state—across regions despite relentless suppression.^[1] Carroll culminates the successionist chain in the 17th-century English Baptists, whom he depicts not as innovators but as a revival and public reemergence of the ancient "true churches" after centuries of obscurity.^[1] Emerging from Separatist congregations during the Puritan era, these Baptists formalized practices like immersion and congregational governance, viewing their formation as a restoration rather than a break from the trail marked by the blood of martyrs.^[1] Throughout this lineage, persecution serves as the evidentiary "trail," with the suffering of these groups authenticating their fidelity to New Testament Christianity over the corrupt "state church" line.^[1]

Persecuted Groups Identified

In "The Trail of Blood," J.M. Carroll identifies several historical groups as predecessors in the Baptist succession, portraying them as persecuted communities that maintained core doctrines such as believer's baptism, rejection of infant baptism, and opposition to state-church integration. These groups, spanning from the early church to the Reformation, are depicted as enduring severe hardships for their fidelity to New Testament principles, forming a continuous "trail" of blood through history.^[1] Among the early groups, Carroll highlights the Montanists of the 2nd century, a prophetic movement in Asia Minor led by Montanus that emphasized spiritual gifts, direct revelation, and strict moral discipline while rejecting infant baptism and hierarchical ecclesiastical control. They faced expulsion and persecution from the emerging orthodox church for their enthusiastic practices and insistence on congregational autonomy. Similarly, the Novatians in the 3rd century, originating in Rome under Novatian, were rigorists who opposed the reintegration of Christians who had lapsed during persecutions; they rejected baptismal regeneration and infant baptism, leading to their condemnation as schismatics and ongoing marginalization by the broader church.^[1] In the later patristic and medieval periods, Carroll links the Donatists of the 4th and 5th centuries in North Africa, who emphasized the purity of the church and rejected the validity of sacraments administered by "traditor" clergy who had compromised under Roman persecution; they opposed state church corruption and infant baptism, resulting in relentless imperial suppression. Carroll also profiles the Albigenses and Cathars of the 12th and 13th centuries in southern France, dualistic sects that rejected Catholic sacramentalism, purgatory, and transubstantiation in favor of an ascetic, Bible-centered faith akin to Baptist simplicity; they endured severe persecution, including crusades and inquisitorial actions, leading to the near-eradication of their communities.^[1] Carroll extends the lineage to the Waldensians, emerging in the 12th century in the Cottian Alps under Peter Waldo, who advocated poverty, lay preaching, and adherence to Scripture while rejecting oaths, indulgences, and infant baptism; they were targeted by the Inquisition from the late 12th century onward, with papal bulls in 1184 and 1215 condemning them as heretics, leading to mass executions.^[1] During the Reformation era, Carroll portrays 16th-century Anabaptist radicals, including Mennonites and Hutterites, as direct descendants maintaining Baptist-like practices despite doctrinal variances such as communal property among Hutterites. Anabaptists, who insisted on believer's baptism and separation from state churches, suffered drownings in Zurich starting in 1527 under Zwingli's influence, burnings at the stake in Smithfield, England, in 1539, and the erection of "stakes along the highways" in Catholic territories where thousands were martyred; Mennonites, named after Menno Simons, and Hutterites, followers of Jakob Hutter, fled to Moravia and beyond, enduring property seizures, expulsions, and executions for their pacifism and rebaptism advocacy. These connections underscore Carroll's thesis of an unbroken persecuted lineage preserving Baptist distinctives.^[1]

Criticisms

Historical Inaccuracies

Modern scholarship has identified numerous historical inaccuracies in J.M. Carroll's The Trail of Blood, particularly in its portrayal of an unbroken succession of Baptist-like groups through persecuted sects from the early church onward. These errors stem from unsubstantiated linkages that project 19th- and 20th-century Baptist distinctives, such as believer's baptism by immersion and congregational polity, onto diverse historical movements without supporting primary evidence. Historians emphasize that Carroll's narrative relies on selective interpretations rather than comprehensive archival analysis, leading to misrepresentations of these groups' doctrines and practices.^[6] One major inaccuracy involves the misattribution of heretical movements as proto-Baptist, despite their core beliefs conflicting with Baptist theology. For instance, the Montanists, active in the 2nd century, emphasized ongoing prophetic revelations and ecstatic utterances as authoritative alongside scripture, a practice incompatible with Baptist commitments to the sufficiency of scripture and cessation of such gifts.^[13] Similarly, the Cathars of the 12th and 13th centuries adhered to a radical dualism positing two opposing deities—one good (spiritual) and one evil (material)—which fundamentally opposes the Baptist affirmation of God's sovereign creation of all things.^[14] Carroll's claims also impose anachronistic Baptist practices on earlier groups, lacking corroboration from contemporary records. The Paulicians (7th–9th centuries) and Donatists (4th–5th centuries) are depicted as practicing immersion baptism and rejecting infant baptism, but historical evidence indicates the Paulicians employed varied rites without emphasis on immersion, while the Donatists generally upheld infant baptism as a normative sacrament within their rigorist framework. No primary sources link these groups to congregational governance or Baptist soteriology, highlighting the projection of modern ideals onto unrelated schisms.^[6]^[15] The work's selective sourcing exacerbates these issues, drawing heavily from biased 19th-century Protestant histories that favored sectarian continuity narratives while overlooking primary documents revealing the groups' independence from one another and from Baptist traditions. For example, Waldensians (12th century onward) are claimed as fully Baptist precursors, yet substantial evidence shows many accepted pedobaptism (infant baptism) and integrated elements of sacramental theology, diverging from strict Baptist credobaptism. Likewise, the Anabaptists, who rejected infant baptism, emerged independently in the 1520s amid the Radical Reformation, with no traceable lineage to medieval sects as Carroll suggests; their origins are polygenetic, arising from local reformist impulses in Switzerland, Germany, and the Netherlands.^[16]^[17] These inaccuracies are visually encapsulated in Carroll's successionist chart, which simplifies complex historical trajectories into a linear "trail" unsupported by empirical scholarship. Overall, such flaws undermine the book's historical credibility, as affirmed by Baptist historians who prioritize verifiable continuity over apologetic conjecture.^[6]

Theological and Methodological Flaws

One of the primary methodological flaws in The Trail of Blood is its complete absence of footnotes, citations to primary sources, or any form of peer-reviewed scholarly apparatus, which allows the author to present unsubstantiated claims as historical fact.^[5] Instead, J.M. Carroll draws heavily on secondary narratives, legends, and conjectural interpretations, such as unverified tales of martyrdom among alleged proto-Baptist groups like the Albigenses and Waldensians, without providing evidence from contemporary documents or archaeological records.^[18] This approach, as critiqued by historian James Edward McGoldrick, transforms anecdotal tradition into a purported unbroken lineage, bypassing rigorous historical verification and rendering the work more akin to confessional advocacy than academic inquiry.^[19] Theologically, the booklet exhibits a pronounced bias in its core assumption that the "true church" must endure perpetual persecution as a mark of authenticity, a view that overlooks biblical depictions of the early church enjoying periods of peace and societal favor, such as in Acts 2:47, where the Lord added to the church daily "those who were being saved" amid communal harmony.^[19] McGoldrick argues that this persecution-centric framework imposes an ahistorical criterion on ecclesiology, ignoring New Testament passages like 1 Thessalonians 5:12-13, which envision orderly church leadership without constant oppression, and thereby distorts the diverse experiences of Christian communities throughout history.^[19] This bias serves to delegitimize established institutions, including post-apostolic churches, by retrofitting a narrative of unrelenting underground existence onto groups that often operated openly when conditions allowed. The polemical tone further undermines the work's theological credibility, as Carroll employs inflammatory anti-Catholic rhetoric, equating the papacy with the "Whore of Babylon" from Revelation 17 and portraying Roman Catholicism as the sole persecutor of "true" Christians across centuries.^[20] Such language, McGoldrick observes, exemplifies confessional propaganda rather than objective theology, prioritizing denominational exceptionalism over ecumenical dialogue or balanced scriptural exegesis.^[19] This approach not only alienates potential scholarly engagement but also echoes 19th-century Protestant polemics without advancing constructive doctrinal analysis. Finally, internal inconsistencies plague the argument for Baptist exclusivity, as the booklet traces an alleged succession through diverse and doctrinally heterogeneous sects—such as the Montanists with their prophetic excesses, the Donatists with their rigorist schism, and the Cathari with their dualistic heresies—that bear little resemblance to modern Baptist polity or soteriology.^[19] McGoldrick highlights how this selective linkage undermines the claim of doctrinal continuity, as these groups espoused views on baptism, church governance, and salvation that contradict core Baptist tenets, revealing the narrative as a contrived chain rather than a coherent theological trajectory.^[19]

Legacy and Influence

Impact on Baptist Movements

The booklet The Trail of Blood gained significant traction among Independent Fundamentalist Baptists during the mid-20th century, particularly from the 1940s through the 1960s, as it was widely distributed through church networks and publications that emphasized Baptist distinctives. This period saw its influence on anti-ecumenical positions, fostering a separatist ethos that viewed cooperation with other denominations as a compromise of Baptist purity, and it spurred church planting initiatives aimed at establishing autonomous congregations adhering to strict successionist principles.^[2] In the context of the Landmark Baptist revival, the work reinforced the "Baptist bride" theology, portraying Baptist churches as the exclusive bride of Christ in an unbroken lineage from the apostles, which solidified exclusive communion practices limiting participation to those baptized in Baptist churches. Groups such as the American Baptist Association adopted and propagated these ideas, using the booklet to justify closed communion and rejection of "alien immersion" from non-Baptist traditions, thereby shaping denominational boundaries and ecclesiological debates in the post-World War II era.^[2] Educationally, The Trail of Blood was integrated into Baptist seminaries, Sunday schools, and new member orientation programs, serving as a foundational text for teaching Baptist history and identity. By the 1980s, millions of copies had been printed and circulated, with over 2.4 million editions produced by 2010, making it a staple in curricula that emphasized the perseverance of true churches amid persecution.^[2]^[21] The cultural dissemination of the booklet extended beyond print, as it was adapted into sermons, evangelistic tracts, and illustrative presentations that dramatized the "trail" of persecuted believers, embedding its narrative deeply within Baptist preaching and outreach traditions throughout the 20th century.^[2]

Contemporary Reception

In the 2020s, the academic consensus among Baptist historians and theologians regards The Trail of Blood as pseudohistory, lacking rigorous evidence for its claims of an unbroken succession of Baptist-like groups from the apostolic era. Scholars such as William R. Estep, in his seminal work The Anabaptist Story (first published 1961 and revised in subsequent editions), trace Baptist origins to the 16th-century Anabaptist movement and English Separatists, explicitly rejecting the notion of a pre-Reformation "trail" as ahistorical and methodologically flawed. Similarly, Walter B. Shurden, a leading voice in Baptist studies, emphasizes core Baptist freedoms—soul competency, Bible sufficiency, church autonomy, and religious liberty—over mythical narratives of persecution and continuity, viewing successionist theories as distractions from genuine historical inquiry.^[22] This dismissal extends to educational institutions, where the booklet is not taught in mainstream Baptist seminaries like those of the Southern Baptist Convention; instead, curricula focus on verifiable 17th-century developments, such as the formation of Particular and General Baptist congregations in England.^[12] Despite scholarly rejection, The Trail of Blood persists in niche conservative Baptist circles, particularly within the King James Only movement and Independent Fundamentalist Baptist communities, where it reinforces a narrative of doctrinal purity and separation from mainstream Protestantism. These groups distribute the text through self-published editions, church bookstores, and digital formats, often framing it as essential reading for understanding Baptist distinctives amid perceived modern apostasy. For instance, online retailers and conservative publishers continue to offer reprints, appealing to audiences seeking affirmation of a separatist heritage.^[23] Recent 21st-century critiques, appearing in Baptist identity journals and academic theses, underscore the booklet's lingering role in identity politics while cautioning against its promotion of historical revisionism. Analyses in publications like the Southern Baptist Journal of Theology examine how successionist ideas, popularized by Carroll, have influenced fundamentalist self-perception but distort factual church history by conflating unrelated sects with Baptist polity. A 2023 master's thesis from Baylor University describes it as a "fringe, quirky pseudohistory" that sustains division within Baptist ranks, urging contemporary readers to prioritize evidence-based scholarship over inspirational mythology.^[24]^[25] These evaluations highlight its function as a tool for bolstering insular identities but warn that uncritical acceptance undermines Baptist engagement with broader Christian and historical realities. The digital legacy of The Trail of Blood ensures its accessibility in the 2020s, with free PDF versions hosted on dedicated Baptist history websites, facilitating easy dissemination among online communities and renewed interest in web blogs and discussions. Sites like baptisthistoryhomepage.com provide the full text alongside related materials, allowing users to download and share it without cost, which sustains its circulation in virtual spaces despite academic disfavor. This online availability underscores its enduring appeal as a quick, narrative-driven resource for lay audiences, even as professional historiography moves forward.^[5]^[2]

References

[1]
[PDF] "The Trail of Blood . . ." - Baptist Because
The "Trail of Blood" refers to the history of Baptists, who faced persecution and death, especially during the Dark Ages, with many being imprisoned and killed.
[2]
[PDF] JM Carroll and The Trail of Blood and Its Impact upon Church ...
Jan 30, 2019 · In 1931, Clarence Walker published the body of J. M. Carroll's materials used over two decades supporting the successionist theory of.
[3]
Carroll, James Milton - Texas State Historical Association
Oct 12, 2020 · James Milton Carroll, Baptist leader and historian, was born in Monticello, Arkansas, on January 8, 1852, the son of Benajah and Mary Elizabeth (Mallard) ...
[4]
James Milton [J. M.] Carroll. D. D. - Baptist History Homepage
J. M. Carroll is most noted for his booklet The Trail of Blood, a series of notes he used in givng lectures on Baptist history, that was first published in 1931 ...
[5]
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J. M. Carroll was a Baptist pastor, author, and educator. He was an amateur ornithologist, and reputedly owned one of the largest collections of bird eggs in ...Missing: influence reception
[6]
[PDF] 3-15. 3 THE SUCCESSIONISM VIEW OF BAPTIST HISTORY
When Clarence Walker began publishing The Trail of Blood in 1931, neither he nor J. M.. Carroll, the author, could have imagined the impact the booklet ...
[7]
The Landmark Controversy: A Study in Baptist History and Polity
“Landmarkism was a reaction to the Campbellite movement. It was like a vaccine to inoculate Baptists against Campbellite influence,” [Lefever] said, pointing ...
[8]
Landmarkism Before J.R. Graves - Baptist History Homepage
Graves helped to codify and popularize beliefs that had already been held and taught by Baptists for centuries, and followed those beliefs to their logical ...
[9]
Conflict: 1895 - 1899 - SBTS Archives
Whitsitt also claimed that immersion as a practice among Baptists originated among English Baptists in 1641.Missing: origins 1890s
[10]
Landmark Movement - Texas State Historical Association
Texas became a center of landmark influence in the Southern Baptist Convention and has exerted that influence well into the twentieth century. The landmark ...Missing: 1900-1930 | Show results with:1900-1930
[11]
Who Moved My Old Landmark? Changing Definitions of ...
The most powerful theological force in the Western two-thirds of the Southern Baptist Convention at the turn of the twentieth century was Landmarkism. From ...
[12]
Why were the Montanists condemned? - The Gospel Coalition
One consequence of this paucity of documentary evidence is uncertainty why the Montanists were condemned, as undoubtedly they were by the bishops of the ...
[13]
The Cathars (Chapter 15) - The Cambridge Companion to Christian ...
Jul 17, 2025 · Lambert writes that some of the formulas in the section on this ritual contain 'language tinged with implications of dualism' and that it ...
[14]
The Efficacy of the Church's Baptism: Against Donatists and Pelagians
The effect of infant baptism is the most impressive example of sacramental efficacy in Augustine's theology. Without any assistance from the infant's own ...
[15]
(PDF) Were Waldenses Pedobaptists? Waldenses and Baptist ...
Historical evidence suggests that many Waldenses practiced infant baptism without clear documentation opposing it. Claims associating the Waldenses with ...
[16]
The Anabaptists (Chapter 43) - Martin Luther in Context
The Anabaptist movement surfaced as a disorganized assemblage of Christian nonconformists in various parts of Europe, notably in Zurich, Amsterdam, ...
[17]
A Critique of J.R. Graves's Landmark Theology - Academia.edu
What methodology flaws are found in Graves's Landmark theology? ... 41James Milton Carroll, The Trail of Blood: Following the Christians Down through the ...
[18]
a crucial question in Baptist history : McGoldrick, James Edward ...
Oct 23, 2014 · Baptist successionism : a crucial question in Baptist history. by: McGoldrick, James Edward. Publication date: 1994. Topics: Baptists, Baptism.
[19]
[PDF] The Trail of Blood-Baptist Successionism - Catholic Convert
These groups are a montage of unrelated sects and heretics, including the Albigenses, Cathari, Paulicians, Arnoldists, Henricians and more.
[20]
a landmark recital of church history - SciELO South Africa
The trail of blood: Following the Christians down through the centuries from the days of Christ to the present time, or, the history of Baptist churches ...
[21]
The Trail of Blood: Carroll, J.M.: 9780866452113 - Amazon.com
Rating 4.5 (573) It is a sad commentary on the human race that such atrocities took place while people with a conscience could passively stand by and let this happen. Carroll's ...Missing: Estep | Show results with:Estep<|control11|><|separator|>
[22]
[PDF] The Southern Baptist Journal of Theology
the origin of Baptist churches can be traced back in a “continuous chain of true congregations” to the apostles in the New Testament. J. M. Carroll would ...
[23]
[PDF] Huneycutt Master's Thesis^J 06-28-23
“The Trail of Blood . . .”: Following the Christians Down. Through the Centuries . . . or the History of Baptist Churches from the Time of. Christ, Their ...Missing: presentations | Show results with:presentations