So what if succession of the Baptist Church cannot be proven all the way back to the 1st Century. You cannot prove that St. Peter established either Rome or Antioch either! What I think can be proven is that the Apostles established at least 3 major groups of Christians, namely the Jewish Christians that were centered in Jerusalem and lead by St Jacob (i.e. St James), the Gentile Christians that were lead by St Paul, and the Christians of Samaria. All three groups saw the Christian faith in somewhat of a different way. With the rise of the Christian Roman Empire all versions of Christians other than Gentile Christians centered in Rome were suppressed. It was after this point that the idea that there is only one true Church came to be the opinion that won the day.
Baptists are true Christians!
donât deny Baptist are Christians. I was born into a Baptist family, Grandfather was a Baptist Minister for 60 years. Trained in Seminary, leader of the Baptist Association (for our Catholic friendsâŠAssociational Directors are Baptist Ministers who loosely oversee a group of Baptist Churches in basically communion with each other. Think of a bishop without the power etc.)
I grew up and learned about Christ at the knee of this grandfather. What I am reading about baptists from some on this thread was and is not taught by baptists. Particularly Southern Baptists. They know, as I was taught in a Baptist seminary, the Baptist faith came out of the reformation. The Evangelical Dictionary of Theology dismisses any trail of blood or attempts to trace baptist history back through heretics to Jesus or John the Baptist. Again, what I was taught in Baptist Seminary.
Now as to what is purposed in this post. A basic reading of history, church or secular, will lead to this reaction

. Unless this was in jest and a joke.
In both the East, more so, than in the West politics, ie Emperors interfearing in Church affairs was the norm. I am reading A History of Christian Thought. So far I find it fair and brings up some points and challenges held historical beliefs. In the 6-9th Century, Rome did not have the power to surpress anything in the East. To busy trying to survive the Moors, Islamic invasions and the Frankish Kings.
Prior to that, the first 4 centuries the entire Church was persecuted. Edict of Milan save the entire Church, not just one part. Shortly there after the power center of the Empire moved
Eastward. Rome lost influence as the political power. The Emperors work closely with the Patriarch of Constantinople more than anyone. That became the apparent base of power for secular authority, who then tried to make it the base of Church authority.
You also forget the groups of Christians outside the Empire not under the authority of any of the Sees of the Church. No one supressed them, well the Muslims did. Rome could not. Your assertion of only three bases of Christianity does not hold up to even the simpliest of history reading or evidence. The barbarians who destroyed the western church were in many ways Christians. Arian Christians to be sure. History also tells us the Apostles established Christian groups outside your three locations concurrently.
As to Peter in Rome or Antoich. There is more evidence from the early church fathers telling us this happened, Clements Epistle to the Corinthians for one, and none about the baptist. I do think a baptist seminary would teach that if it was true.
Mark