[OLD REGGIE]

There were Protestants known as Baptist and Methodist in the first centuries AD? These Christians at the Councils were not Catholic or Orthodox? What were they then? And where did they go when the Catholic Church began its "tyranny"? These are not trivial questions.

There may well have been some sects called "Baptist". There certainly were none called "Methodist" or "Roman Catholic". They both came later and can trace their heritage to the "catholic" Church.

There are many Protestant Churches which ascribe to the Apostles Creed, a typical version follows:

Apostles' Creed

1. I believe in God the Father, Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth:
2. And in Jesus Christ, his only begotten Son, our Lord:
3. Who was conceived by the Holy Ghost, born of the Virgin Mary:
4. Suffered under Pontius Pilate; was crucified, dead and buried: He descended into hell:
5. The third day he rose again from the dead:
6. He ascended into heaven, and sits at the right hand of God the Father Almighty:
7. From thence he shall come to judge the quick and the dead:
8. I believe in the Holy Ghost:
9. I believe in the holy catholic church: the communion of saints:
10. The forgiveness of sins:
1l. The resurrection of the body:
12. And the life everlasting. Amen.

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You will note verse 9. Many Protestants believe they belong to the holy catholic (universal) church while none belong to the Roman Catholic church.

[Cronos]

The only 1st century "baptists" were Anabaptists or Gnostic groups which have nothing in common with modern day Baptists.